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Naples Botanical Garden Inc

EIN 65-0511429 · Naples, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENT.PDF

Income
$20.4 million
Spending
$17.0 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 50%
Employees
236
Volunteers
189
Highest pay
$301,770, president/ce

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: 54 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 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 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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

    22 of 22 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. $13.2 million spent. NAPLES BOTANICAL GARDEN CREATES BEAUTIFUL DISPLAYS HIGHLIGHTING RARE AND VALUABLE SCIENTIFIC SPECIMENS, CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT RICH WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN. IT PROVIDES FORMAL AND INFORMAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION EFFORTS FOR ALL AGES, ABILITIES AND BACKGROUNDS WITH A GOAL OF MEASURABLE BEHAVIOR CHANGE. THE ENTIRE CAMPUS IS USED AS AN OUTDOOR CLASSROOM. AUDIENCES INCLUDE CITIZENS, TOURISTS, SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELDS OF STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, LAND MANAGEMENT, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT, AND HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT. NAPLES BOTANICAL GARDEN DEVELOPS PLANT-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS FOR THE MOST THREATENED ECOSYSTEMS IN FLORIDA AND THE TROPICAL WORLD. THE LIVING COLLECTION CONTINUES TO GROW WITH A FOCUS ON PLAN DIVERSITY, GENETIC DIVERSITY, KNOWN PROVENANCE (ESPECIALLY WILD PROVENANCE), CONSERVATION STATUS, AND THOSE THAT ARE OR COULD BE FOOD SOURCES. PRIORITIES IN FLORIDA INCLUDE DEVELOPING RESEARCH-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR REBUILDING RESILIENT URBAN FORESTS, STRENGHTENING BEACHES AND LANDSCAPING FOR CLEAN WATER. NAPLES BOTANICAL GARDEN CREATES BEAUTIFUL DISPLAYS HIGHLIGHTING RARE AND VALUABLE SCIENTIFIC SPECIMENS, CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT RICH WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN. IT PROVIDES FORMAL AND INFORMAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION EFFORTS FOR ALL AGES, ABILITIES AND BACKGROUNDS WITH A GOAL OF MEASURABLE BEHAVIOR CHANGE. THE ENTIRE CAMPUS IS USED AS AN OUTDOOR CLASSROOM. AUDIENCES INCLUDE CITIZENS, TOURISTS, SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELDS OF STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, LAND MANAGEMENT, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT, AND HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT. NAPLES BOTANICAL GARDEN DEVELOPS PLANT-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS FOR THE MOST THREATENED ECOSYSTEMS IN FLORIDA AND THE TROPICAL WORLD. THE LIVING COLLECTION CONTINUES TO GROW WITH A FOCUS ON PLAN DIVERSITY, GENETIC DIVERSITY, KNOWN PROVENANCE (ESPECIALLY WILD PROVENANCE), CONSERVATION STATUS, AND THOSE THAT ARE OR COULD BE FOOD SOURCES. PRIORITIES IN FLORIDA INCLUDE DEVELOPING RESEARCH-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR REBUILDING RESILIENT URBAN FORESTS, STRENGHTENING BEACHES AND LANDSCAPING FOR CLEAN WATER.

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 November 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.