Desert Botanical Garden
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE GARDEN'S COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY IS TO ADVANCE EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION, RESEARCH, EXHIBITION AND CONSERVATION OF DESERT PLANTS OF THE WORLD WITH EMPHASIS ON THE SONORAN DESERT. WE WILL ENSURE THAT THE GARDEN IS ALWAYS A COMPELLING ATTRACTION THAT BRINGS TO LIFE THE MANY WONDERS OF THE DESERT.
- Income
- $30.2 million
- Spending
- $27.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 47%
- Employees
- 249
- Volunteers
- 632
- Highest pay
- $605,277, executive director (until 9/30/25)
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
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 43 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2545 of 45 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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 (1)
- $20.0 million spent. HORTICULTURE - PROPAGATING & MAINTAINING A LIVING PLANT COLLECTION OF OVER 50,000 DESERT PLANTS WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THOSE INHABITING THE SONORAN DESERT, MANY OF WHICH ARE ENDANGERED SPECIES. THIS PROGRAM ALSO WORKS TO PRESERVE DESERT PLANT LIFE OUTSIDE OF ITS COLLECTION BY EDUCATING THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE BEAUTY, VARIETY AND FRAGILITY OF DESERT PLANT LIFE BY DISPLAYING AND INTERPRETING ITS COLLECTION FOR THE PUBLIC AT ITS GARDEN IN PHOENIX, AZ WHICH IN THE CURRENT YEAR ATTRACTED OVER 520,000 VISITORS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. EDUCATION - PROVIDES PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND EDUCATORS THAT PROMOTE GREATER ENJOYMENT, UNDERSTANDING AND STEWARDSHIP OF THE SONORAN DESERT. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING AT THE DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN PROMOTES A SCIENTIFICALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY LITERATE COMMUNITY THROUGH HANDS-ON, NATURE-BASED LEARNING, AND GARDEN STAFF AND RESOURCES. THESE PLACE-BASED EXPERIENCES INSPIRE A CONNECTION TO THE UNIQUE WONDERS OF THE SONORAN DESERT, ENCOURAGE CONSERVATION OF THE NATURAL WORLD, AND IGNITE A LIFE-LONG APPRECIATION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. INFORMAL PROGRAMS SPAN THE AGES OF INFANTS TO TEENAGERS ALONGSIDE THEIR CAREGIVERS THROUGH INQUIRY-BASED INVESTIGATIONS THAT INCORPORATE ART, SCIENCE, MUSIC, AND MUCH MORE.IN FY2025, THE CHILDREN AND FAMILY TEAM AT DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN ENGAGED MORE THAN 28,000 VISITORS THROUGH A DIVERSE PORTFOLIO OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND FAMILY-FOCUSED EXPERIENCES. COLLECTIVELY, THESE OFFERINGS ADVANCED THE GARDEN'S MISSION TO CONNECT PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WITH THE PLANTS, PEOPLE, AND ECOLOGY OF THE SONORAN DESERT.THE CACTUS CLUBHOUSE SERVED AS A CENTRAL HUB FOR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT. OPEN FROM OCTOBER 18 THROUGH MAY 17, THURSDAY-SUNDAY FROM 9:00 A.M. TO 3:00 P.M., THIS NATURE-BASED PLAY SPACE WELCOMED OVER 18,000 VISITORS, INCLUDING MORE THAN 12,000 CHILDREN. ACCESS TO THE CLUBHOUSE WAS INCLUDED WITH GENERAL GARDEN ADMISSION AND MEMBERSHIP, REINFORCING THE GARDEN'S COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVE, HANDS-ON LEARNING.AN ADDITIONAL 6,000 VISITORS PARTICIPATED IN CHILDREN'S EDUCATION PROGRAMMING DURING FREE COMMUNITY DAYS HELD IN THE BINNS PAVILION. THESE PROGRAMS WERE DELIVERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS ARIZONA GAME AND FISH, TEMPE PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND PHOENIX HERPETOLOGICAL SANCTUARY, STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND EXPANDING EDUCATIONAL REACH.THE CHILDREN AND FAMILY DEPARTMENT ALSO COLLABORATED WITH THE EVENTS DEPARTMENT TO DELIVER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING DURING MAJOR GARDEN EVENTS, INCLUDING THE PLANTS AND PEOPLE OF THE SONORAN DESERT FESTIVAL, STRANGE GARDEN, AND LUMINARIA, INTEGRATING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES INTO HIGH-ATTENDANCE EXPERIENCES.AFTER A POST-COVID PAUSE, DBG-LED FIELD TRIPS RESUMED IN FY2025, WELCOMING NEARLY 4,000 STUDENTS AND CHAPERONES BACK TO THE GARDEN FOR ON-SITE LEARNING. SUMMER CAMP CONTINUED TO GROW AS A SIGNATURE OFFERING, WITH MULTIPLE CAMPS HELD EACH WEEK IN JUNE AND 122 CHILDREN AGES 8-13 PARTICIPATING IN IMMERSIVE, HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES.ONGOING WEEKLY PROGRAMMING FURTHER EXTENDED ENGAGEMENT ACROSS SEASONS. STORYTIME ACTIVITIES, OFFERED IN THE CACTUS CLUBHOUSE THROUGHOUT THE SPRING AND SUMMER, CENTERED ON SONORAN DESERT FLORA AND FAUNA AND ENGAGED 630 CHILDREN AND CAREGIVERS. SEEDLINGS CLASSES, DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN AGES 2-6 AND THEIR CAREGIVERS, PROMOTED EARLY NATURE-BASED PLAY AND REACHED MORE THAN 110 PARTICIPANTS OVER A TWO-MONTH PERIOD.EQUITY AND ACCESS REMAINED A PRIORITY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THROUGH THE CAECOM COMMUNITY PASS PROGRAM, THE CHILDREN'S EDUCATION TEAM PARTNERED WITH ORGANIZATIONS SERVING UNDERPRIVILEGED YOUTH TO PROVIDE FREE, FACILITATED DAYS AT THE GARDEN. PARTNERS INCLUDED ATABEY OUTDOORS, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, FREE ARTS FOR ABUSED CHILDREN OF ARIZONA, AND ASU'S MIGRATORY STUDENT SUMMER ACADEMY, AMONG OTHERS. THESE EXPERIENCES POSITIVELY IMPACTED MORE THAN 500 CHILDREN.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1949.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.