Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Rotary Botanical Gardens Inc

EIN 39-1775351 · Janesville, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 52 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

ROTARY BOTANICAL GARDENS, INC. IS AN INTERNATIONALLY THEMED BOTANICAL SHOWCASE THAT PROVIDES FOR THE EDUCATION AND APPRECIATION OF HORTICULTURE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL PEOPLE.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 68%
Employees
33
Volunteers
157
Highest pay
$40,513, executive director/secretary (thru april)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 52 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 March 31, 2025, 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. $571,527 spent. GARDEN DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE - ROTARY BOTANICAL GARDENS IS HOME TO 26 DIFFERENT DRAMATIC AND THEMED GARDENS. SOME HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL FOCUS SUCH AS THE JAPANESE (NAMED ONE OF THE TOP 25 JAPANESE GARDENS IN NORTH AMERICA), SCOTTISH, FRENCH FORMAL, ITALIAN, AND ENGLISH COTTAGE GARDENS. ALSO INCLUDED ARE LESS FORMALLY-STRUCTURED GARDENS INCLUDING ONE OF VERY FEW FERN AND MOSS GARDENS RECOGNIZED BY THE HARDY FERN FOUNDATION IN THE UNITED STATES. IN ADDITION, ROTARY BOTANICAL GARDENS IS HOME TO A SHADE, PRAIRIE, AND WOODLAND GARDEN. ON SITE IS AN EDUCATIONAL CENTER OFFERING A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS FOR BOTH ADULTS AND YOUTH YEAR-ROUND. ROTARY BOTANICAL GARDENS IS THE NUMBER 1 TOURIST DESTINATION IN ROCK COUNTY WELCOMING NEARLY 100,000 VISITORS EACH YEAR. ROTARY BOTANICAL GARDENS OFFERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, BUS TRIPS, HOME GARDEN TOURS, PLANT SALES, AND SEASONAL EVENTS TO ENHANCE ITS MISSION, IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS, AND INCREASE ITS RECOGNITION IN THE COMMUNITY AND SURROUNDING AREAS. THE GARDENS PUTS AN EMPHASIS ON HORTICULTURAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING THERAPEUTIC TRAINING, MASTER GARDENER TRAINING, SYMPOSIA, AND WORKSHOPS. PARTNERING WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ON DYNAMIC AND INTERACTIVE PROGRAMMING IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO THE GARDENS. EXAMPLES INCLUDE HEDBERG PUBLIC LIBRARY, ROCK COUNTY RECAP PROGRAM, JANESVILLE AREA CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU, JANESVILLE AREA HERB SOCIETY, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-EXTENSION.
  2. $442,870 spent. VISITOR SERVICES AND PUBLIC EVENTS - ROTARY BOTANICAL GARDENS OFFERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, BUS TRIPS, HOME GARDEN TOURS, PLANT SALES, AND SEASONAL EVENTS TO ENHANCE ITS MISSION, IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS, AND INCREASE ITS RECOGNITION IN THE COMMUNITY AND SURROUNDING METROPOLITAN AREA.
  3. $169,545 spent. FACILITY USAGE - ROTARY BOTANICAL GARDENS OFFERS FOUR INDIVIDUAL ROOMS, EACH 19' X 31' WITH SEPARATE ACCESS, FOR BUSINESS MEETINGS, TRAINING SESSIONS, OR RETREATS. THE ROOMS EXPAND TO CREATE SPACE FOR CONVENTIONS, BANQUETS, OR SALES SEMINARS. THE STUNNING ATRIUM PROVIDES NATURAL LIGHTING AND A BREATH-TAKING VIEW OF THE GARDENS, CREATING A CONVENIENT AREA FOR RECEPTION WITH A COAT ROOM, GIFT SHOP, AND RESTROOM FACILITIES CLOSE AT HAND. THE ATMOSPHERE IS CALMING AND QUIET, WITH ACCESS TO 26 INTERNATIONALLY THEMED BOTANICAL GARDENS TO STIMULATE YOUR MIND AND CREATE AN INSPIRING AND PRODUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT.
  4. $56,034 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS - ROTARY BOTANICAL GARDENS OFFERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS, THERAPEUTIC HORTICULTURE PROGRAMS, AND TOPICAL SYMPOSIA AND WORKSHOPS. ROTARY BOTANICAL GARDENS PARTNERS WITH A VARIETY OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ON DYNAMIC AND INTERACTIVE PROGRAMMING, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, FAMILY EVENTS, AND EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS. EXAMPLES OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE HEDBERG PUBLIC LIBRARY, ROCK COUNTY EDUCATION AND CRIMINAL ADDICTIONS PROGRAM, AND JANESVILLE AREA CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, 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 March 2025.

    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 June 1994.

    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.