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Friends of the Mounts Botanical Garden Inc

EIN 59-2418059 · West Palm Bch, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MISSION: TO INSPIRE AND EDUCATE THROUGH NATURE.VISION: WE ENVISION OUR PUBLIC GARDEN AS A NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ATTRACTION FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE. ITS CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES WILL DRAW ATTENDEES TO ENJOY, APPRECIATE AND LEARN FROM THIS OASIS OF TRANQUIL BEAUTY.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 42%
Employees
31
Volunteers
434
Highest pay
$189,239, executive director

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

Financial health

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover -0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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

    10 of 10 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 September 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. $822,552 spent. WITH A MISSION TO NURTURE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITH NATURE THROUGH IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES AND EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS, MOUNTS BOTANICAL GARDEN (MBG) IS THE OLDEST AND LARGEST PUBLIC GARDEN IN THE PALM BEACHES. THE 20-ACRE TROPICAL OASIS IS HOME TO 25 DISPLAY GARDEN AREAS FEATURING A COLLECTION OF OVER 7,000 SPECIES OF TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL BOTANICALS. MBG WELCOMED NEARLY 70,000 AND 2,275 MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS OVER THE FISCAL YEAR. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, MBG COMPLETED A NEW 5-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN TO SERVE AS A ROADMAP TO THE FUTURE, GUIDING WHERE THE GARDEN IS GOING IN THE YEARS TO COME, AND OUTLINES HOW IT WILL GET THERE. THIS INCLUDED A REFRESHED MISSION TO NURTURE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITH NATURE THROUGH IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES AND EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS, AND UPDATED VISION TO BE THE GO-TO DESTINATION TO DISCOVER, ENJOY, AND BE MOVED BY NATURE. MBG ALSO EMBARKED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW BRAND IDENTITY TO ELEVATE ITS IMAGE TO BEST ALIGN WITH THE PALM BEACHES HIGH CALIBER OF TOURISM, AND ART AND CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS. IN ADDITION, MBG'S MASTER PLAN EFFORTS ARE WELL UNDERWAY AS IT REIMAGINES MOUNTS AS A GARDEN FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.UNIQUELY SETTING MBG APART FROM OTHER GARDENS, APPROXIMATELY 90% OF THE PLANTS AT MBG CAN BE EFFECTIVELY GROWN IN FLORIDA HOME GARDENS. THIS ALLOWS MBG TO PROVIDE VISITORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY GROW THEIR OWN TROPICAL OASIS AT HOME. IN ADDITION, MBG'S NURSERY AND VINTAGE GARDEN THRIFT SHOP OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VISITORS TO PURCHASE SUITABLE PLANTS, FLOWERS, AND ACCESSORIES FOR THEIR PERSONAL GARDENS.CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN BEAUTIFYING THE GARDEN'S LANDSCAPE IS ANOTHER TOP PRIORITY. THIS INCLUDED HUNDREDS OF NEW PERMANENT PLANTINGS OVER THE PAST YEAR. UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE GARDEN'S PROFESSIONAL HORTICULTURE STAFF, MORE THAN 140 DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS GAVE OVER 8,000 PERSONAL HOURS TO THE GARDEN'S BEAUTIFICATION AND PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING PLANTING, PRUNING, PROPAGATING, AND EDUCATING.
  2. $418,503 spent. AS A CORNERSTONE TO ITS MISSION, MBG IS KNOWN AS A TEACHING AND LEARNING GARDEN, PROVIDING A WIDE ARRAY OF EDUCATIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AGES DESIGNED TO CULTIVATE WONDER AND APPRECIATION FOR THE NATURAL WORLD. OVER 240 PUBLIC PROGRAMS, CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, AND GUIDED TOURS TOOK PLACE THIS PAST YEAR, ATTRACTING 4,300 ADULT PARTICIPANTS IN CLASSES AND TOURS. THE GARDEN'S WIDE ARRAY OF PROGRAMMING INCLUDES HORTICULTURE AND GARDENING, ART AND CULTURE, AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS. IN ADDITION TO ADULT PROGRAMMING, MBG OFFERS A ROBUST SPECTRUM OF YOUTH PROGRAMMING. AS THE OFFICIAL FIELD TRIP PROVIDER FOR THE PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, ALL COUNTY 3RD GRADERS, TEACHERS, AND CHAPERONES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE, LEARN, AND CONNECT WITH NATURE AT MBG. OVER 15,000 STUDENTS AND CHILDREN VISITED THE GARDEN DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, PLUS NEARLY AN ADDITIONAL 1,500 STUDENTS THROUGH VARIOUS ADDITIONAL YOUTH PROGRAMS.
  3. $175,344 spent. MBG'S SEASONAL PLANT SALE FESTIVALS AND MAJOR EXHIBITS CONTINUE TO BE THE GARDEN'S MOST POPULAR EVENTS, ATTRACTING MORE THAN 11,000 ATTENDEES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. HELD IN FEBRUARY, APRIL, SEPTEMBER, AND NOVEMBER, THE FOUR SEASONAL PLANT SALES FEATURE TOP GROWERS FROM THROUGHOUT FLORIDA DISPLAYING AND SELLING A WIDE VARIETY OF ORNAMENTALS, ORCHIDS, SUCCULENTS, CACTUS, BONSAI, BUTTERFLY/NATIVE PLANTS, SHRUBS, FRUIT TREES, HERBS, GARDEN ACCESSORIES, BASKETS, FINE CRAFTS, AND MORE. IN ADDITION, SPEAKERS AND AUTHORS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS CONDUCT FUN AND INFORMATIVE PRESENTATIONS ON GARDENING AND HORTICULTURE. THE FESTIVALS ALSO FEATURE LIVE MUSIC, FOOD VENDORS, ARTS AND CRAFTS, AND LAWN GAMES.MBG EXPANDED ITS OFFERING EVENTS, INCLUDING A SUCCESSFUL SUMMERFEST FAMILY FUN WEEKEND THAT DREW MORE THAN 1,000 VISITORS, AND ITS 1ST ORCHID SYMPOSIUM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ORCHID SOCIETY OF THE PALM BEACHES DREW A SELL-OUT OF 150 ATTENDEES.TO COMPLEMENT ITS LUSH TROPICAL LANDSCAPE, MBG HOUSES A NUMBER OF PERMANENT EXHIBITS AND COLLECTIONS. THE 'MOAI AT MOUNTS BOTANICAL GARDEN' EXHIBIT RECONNECTS VISITORS TO THE ANCIENT RAPA NUI CULTURE OF EASTER ISLAND, AND THE STORY OF PRESERVING AND PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCES, INCLUDING OUR POTABLE WATER, OCEAN AND SEA LIFE, FORESTS, NATIVE WILDLIFE, AND FERTILE FARMLANDS. MBG ALSO HOUSES AN ECLECTIC ART COLLECTION OF SCULPTURES PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED THROUGHOUT THE GARDEN.MBG PROVIDES VISITORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE FEATURED EXHIBITS. FROM NOV. 20, 2024 - MAY 26, 2025, MBG SHOWCASED RIBBIT THE EXHIBIT II BY ARTIST ANDY COBB, FEATURING A COLLECTION OF 18 LARGER-THAN-LIFE WHIMSICAL FROG SCULPTURES THROUGHOUT THE GARDEN. THE EXHIBIT SERVED AS THE BACKDROP FOR THE GARDEN'S 'LEAP INTO A YEAR OF NATURE, ART & SCIENCE' PROGRAMMING, DRAWING 33,000 VISITORS TO THE GARDEN.MBG'S POPULAR MONTHLY DOGS' DAYS IN THE GARDEN DREW 2,300 ATTENDEES TO THE GARDEN, AND MBG'S PALM BEACH COUNTY RESIDENTS DAYS, OFFERING FREE FOR RESIDENTS ATTRACTED OVER 1,600 ATTENDEES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 September 1995.

    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.