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South Coast Botanic Garden Foundation Inc

EIN 95-6062220 · Pls Vrds Pnsl, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SOUTH COAST BOTANIC GARDEN WILL CONNECT ALL TO THE WONDERS OF NATURE AND CREATE EXPERIENCES THAT INSPIRE STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY.

Income
$5.9 million
Spending
$6.0 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
108
Volunteers
525
Highest pay
$285,170, chief executive officer

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: 73 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • 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 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 (4)
  1. $3.6 million spent. OVERALLPROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES AND EARNED REVENUES SUPPORTED THE GARDEN'S MISSION TO CONNECT ALL PEOPLE TO THE WONDERS OF NATURE AND SERVED APPROXIMATELY 281,000 VISITORS DURING THE 2025 FISCAL YEAR. INVESTMENTS SUPPORTED MARKETING, DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT, AND MEMBERSHIP, AS WELL AS OPERATIONS THAT ENSURED A SAFE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING FACILITY AND LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE, CUSTODIAL SERVICES, KOI POND CARE, THE RANGER PROGRAM, WAYFINDING, FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICES, TICKETING AND MEMBERSHIP SYSTEMS, AND LONG-TERM PLANNING FOR FUTURE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
  2. $519,281 spent. HORTICULTUREHORTICULTURE IS CENTRAL TO SOUTH COAST BOTANIC GARDEN'S MISSION AND PUBLIC BENEFIT. A PROFESSIONAL TEAM MAINTAINS THE GARDEN'S LIVING COLLECTIONS USING SPECIALIZED TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT, WITH SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN PLANT PROCUREMENT FOR SEASONAL DISPLAYS, REPLACEMENT OF AGING OR UNSUCCESSFUL SPECIMENS, AND ONGOING EDITING OF COLLECTIONS TO ENSURE HORTICULTURAL INTEGRITY, CLIMATE-APPROPRIATE PLANTING, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS SUCH AS COOLING AND WATER CONSERVATION.
  3. $263,877 spent. ENGAGEMENTDURING THE 2025 FISCAL YEAR, THE GARDEN PRESENTED EXHIBITIONS AND PARTICIPATORY EXPERIENCES ACROSS ITS 87 ACRES TO DEEPEN VISITOR ENGAGEMENT AND CONNECTION TO NATURE. THESE INSTALLATIONS ENCOURAGED EXPLORATION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, DISCOVERY, PLANT LEARNING, AND SOCIAL INTERACTION, AND INCLUDED MAJOR EXHIBITIONS SUCH AS SOAR: TROPICAL BUTTERFLIES, ASTRA LUMINA, AND OUTDOOR ART EXPERIENCES LIKE HIDE AND SEEK AND BAMBOOZLED, AS WELL AS HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES INCLUDING WORKSHOPS, NATURE JOURNALING, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS.
  4. $187,090 spent. EVENT OPERATIONSINVESTMENTS IN GUEST EXPERIENCES WERE IMPORTANT IN 2025 WITH AN EYE TOWARD ENHANCING GARDEN VISITS. FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES AND EXHIBITIONS WERE A CREATIVE INSPIRATION POINT FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE MENUS THAT CONNECTED OUR GUESTS WITH THE GARDEN EVEN FURTHER. FOR INSTANCE, AGAVE SYRUP AND TEQUILA TASTINGS WERE PART OF SERVICE FOR THE SPIKED CELEBRATION OF AGAVE, AND THEMED COCKTAILS WERE PART OF THE SUNSET SERIES CONCERTS.

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 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 June 2025.

    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 March 1962.

    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.