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Botanical Research Institute of Texas Inc

EIN 75-2198196 · Fort Worth, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EXPLORE, DISCOVER, ENGAGE: WE EXPLORE THE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT WORLD OF PLANTS, COLLABORATE TO DISCOVER THE ROLE THEY PLAY IN OUR CULTURAL AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS, AND ENGAGE PEOPLE TO CONSERVE NATURE AND IMPROVE THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

Income
$22.3 million
Spending
$16.7 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
162
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$377,037, ceo & executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $2.9 million spent. RESEARCH. BRIT'S RESEARCH PROGRAM IS THE FOUNDATIONAL ACTIVITY UPON WHICH THE INSTITUTE ACHIEVES ITS MISSION. BRIT ACTS AS A CATALYST WITHIN THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS GLOBALLY CHALLENGING PROBLEMS BY USING VARIOUS BOTANICAL LENSES (TAXONOMY, ECOLOGICAL/ENVIRONMENTAL, AND GENOMICS). RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY BRIT MAKES THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE, SOMETIMES DIRECTLY THROUGH IMPROVEMENTS TO LIFE AND SOMETIMES INDIRECTLY THROUGH INCREASING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD WHICH ALLOWS US TO BECOME MORE RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS OF THE PLANET.
  2. $1.2 million spent. EDUCATION. BRIT DEVELOPS AND PRESENTS NUMEROUS EDUCATION PROGRAMS COVERING VARIOUS TOPICS IN BOTANY, ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION. PROGRAMS ARE PRESENTED TO VARIOUS GROUPS INCLUDING EDUCATORS, STUDENTS AND THE PUBLIC. THE BRIT SEED (SCIENCE-BASED EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION DESIGN) SCHOOL FOR EDUCATORS INSPIRES AND SUPPORTS EDUCATORS IN CONNECTING CHILDREN TO NATURE THROUGH THE USE OF OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS, NATURE AND URBAN ENVIRONMENTS. BRIT PROVIDES CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES THAT COMBINE RESEARCH-BASED BEST PRACTICES WITH HANDS-ON, REAL WORLD LEARNING THROUGH OUTDOOR INQUIRY, PLACE-BASED EDUCATION AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING.
  3. $9.2 million spent. GARDEN. EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2020, THE BOTANICAL INSTITUTE OF TEXAS (BRIT) ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF FORT WORTH TO MANAGE THE FORT WORTH BOTANIC GARDEN (FWBG). FWBG IS A 110-ACRE BOTANIC GARDEN ADJACENT TO BRIT IN THE CULTURAL DISTRICT OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS. THE GARDEN IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND CONTAINS VARIOUS HORTICULTURAL DISPLAYS INCLUDING A JAPANESE GARDEN AND A ROSE GARDEN. IN ADDITION TO INDIVIDUAL VISITATION, THE GARDEN IS ALSO USED FOR MANY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS.
  4. $414,516 spent. COLLECTIONS. THE CORNERSTONE OF THE BOTANICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TEXAS IS ITS HERBARIUM AND BOTANICAL LIBRARY. BRIT'S HERBARIUM, A COLLECTION OF MORE THAN ONE MILLION DRIED PLANT SPECIMENS REPRESENTING MUCH OF EARTH'S PLANT DIVERSITY, IS AMONG THE LARGEST IN THE UNITED STATES. BRIT'S COLLECTIONS-BASED RESEARCH PROVIDES INFORMATION FOR CONSERVATION PURPOSES AND IS A RESOURCE FOR RESEARCH SCIENTISTS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS, PLANT ENTHUSIASTS, GARDENERS, HOSPITALS, AND MANY OTHERS. BRIT'S PLANT COLLECTIONS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TO HELP FULFILL OUR MISSION TO ACHIEVE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE VALUE THAT PLANTS BRING TO LIFE.PRESS. IN ADDITION TO THE SPECIFIC PROGRAMS DESCRIBED ON LINES 4A, 4B, AND 4C, BRIT PUBLISHES THE JOURNAL OF BOTANICAL RESEARCH OF TEXAS (JBRIT), WHICH PRESENTS RESEARCH FROM BRIT RESEARCHERS AS WELL AS LEADING RESEARCHERS FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. BRIT ALSO PUBLISHES MONOGRAPHS AND BOTANICAL BOOKS SUCH AS THE ILLUSTRATED FLORA OF NORTH TEXAS AND THE ILLUSTRATED FLORA OF EAST TEXAS WHICH ARE LEADING WORKS IN BOTANICAL EDUCATION IN TEXAS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 March 1988.

    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.