Bellevue Botanical Garden Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 25.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 24
- Volunteers
- 369
- Highest pay
- $134,022, executive director
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
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 25.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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 (7)
- $335,351 spent. GARDEN D'LIGHTS PROGRAM: THE BELLEVUE BOTANICAL GARDEN SOCIETY WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF BELLEVUE TO ACHIEVE THE GARDEN'S MISSION. THE SOCIETY PROVIDES A BROAD RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE, INSPIRE AND INFORM GARDEN VISITORS. WE RELY ON DONATIONS, MEMBERSHIPS, SPECIAL EVENTS AND SPONSORSHIPS TO SUPPORT THE FREE AND LOW-COST EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS THAT ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS, DOCENTS, LECTURES, AND ADULT EDUCATION. GARDEN D'LIGHTS IS OUR LARGEST OUTREACH EVENT WHICH CELEBRATED ITS 30TH YEAR IN DECEMBER 2023. THE BELLEVUE BOTANICAL GARDEN SOCIETY HOSTS ANNUAL COMMUNITY EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO DRAW MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO THE GARDEN. THESE EVENTS PROMOTE SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, AND AWARENESS OF THE BELLEVUE BOTANICAL GARDEN. WE RELEASED 17,500 COMMUNITY TICKETS THROUGH THE CITY OF BELLEVUE PARKS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES TO PROVIDE FREE ACCESS TO UNDESERVED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. REVENUE FROM THIS EVENT IS RAISED TO SUPPORT OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS. AN ESTIMATED 81,454 PEOPLE ATTENDED IN 2023. 3,330 COMMUNITY TICKETS (FREE) WERE REDEEMED. 2,745 MEMBER TICKETS (FREE) WERE REDEEMED. 544 VOLUNTEER OR OTHER TICKETS(FREE) WERE REDEEMED.
- $159,161 spent. MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM: OUR MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO CULTIVATE NEW DONORS AND SUPPORT FOR THE GARDEN. AS A FREE ADMISSION GARDEN THAT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC YEAR-ROUND, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT MEMBERSHIP IS NOT ABOUT GAINING FREE ACCESS, BUT THAT SENSE OF SUPPORTING THIS SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
- $150,908 spent. OUR ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM OFFERS A SELECTION OF HORTICULTURAL, GARDENING, NATURE, AND WELLNESS FOCUSED CURRICULUM. WE UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY TO PROVIDE HYBRID LECTURES, WEBINARS, AND SYMPOSIA TO INCREASE ACCESS TO OUR CONTENT. WE PROVIDED 55 ADULT LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES REACHING 2031 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH IN-PERSON AND HYBRID PROGRAMS.
- $143,554 spent. GARDEN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: THE BELLEVUE BOTANICAL GARDEN SOCIETY AND CITY OF BELLEVUE ARE GUIDED BY A MASTER PLAN AND PARTNER TO DEVELOP THE BELLEVUE BOTANICAL GARDEN INTO A RESOURCE OF REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RENOWN. OUR GARDEN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REVIEWS AND APPROVES GARDEN PROJECTS. EFFORTS CAN BE FUNDED BY RESTRICTED GIVING FROM DONORS AS WELL AS BOARD DESIGNATED EXPENSES.
- $147,233 spent. CHILDREN'S PROGRAM: OUR YOUTH AND CHILDREN'S PROGRAM HAVE BEEN A HALLMARK OF OUR ORGANIZATION FOR OVER 30 YEARS. NOTABLY OUR LIVING LAB PROGRAM SERVES THE BELLEVUE SCHOOL DISTRICT. LIVING LAB IS A FREE 2-HOUR PROGRAM TO PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND HOME SCHOOLERS FOR GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 5TH. 47 CLASS SESSIONS, 42 CLASS DAYS OFFERED, 40 CLASS DAYS FILLED, 8 DAYS HAD 2 GROUPS SIMULTANEOUSLY ON THE SAME DAY, TWO OF THOSE AFTERNOONS WERE OFF-SITE AT A PRESCHOOL. ONE DAY HAD TWO CURRICULUMS FOR A SPRING BREAK CAMP (PAID). 2,036 STUDENTS WERE SERVED BY OUR LIVING LAB PROGRAMS FOR THE 2023-2024 FY. IN ADDITION TO LIVING LAB, WE OFFER A PRESCHOOL LEVEL PROGRAM CALLED KIDS IN THE GARDEN AS WELL AS A YOUTH AND CHILDREN'S WORKSHOPS THAT PROVIDE A RANGE OF CURRICULUM FOCUSED ON OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, HORTICULTURE, GARDENING, AND ART. 846 YOUTH WERE SERVED THROUGH THESE PROGRAM ELEMENTS. THE BULK OF OUR EXPENSE IS THE PAID EDUCATORS WHO EXECUTE THE PROGRAM.
- $3,621 spent. COMMUNITY EVENTS: OUR ANNUAL ARTS IN THE GARDEN INVITES THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER TO VIEW OUTDOOR GARDEN ART AND OFFERINGS FROM LOCAL VENDORS. THIS IS A 2-AND-A-HALF-DAY EVENT EVERY AUGUST AND IS ENTERING ITS 15TH YEAR.
- $48,288 spent. VISITOR ENGAGEMENT IS A NEW PROGRAM THAT WAS SLATED TO START IN THE 2023-2024 FY. IT WAS DELAYED AND WAS INITIATED IN THE 2024-2025 FY.
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 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 June 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 March 1992.
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.