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Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Inc

EIN 95-1644628 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CONSERVE NATIVE PLANTS AND HABITATS FOR THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE AND OUR PLANET.

Income
$13.1 million
Spending
$9.8 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
11 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 57%
Employees
112
Volunteers
348
Highest pay
$277,833, executive director

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 79% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% 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 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $2.4 million spent. THE HORTICULTURE PROGRAM CURATES, INSTALLS, AND MAINTAINS THE GARDEN'S LIVING COLLECTION, WHICH ENCOMPASSES 78 ACRES OF NATIVE PLANTS DRAWN FROM CALIFORNIA'S FLORISTIC PROVINCE, AS WELL AS HISTORIC LANDMARKS AND FEATURES DATING BACK TO 1806. THE PROGRAM ENSURES GUESTS EXPERIENCE SEASONAL WILDFLOWER DISPLAYS, ECOSYSTEM-THEMED SECTIONS FROM DESERT TO REDWOOD GROVES, AND GARDENS THAT CELEBRATE CALIFORNIA'S TAXONOMIC DIVERSITY, FROM RARE SPECIES TO ICONIC FIXTURES SUCH AS THE GOLDEN POPPY. NEWER GARDEN EXHIBITS EXPLORE "PLANTING WITH PURPOSE" THEMES SUCH AS WATER CONSERVATION, ATTRACTING WILDLIFE, AND HOME DEMONSTRATION GARDENING. PROGRAM STAFF ALSO MANAGE TWO PLANT NURSERIES - ONE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AND ONE SUPPORTING CONSERVATION AND THE REGENERATION OF THE LIVING COLLECTION.
  2. $3.5 million spent. WITH NATIVE PLANTS AND HABITATS AT ITS CORE, THE CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH PROGRAM FOCUSES ON SOLUTIONS TO TODAY'S COMPLEX CONSERVATION CHALLENGES - FROM GENES TO ECOSYSTEMS. WITH A TEAM OF SCIENTISTS, TECHNICIANS, PARTNERS, AND BUDDING CONSERVATION LEADERS, THE PROGRAM WORKS COLLABORATIVELY TO UNDERSTAND, PROTECT, AND RESTORE CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE BOTANIC ECOSYSTEMS. IN RESPONSE, THE TEAM PRODUCES ESSENTIAL PLANT INVENTORIES AND RESEARCH, SAFEGUARDS ENDANGERED PLANT SPECIES, AND WORKS TO RESTORE ENTIRE FOOD WEBS, WHILE SECURING AND MAINTAINING COLLECTIONS THAT INFORM AND SUPPORT RECOVERY.
  3. $845,625 spent. THE EDUCATION PROGRAM AT THE GARDEN SUPPORTS THE MISSION OF CONSERVING CALIFORNIA'S NATIVE PLANTS BY PROVIDING MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES IN NATURE. THE GARDEN GROUNDS OFFER A UNIQUE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM WHOSE DIVERSE COLLECTIONS PROVIDE A BACKDROP FOR PROGRAMS. BY ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITY WITH ONSITE INTERPRETATION OF OUR LIVING COLLECTIONS AND A WIDE VARIETY OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS ON AND OFF SITE, WE FACILITATE CONNECTIONS TO THE NATURAL WORLD AND FOSTER LOVE FOR NATIVE PLANTS. TRANSFORMATIVE YOUTH PROGRAMS INCLUDE SCHOOL TOURS, SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS AGES FIVE TO 10, AND ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH OUR 4.5 ACRE CHILDREN'S GARDEN, "THE BACKCOUNTRY". THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO ALIGN WITH THE CALIFORNIA COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS, CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION INITIATIVE & NEXT-GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS.
  4. $368,492 spent. GARDEN SHOP: TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL ENGAGEMENT IN HORTICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND THE LOVE OF NATURE BY SELLING PLANTS, BOOKS, MAPS, GARDEN PUBLICATIONS, EDUCATIONAL TOOLS AND RELATED PRODUCTS, THEREBY GENERATING APPRECIATION AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE PLANT AND NATURAL SCIENCES.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1942.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.