Hallberg Butterfly Gardens
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FOSTER THE BREEDING, PROPAGATION, PROTECTION, PRESERVATION AND SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF THE LEPIDOPTERA ORDER BY OPERATION OF ONE OR MORE EXPERIMENTAL BUTTERFLY HABITATS. PROVIDE EDUCATION AND INFORMATION CENTERS.
- Income
- $252,377
- Spending
- $133,083
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 82%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 90
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 47% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 214% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 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 December 31, 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 (2)
- $92,871 spent. THE PROGRAM IS FOR THE PRESERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF BUTTERFLY HABITAT. THE GARDENS HOSTED REGULAR VOLUNTEERS EVERY TUESDAY AND THE LAST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH. THERE WERE 72 VOLUNTEERS DURING THE YEAR WHO PUT IN A TOTAL OF OVER 353 HOURS. WORK INCLUDED TRAIL MAINTENANCE, PROPAGATION OF NATIVE AND HABITAT FRIENDLY PLANTS FOR THE GARDENS AND PLANT SALES, AND INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL. VOLUNTEERS ALSO WORKED ON ENHANCEMENT & EXPANSION OF THE GARDEN'S MILKWEED PATCHES & NECTAR SOURCES FOR THE MONARCH HABITAT PATCH. THE MONARCH HABITAT PATCH IS INCLUDED IN THE ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECT HEADED BY THE NON-PROFIT, POLLINATOR PARTNERSHIP. THIS GROUP STUDIES THE PHENOLOGY OF THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY IN CALIFORNIA.ALSO A GRANT WAS RECEIVED FROM THE XERCES SOCIETY FOR PLANTS TO BE PLANTED IN THE MONARCH PATCH.
- THE HALLBERG BUTTERFLY GARDENS OFFERED THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITES DURING THE YEAR.SELF-GUIDED TOURS WERE OFFERED BY APPOINTMENT SPRING THROUGH FALL. THERE WERE 1,007 PEOPLE WHO CAME AND TOURED THE GARDENS INCLUDING 648 CHILDREN FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS. 728 BUTTERFLIES FROM 24 DIFFERENT SPECIES WERE IDENTIFIED BY GUESTS AND VOLUNTEERS WHO CAME TO THE GARDENS.THE GARDENS HELD ITS 5TH ANNUAL MOTH NIGHT IN JULY TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL MOTH WEEK.32 PEOPLE CAME TO LEARN THE IMPORTANCE OF MOTHS IN THE ECOSYSTEMS. THROUGHOUT THE EVENING THE PARTICIPANTS HELPED TO DOCUMENT AND ID THE MOTHS FOUND IN THE GARDENS AT 2 UV LIGHT STATIONS USED TO ATTRACT MOTHS AND OTHER INSECTS. THERE WERE 67 OBSERVATIONS FROM 34 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF MOTHS, BEETLES AND FLIES.EVERY FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH GUESTS WERE INVITED TO DRAW AND PAINT OBSERVATIONS IN THE GARDENS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 October 1997.
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.