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Santa Fe Botanical Garden

EIN 85-0366754 · Santa Fe, NM

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SANTA FE BOTANICAL GARDEN CELEBRATES, CULTIVATES AND CONSERVES THE RICH BOTANICAL HERITAGE AND BIODIVERSITY OF OUR REGION. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NATURE, WE DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT THROUGH EDUCATION, SCIENCE, CONSERVATION, COMMUNITY SERVICE, PRESENTATION OF THE ARTS, AND THE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF OUR PUBLIC GARDEN.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
-1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 54%
Employees
27
Volunteers
154

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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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 60% 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

    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.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $810,834 spent. MUSEUM HILL BOTANICAL GARDEN - IN JUST ITS SECOND YEAR, LA LUZ DE LAS NOCHES - AN ANNUAL HOLIDAY EVENT - HAS BECOME ONE OF THE GARDEN'S MOST IMPORTANT FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES. LA LUZ 2024 ATTRACTED NEARLY 4,500 VISITORS TO THE GARDEN AND GROSSED OVER 100,000 IN REVENUE. OVERALL ATTENDANCE AT THE SFBG REMAINED STRONG IN 2024 AND PROGRAM OFFERINGS INCREASED ESPECIALLY IN THE AREAS OF SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION. THE HORTICULTURE AND COLLECTIONS PROGRAMS AT THE SFBG CONTINUE TO BE THE CORE PROGRAMS OF THE SFBG. THE LIVING COLLECTIONS ARE TAXONOMICALLY DIVERSE AND FOCUS ON SPECIES THAT ARE WELL-ADAPTED TO NORTHERN NEW MEXICO AND SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ON WATER CONSERVATION, ATTRACTING POLLINATORS, AND SOUND HORTICULTURAL PRACTICES FOR THE REGION. A NEW GARDEN - THE DAVID SALMAN TRIBUTE GARDEN - WAS INSTALLED IN 2024 AND FEATURES PLANTS INTRODUCED INTO THE HORTICULTURAL TRADE BY PLANTSMAN DAVID SALMAN. WORK CONTINUED ON DEVELOPING A LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE MORE THAN THREE-ACRE PION JUNIPER WOODLAND SECTION OF THE SFBG. MUSEUM HILL BOTANICAL GARDEN - IN JUST ITS SECOND YEAR, LA LUZ DE LAS NOCHES - AN ANNUAL HOLIDAY EVENT - HAS BECOME ONE OF THE GARDEN'S MOST IMPORTANT FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES. LA LUZ 2024 ATTRACTED NEARLY 4,500 VISITORS TO THE GARDEN AND GROSSED OVER 100,000 IN REVENUE. OVERALL ATTENDANCE AT THE SFBG REMAINED STRONG IN 2024 AND PROGRAM OFFERINGS INCREASED ESPECIALLY IN THE AREAS OF SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION. THE HORTICULTURE AND COLLECTIONS PROGRAMS AT THE SFBG CONTINUE TO BE THE CORE PROGRAMS OF THE SFBG. THE LIVING COLLECTIONS ARE TAXONOMICALLY DIVERSE AND FOCUS ON SPECIES THAT ARE WELL-ADAPTED TO NORTHERN NEW MEXICO AND SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ON WATER CONSERVATION, ATTRACTING POLLINATORS, AND SOUND HORTICULTURAL PRACTICES FOR THE REGION. A NEW GARDEN - THE DAVID SALMAN TRIBUTE GARDEN - WAS INSTALLED IN 2024 AND FEATURES PLANTS INTRODUCED INTO THE HORTICULTURAL TRADE BY PLANTSMAN DAVID SALMAN. WORK CONTINUED ON DEVELOPING A LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE MORE THAN THREE-ACRE PION JUNIPER WOODLAND SECTION OF THE SFBG.
  2. $14,020 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS - EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS OF THE SFBG ENGAGE DIVERSE AUDIENCES OF ALL AGES THROUGH CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, LECTURES, AND NATURE ACTIVITIES. IN 2024, THE SFBG PARTNERED WITH THE SANTA FE GARDEN CLUB TO CO-HOST DR. DOUG TALLAMY RENOWNED ENTOMOLOGIST, ECOLOGIST, AND AUTHOR WHOSE RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY HAVE TRANSFORMED THE NATIVE PLANT MOVEMENT. DR. TALLAMY INTERACTED WITH SFBG MEMBERS AND PRESENTED A PUBLIC LECTURE ON THE USE OF NATIVE PLANTS IN THE LANDSCAPE. THE SFBG GROUNDS PROVIDE A UNIQUE OUTDOOR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT SUPPORTS AN ARRAY OF LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN NATURE.
  3. $14,442 spent. ART IN THE GARDEN - PRESENTATION OF THE ARTS IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE SFBG'S MISSION. IN 2024 THE SFBG OPENED THE EXHIBITION "ELEMENTS OF THE EARTH: CONTEMPORARY NATIVE SCULPTURE" FEATURES FIFTEEN SCULPTURES BY SOME OF THE MOST PROMINENT INDIGENOUS ARTISTS WORKING IN THE SOUTHWEST TODAY, INCLUDING DOUG HYDE (ASSINIBOINE, NEZ PEARCE, CHIPPEWA), CLIFF FRAGUA (JEMEZ PUEBLO), SEAN RISING SUN FLANAGAN (TAOS PUEBLO), TAMMY GARCIA (SANTA CLARA PUEBLO), GREYSHOES (UPTON ETHELBAH JR., SANTA CLARA PUEBLO, WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHE), MICHAEL NARANJO (SANTA CLARA PUEBLO), KATHLEEN WALL (JEMEZ PUEBLO), AND ADRIAN WALL (JEMEZ PUEBLO). THE SFBG, LIKE ALL OF SANTA FE, IS LOCATED WITHIN THE ANCESTRAL HOMELAND OF THE TEWA PEOPLE. IN CONCEPTUALIZING THE EXHIBITION, IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT IT INCLUDED NATIVE ARTISTS THAT HAVE STRONG TIES TO THE REGION AND UNDERSTAND ITS COMPLEX HISTORY. THE RESULT WAS A COMPELLING EXHIBITION THAT HONORS THE LAND, THE ARTISTS, AND THE GARDEN'S MISSION, AND PROVIDES THE PUBLIC WITH A CONTEXT IN WHICH TO ENJOY EXCEPTIONAL ART IN A NATURAL SETTING. ART IN THE GARDEN - PRESENTATION OF THE ARTS IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE SFBG'S MISSION. IN 2024 THE SFBG OPENED THE EXHIBITION "ELEMENTS OF THE EARTH: CONTEMPORARY NATIVE SCULPTURE" FEATURES FIFTEEN SCULPTURES BY SOME OF THE MOST PROMINENT INDIGENOUS ARTISTS WORKING IN THE SOUTHWEST TODAY, INCLUDING DOUG HYDE (ASSINIBOINE, NEZ PEARCE, CHIPPEWA), CLIFF FRAGUA (JEMEZ PUEBLO), SEAN RISING SUN FLANAGAN (TAOS PUEBLO), TAMMY GARCIA (SANTA CLARA PUEBLO), GREYSHOES (UPTON ETHELBAH JR., SANTA CLARA PUEBLO, WHITE MOUNTAIN APACHE), MICHAEL NARANJO (SANTA CLARA PUEBLO), KATHLEEN WALL (JEMEZ PUEBLO), AND ADRIAN WALL (JEMEZ PUEBLO). THE SFBG, LIKE ALL OF SANTA FE, IS LOCATED WITHIN THE ANCESTRAL HOMELAND OF THE TEWA PEOPLE. IN CONCEPTUALIZING THE EXHIBITION, IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT IT INCLUDED NATIVE ARTISTS THAT HAVE STRONG TIES TO THE REGION AND UNDERSTAND ITS COMPLEX HISTORY. THE RESULT WAS A COMPELLING EXHIBITION THAT HONORS THE LAND, THE ARTISTS, AND THE GARDEN'S MISSION, AND PROVIDES THE PUBLIC WITH A CONTEXT IN WHICH TO ENJOY EXCEPTIONAL ART IN A NATURAL SETTING.

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 October 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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Atlanta Botanical Garden Inc (Atlanta, GA), EIN 58-1313284. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.