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Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

EIN 42-0540765 · Des Moines, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EXPLORING, EXPLAINING AND CELEBRATING THE WORLD OF PLANTS.

Income
$11.8 million
Spending
$5.0 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
-1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
48
Volunteers
536
Highest pay
$216,039, president / ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 58% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 154% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 June 30, 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 (1)
  1. $4.1 million spent. MORE THAN SIXTY YEARS AGO, COMMUNITY LEADERS SAW THE NEED FOR AN URBAN GARDEN IN THE HEART OF DES MOINES. AFTER YEARS OF PERSISTENCE, THEIR VISION CAME TO LIFE WITH THE OPENING OF THE BOTANICAL CENTER (AS IT WAS THEN KNOWN) IN 1979. THE ORIGINAL BOTANICAL CENTER OPERATED AS PART OF THE CITY OF DES MOINES' PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, FEATURING THE DOMED CONSERVATORY, A TROPICAL PLANT COLLECTION, AND A COUPLE OF CLASSROOMS. MUNICIPAL OVERSIGHT OF THE BOTANICAL CENTER CONTINUED THROUGH THE EARLY 2010S. AT THAT TIME, FOUR COMMUNITY LEADERS-FORMER DES MOINES MAYOR TOM URBAN, BUZ BRENTON, FRED WEITZ, AND JANIS RUAN-LED THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE BOTANICAL CENTER INTO THE GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN. THIS TRANSFORMATION INCLUDED THE CLOSURE OF ROBERT D. RAY DRIVE TO ALLOW FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF OUTDOOR GARDENS ALONG THE DES MOINES RIVER. THE GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN OPENED AS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IN 2013 AND CONTINUES TO THRIVE THROUGH A STRONG PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF DES MOINES TODAY.MORE THAN 40 YEARS AFTER ITS ORIGINAL OPENING, TODAY'S GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN IS A VIBRANT 12-ACRE PUBLIC GARDEN-INCLUDING NEARLY FOUR ACRES OF FREE PUBLIC GARDEN SPACE-SITUATED IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN DES MOINES. THE MISSION OF THE BOTANICAL GARDEN IS TO EXPLORE, EXPLAIN, AND CELEBRATE THE WORLD OF PLANTS. AS AN INFLUENTIAL ARTS AND CULTURE DESTINATION, THE BOTANICAL GARDEN BRINGS TOGETHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TOURISTS, CHILDREN, FAMILIES, HORTICULTURISTS, AND MORE IN A UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT THAT PROMOTES EDUCATION AND ECOLOGICAL STEWARDSHIP. THROUGH THE FUSION OF ART, HORTICULTURE, AND LEARNING, WE ARE UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PLANTS, PEOPLE, AND THE NATURAL WORLD FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE STATE AND AROUND THE GLOBE.IN 2023, THE BOTANICAL GARDEN CELEBRATED A MAJOR MILESTONE: ONE DECADE SINCE TRANSITIONING TO AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT. OVER THAT DECADE, WE EXPANDED OUR PHYSICAL GARDENS TO 12 BEAUTIFULLY DEVELOPED ACRES, GREW OUR PLANT COLLECTIONS TO NEARLY 3,400 SPECIES, INCREASED OUR WORKFORCE TO MORE THAN 30 EMPLOYEES AND 400 VOLUNTEERS, AND BUILT A STRONG COMMUNITY OF MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. ANNUAL ATTENDANCE INCLUDES VISITORS FROM ALL 50 STATES AND MORE THAN 25 INTERNATIONAL LOCATIONS.IN FY2025, THE BOTANICAL GARDEN CONTINUED THIS POSITIVE TRAJECTORY, WELCOMING MORE THAN 144,000 VISITORS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. NEARLY 13,000 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED FREE ADMISSION AS PART OF OUR PINEAPPLE PROGRAM. WE ENGAGED THOUSANDS OF LEARNERS THROUGH YEAR-ROUND EDUCATION PROGRAMS, CONTINUED TO SELL OUT SUMMER CAMPS, AND SUSTAINED RECORD-BREAKING ATTENDANCE FOR THE NEW HOLIDAY LIGHT EVENT, DOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. MEMBERSHIP REMAINED STRONG, AND THE VOLUNTEER WORKFORCE GREW TO NEARLY 650, PLAYING A VITAL ROLE IN OPERATIONS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. ADDITIONALLY, THE BOTANICAL GARDEN OPERATING THE WELCOME, GATHER, GROW CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, RAISING GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE MUCH-NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FACILITY AND GROUNDS. CONSTRUCTION BEGAN AT THE END OF FY25 WITH THE FIRST OF THOSE PROJECTS SLATED TO REOPEN IN FY26.THE GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN IS MORE THAN A DOME. IT IS A CONNECTION POINT BETWEEN PLANTS, PEOPLE, AND THE NATURAL WORLD-A PLACE WHERE ANYONE CAN EXPLORE, CREATE, CONNECT, AND EMBRACE THEIR TRUE NATURE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 May 1970.

    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.

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