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Botanica Inc

EIN 48-1007736 · Wichita, KS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BOTANICA, THE WICHITA GARDENS PROVIDES A PLACE OF UNIQUE BEAUTY THAT DELIGHTS A DIVERSITY OF VISITORS, GENERATES ENTHUSIASM FOR HORTICULTURE AND ENLIGHTENS PEOPLE THROUGH EDUCATION, ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCES.

Income
$5.6 million
Spending
$5.2 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
12.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 49%
Employees
105
Volunteers
875

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

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 12.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% 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 227% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $3.8 million spent. BOTANICAL GARDENBOTANICA HAS ESTABLISHED AND MAINTAINS THEMED BOTANICAL GARDENS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC. OUR SEVENTEEN PLUS ACRES FEATURE MORE THAN 4,000 SPECIES OF PLANTS BOTH NATIVE AND NEW TO THE REGION. ALL 35 OF OUR CURRENT THEMED GARDENS ARE DESIGNED TO EMPHASIZE COLLECTIONS IN DISPLAY SETTINGS (I.E. BUTTERFLY GARDEN, SENSORY GARDEN, WILDFLOWER MEADOW, WOODLAND BIRD GARDEN, CHINESE GARDEN,ETC) TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE THE VISITOR. THE GARDENS ARE DECORATED WITH A COLLECTION OF ELEGANT SCULPTURES, FLOWING STREAMS, FOUNTAINS, AND WATERFALLS THAT COMPLEMENT THE BEAUTY OF PLANTS AND THAT CREATE A VISUALLY STUNNING ATMOSPHERE. IN ADDITION, SEASONAL DISPLAYS, SUCH AS THE TULIP DISPLAY, BUTTERFLY HOUSE, SUMMER ANNUAL DISPLAY, CHRYSANTHEMUM DISPLAY AND PANSY HOUSE, INTERCHANGE TO ADD ENJOYMENT, EXCITEMENT AND YEAR-ROUND INTEREST.
  2. $185,675 spent. EDUCATIONTHE DIVERSITY OF THE GARDEN DISPLAY AREAS PROVIDES A RICH HORTICULTURAL AND VISUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL VISITORS. THIS DIVERSITY ALLOWS FOR A CONSISTENT GROWTH IN THE NUMBER AND VARIETY OF YOUTH AND CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED TO THE COMMUNITY. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE CLASSES, LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS ON HORTICULTURAL AND CONSERVATION RELATED TOPICS ARE PRESENTED ON SITE AND PROVIDED THROUGH OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN WHICH BOTANICA PROVIDES HORTICULTURE INFORMATION TO STUDENTS, VOLUNTEERS AND OTHER AUDIENCES OF ALL AGES. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW ONE ACRE DOWNING CHILDREN?S GARDEN WILL ENHANCE THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND CAPACITY TO ACCOMMODATE FIVE TIMES THE CURRENT ENROLLMENT PROGRAM. THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE MAINTENANCE OF THE FRANK GOOD LIBRARY, THE LARGEST SINGLE REPOSITORY OF HORTICULTURAL AND GENERAL GARDENING INFORMATION IN SOUTH-CENTRAL KANSAS. THE COLLECTION CONSISTS OF OVER 4000 BOOKS, PERIODICALS, CATALOGS, SLIDES, AND VIDEOTAPES ON MATERIALS THAT ECHO BOTANICA?S GARDEN AREAS AND INTERESTS.
  3. $185,675 spent. MEMBERSHIPSUPPORT FROM MEMBERSHIP HELPS US TO MAINTAIN BOTANICA AS ONE OF THE MIDWEST'S LEADING BOTANICAL GARDENS AND ALLOWS US TO FURTHER OUR MISSION. MEMBERSHIP SERVICES FULFILLS THE BENEFITS OF ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP, PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT THE FLORAL DISPLAYS, ACTIVITIES/EVENTS AND PROGRAMS AT THE GARDENS THROUGH NEWSLETTERS, E-NEWSLETTERS AND PRINT PIECES TO THE MEMBERSHIP BASE AND PROVIDES ACTIVITIES PROMOTING CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT AND INTEREST IN THE ORGANIZATION.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1986.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.