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Leach Botanical Garden

EIN 93-0807685 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceGood72 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LEACH BOTANICAL GARDEN OFFERS IMMERSIVE, RESTORATIVE, AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES IN A UNIQUE LANDSCAPE OF NATIVE PLANTS AND HORTICULTURAL COLLECTIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUILDING COMMUNITY, CELEBRATING NATURE, AND INSPIRING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
59%
Reserves
5.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 39%
Employees
23
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$94,733, executive dir. (thru 3/2025)

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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    59% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (3)
  1. $464,790 spent. BOTANY & HORTICULTURE - THIS YEAR BROUGHT MANY CHANGES TO THE HORTICULTURE DEPARTMENT. WITH THE DEPARTURE OF HEAD GARDENER SCOTT HOELSCHER AFTER 20 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE, A MAJOR RESTRUCTURING OF THE DEPARTMENT WAS SET INTO ACTION. THE ROLE OF HEAD GARDENER WAS DISSOLVED TO REFOCUS EFFORTS IN AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN SITTING ON THE BACK BURNER DUE TO LACK OF CAPACITY. WE NOW HAVE A TEAM OF 3 YEAR ROUND GARDENERS, EACH WITH A DEDICATED MAINTENANCE ZONE. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.ADDITIONALLY, ONE OF THESE POSITIONS WORKS AS THE PROPAGATOR FOR THE GARDEN, A POSITION THAT WAS PUT ON HOLD AFTER THE PREVIOUS PROPAGATOR RETIRED. AFTER YEARS OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IN THE NURSERY AND GREENHOUSE, THE TEAM IS NOW WORKING IN EARNEST TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO GET PRODUCTION LEVELS AT OR ABOVE WHERE THEY WERE PRIOR TO 2021. IN 2026, WE HOPE TO BE GROWING LARGE QUANTITIES OF NATIVE PLANTS FOR THE GARDEN'S COLLECTIONS, THE BACK 5 RESTORATION SITE, AS WELL AS THE GIFT SHOP. OF COURSE, WE WILL STILL OFFER MANY OF THE ORNAMENTAL PLANTS THAT PEOPLE HAVE COME TO ASSOCIATE WITH LEACH, SUCH AS JACK-IN-THE-PULPITS AND TRILLIUMS. WHILE NAVIGATING THESE CHANGES, THE TEAM CONTINUED TO WORK DILIGENTLY TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE GARDEN. OVER 800 PLANTS ENCOMPASSING APPROXIMATELY 90 DIFFERENT SPECIES WERE ADDED, MANY OF THOSE SPECIES BEING NEW INTRODUCTIONS TO THE GARDEN'S PLANT COLLECTIONS. THE GARDEN ALSO HOSTED A PLANT RECORDS INTERN, WHO TOOK ON THE MONUMENTAL TASK OF INVENTORYING THE ENTIRETY OF THE POLLINATOR GARDEN'S PLANT SPECIES. IN THE END, OVER 140 DIFFERENT SPECIES WERE CATALOGUED, WITH A GRAND TOTAL OF 4,815 PLANTS GROWING IN THE POLLINATOR GARDEN ALONE. THE HOPE IS TO CONTINUE THESE EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE GARDEN.
  2. $248,909 spent. EDUCATION - MAJOR COMMUNITY EVENTS BY THE NUMBERS: SPRING EQUINOX FAIR (635 GUESTS) JUNETEENTH COMMUNITY FREE DAY (1,002 GUESTS) SUMMER NATURE FAIR (534 GUESTS) WINTER SOLSTICE (391 GUESTS) SIP & PICNIC (191 GUESTS) MOMENT (277 GUESTS) OREGON ADVENTURE THEATRE'S "THE WINTER'S TALE" (650 GUESTS AT MULTIPLE PERFORMANCES) RENEGADE OPERA'S BIRD SONGS OF OPERA (200 GUESTS) 105 ATTENDED AN ART CLASS (DRAWING, WATERCOLOR, PRINTMAKING) CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.THE PROGRAMS TEAM BEGAN WORK ON THE FAR MEADOW WITH THE FIRST BERM PLANTING OF SUNFLOWERS AND OTHER COLORFUL POLLINATORS, RESTORED THE PLAY COTTAGE WITH A BEAUTIFUL NEW MURAL, ADDED SEATING MADE BY PORTLAND YOUTH BUILDERS, AND SELECTED LOCAL ARTIST ROSE COVERT TO CREATE A MOONGATE SCULPTURAL INSTALLATION. THE TEAM ALSO HIRED KATHARINE GRACE J. FLORES AS OUR NEW BACK 5 EDUCATION & ECOLOGY MANAGER, THANKS TO GRANT FUNDING SUPPORT FROM M. J. MURDOCK CHARITABLE TRUST.
  3. $135,614 spent. VISITOR SERVICES - AS THE GARDEN'S FRONT DOOR, VISITOR SERVICES CREATES THE FIRST AND OFTEN MOST MEMORABLE CONNECTION BETWEEN GUESTS AND LEACH BOTANICAL GARDEN. OUR TEAM WELCOMES VISITORS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, ENSURING THAT EVERYONE FEELS AT HOME AND THAT COST IS NEVER A BARRIER TO ENJOYING NATURE, BEAUTY AND COMMUNITY. IN FY25, THE GARDEN WELCOMED 33,471 TOTAL GARDEN GUESTS.NOW IN ITS THIRD YEAR, GARDEN FOR ALL REMAINS A CORNERSTONE OF LEACH'S MISSION TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS. IN FY25 ALONE, 1,485 GUESTS ENJOYED COMPLIMENTARY ADMISSION. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.WHEN COMBINED WITH OTHER FREE ENTRY DAYS, A TOTAL OF AROUND 3,600 VISITORS RECEIVED FREE ENTRY. OF ALL GARDEN FOR ALL VISITORS TO DATE, 75% ARE OREGON RESIDENTS, AND 36% LIVE IN OUR NEIGHBORING SOUTHEAST PORTLAND ZIP CODES (97206, 97266, 97236). VOLUNTEERS - WE CURRENTLY HAVE OVER 75 VOLUNTEERS WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE ESSENTIAL TO HAVING A THRIVING, WELCOMING, WELL MAINTAINED GARDEN. VOLUNTEERS ASSIST WITH NUMEROUS TASKS, INCLUDING GARDEN MAINTENANCE, HABITAT RESTORATION, EVENT AND FUNDRAISING SUPPORT, GIFT SHOP SALES, GARDEN TOURS, SERVING ON THE LEACH GARDEN FRIEND'S BOARD, AND MORE. WE ARE INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH A DEDICATED, POSITIVE, AND HARD-WORKING CREW OF VOLUNTEERS! THE GARDEN GIFT SHOP IS STAFFED YEAR-ROUND BY A CAPABLE VOLUNTEER TEAM WHO HANDLED $128,718 IN SALES DURING THE 24-25 FISCAL YEAR (UP FROM $94,864 FOR THE 23-24 FISCAL YEAR). THE SHOP IS AN ESSENTIAL AND WELCOMING HUB OF INFORMATION FOR VISITORS TO THE HISTORIC LOWER GARDEN, AS WELL AS PROVIDING CAREFULLY SELECTED NATURE-THEMED MERCHANDISE WITH A FOCUS ON LOCALLY PRODUCED ITEMS. VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED ASSISTANCE FOR SEVERAL VERY SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING EVENTS, INCLUDING THE 2024 WINTERFEST AND WREATH SALE, AND THE 2025 SPRING GARDEN FAIR, FEAST IN THE GARDEN, BOO BASH, AND MORE. OUR KNOWLEDGEABLE VOLUNTEER DOCENTS LED VISITORS ON A VARIETY OF UNIQUE TOURS, INCLUDING THE SOCIAL LIFE OF TREES, THE ROMANTIC TOUR, AND THE GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS TOUR.

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

  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 June 2025.

    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 July 1982.

    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.