Myriad Gardens Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MYRIAD BOTANICAL GARDENS' MISSION IS TO CREATE A BEAUTIFUL BOTANICAL GARDEN AND URBAN PARK WITH A DIVERSITY OF YEAR-ROUND HORTICULTURAL, CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OKLAHOMA CITY. OUR PRIMARY PROGRAMS OFFER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT TEACH ALL AGES ABOUT PLANTS, GARDENING AND CONSERVATION. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE HANDS-ON EDUCATIONAL CLASSES FOR SCHOOLS THAT FOCUS ON OUR OUTDOOR GARDENS AS WELL AS TROPICAL PLANTS IN OUR CRYSTAL BRIDGE CONSERVATORY. WE OFFER DOZENS OF GARDENING PROGRAMS, FROM COMPOSTING AND SEED STARTING TO PRUNING, GARDEN DESIGN AND PLANTS FOR POLLINATORS AND MUCH MORE. WE OFFER AN ANNUAL GARDENING SCHOOL ATTENDED BY HUNDREDS THAT FOCUS ON SUSTAINABLE GARDENING FOR OKLAHOMA. IN ADDITION TO HORTICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, WE OFFER SEASONAL BOTANICAL FESTIVALS INCLUDING ORCHID SHOWS, FALL HARVEST AND HOLIDAY FESTIVALS. WE ALSO OFFER A DIVERSITY OF CULTURAL EVENTS THAT INCLUDE CONCERTS, PLAYS, DANCE, BOOK FESTIVALS,
- Income
- $6.1 million
- Spending
- $5.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 1.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 49%
- Employees
- 86
- Volunteers
- 1,015
- Highest pay
- $217,229, president an
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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $4.0 million spent. OUR TOP THREE PROGRAMS CONSIST OF OUR GROUNDS, HORTICULTURAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL EVENTS. OUR 15-ACRES OF OUTDOOR GARDENS, LAWNS, WATER FEATURES, CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND AND VISITOR LOBBY ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THE SITE CONTAINS EXTENSIVE PLANT COLLECTIONS AND GREEN SPACES FOR EDUCATION, PLAY, RELAXATION AND INSPIRATION FOR ALL AGES TO APPRECIATE AND LEARN ABOUT PLANTS AND GARDENING. OUR YEAR-ROUND HORTICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES INCLUDE LECTURES, HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS, OUTDOOR PLANT WALKS, AND AN ANNUAL ALL DAY GARDEN EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM. WE OFFER A SPRING NATIVE PLANT SALE, A SPRING GARDEN FESTIVAL AND A FALL TREE SALE. OUR RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL EVENTS INCLUDE: CONCERTS, MOVIES, ART EXHIBITS, SEASONAL FAMILY FESTIVALS (BRINGING BOOKS TO LIFE AND PUMPKINVILLE), ICE SKATING, YOGA, BIKE PROGRAMS, BASKETBALL AND FUTSOL COURTS, HOLIDAY EVENTS AND ETHNIC FESTIVALS. WE ESTIMATE OVER 300,000 PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAMS, SPECIAL EVENTS AND VISITS TO THE CONSERVATORY. WE ESTIMATE OVER 500,000 PEOPLE A YEAR VISIT THE GARDENS. OUR TROPICAL PLANT CONSERVATORY UNDERTOOK A MAJOR RENOVATION AND REOPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN NOVEMBER 2022. THE RENOVATIONS RESULTED IN IMPROVED DISPLAYS, INTERPRETATION, ACCESSIBILITY, NEW WATER FEATURES AND SCULPTURE. A NEW GIFT SHOP OPENED AT THE SAME TIME FEATURING A WIDE RANGE OF INVENTORY THAT IS BOTANICALLY THEMED OR USEFUL FOR GARDENING. OUR TOP THREE PROGRAMS CONSIST OF OUR GROUNDS, HORTICULTURAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL EVENTS. OUR 15-ACRES OF OUTDOOR GARDENS, LAWNS, WATER FEATURES, CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND AND VISITOR LOBBY ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THE SITE CONTAINS EXTENSIVE PLANT COLLECTIONS AND GREEN SPACES FOR EDUCATION, PLAY, RELAXATION AND INSPIRATION FOR ALL AGES TO APPRECIATE AND LEARN ABOUT PLANTS AND GARDENING. OUR YEAR-ROUND HORTICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES INCLUDE LECTURES, HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS, OUTDOOR PLANT WALKS, AND AN ANNUAL ALL DAY GARDEN EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM. WE OFFER A SPRING NATIVE PLANT SALE, A SPRING GARDEN FESTIVAL AND A FALL TREE SALE. OUR RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL EVENTS INCLUDE: CONCERTS, MOVIES, ART EXHIBITS, SEASONAL FAMILY FESTIVALS (BRINGING BOOKS TO LIFE AND PUMPKINVILLE), ICE SKATING, YOGA, BIKE PROGRAMS, BASKETBALL AND FUTSOL COURTS, HOLIDAY EVENTS AND ETHNIC FESTIVALS. WE ESTIMATE OVER 300,000 PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAMS, SPECIAL EVENTS AND VISITS TO THE CONSERVATORY. WE ESTIMATE OVER 500,000 PEOPLE A YEAR VISIT THE GARDENS. OUR TROPICAL PLANT CONSERVATORY UNDERTOOK A MAJOR RENOVATION AND REOPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN NOVEMBER 2022. THE RENOVATIONS RESULTED IN IMPROVED DISPLAYS, INTERPRETATION, ACCESSIBILITY, NEW WATER FEATURES AND SCULPTURE. A NEW GIFT SHOP OPENED AT THE SAME TIME FEATURING A WIDE RANGE OF INVENTORY THAT IS BOTANICALLY THEMED OR USEFUL FOR GARDENING.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1987.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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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