Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Olbrich Botanical Society Inc

EIN 39-1357247 · Madison, WI

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OLBRICH BOTANICAL GARDENS ENRICHES LIVES AND INSPIRES PEOPLE TO LIVE IN HARMONY WITH THE NATURAL WORLD. OLBRICH BOTANICAL GARDENS IS DEDICATED TO THE CREATION, CONSERVATION, AND INTERPRETATION OF GARDENS AND PLANT COLLECTIONS HARDY TO THE AMERICAN MIDWEST OR NATIVE TO THE WORLD'S TROPICAL FORESTS FOR STUDY, ENJOYMENT, AND PUBLIC BENEFIT. THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP OF OLBRICH BOTANICAL SOCIETY AND THE CITY OF MADISON PARKS DIVISION MAKES THE MISSION POSSIBLE.

Income
$3.7 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
13.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
83
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$124,442, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $1.5 million spent. PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITIONS: OLBRICH OFFERS A NUMBER OF FREE AND LOW-COST PROGRAMS TO MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT HAVE EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS RELATING TO THE PLANT AND GARDEN COLLECTIONS. PROGRAMMING AT OLBRICH BOTANICAL GARDENS IS GENERALLY MISSION-RELATED, ARE TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES HELD WITHIN THE GARDENS, AND PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES OR PURE ENJOYMENT WITHIN THE GARDENS FOR ALL AUDIENCES.
  2. $559,731 spent. GARDEN AND CONSERVATORY MAINTENANCE AND ENHANCEMENT: OLBRICH BOTANICAL SOCIETY ASSISTS THE CITY OF MADISON PARKS DIVISION TO MAINTAIN ANDENHANCE OLBRICH'S 16 ACRES OF OUTDOOR GARDENS AND THE 10,000 SQUARE FOOT TROPICAL BOLZ CONSERVATORY.
  3. $409,376 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS: PROGRAMMING OFFERED IN 2024 IMPACTED MORE THAN 155,000 GUESTS, INCLUDING PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS, FAMILIES, YOUTH, AND SCHOOLS. MORE THAN 4,000 K-5 STUDENTS FROM SEVEN COUNTIES AND THREE STATES RECEIVE QUALITY, IMMERSIVE PLANT SCIENCE EDUCATION THROUGH EXPLORER PROGRAMS.
  4. $325,895 spent. PUBLIC RELATIONS: LETTING THE PUBLIC KNOW ABOUT THE ROBUST SLATE OF PROGRAMMING, SERVICES, AND OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE YEAR-ROUND AT OLBRICH AND HOW THE GARDENS ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE AT OLBRICH AND THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1980.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.