Ganna Walska Lotusland
Ganna Walska Lotusland reported $12.0 million in revenue and $6.3 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $58.39 went to program services, $21.94 to management and general costs and $19.67 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 81.4% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $272,532 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 53% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $6.3MFor context, the median across 2,433 covered unclassified charities: $88.27 programs, $11.68 management, $0.05 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $12M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$78.56 $9.8M
- Program service revenue$9.68 $1.2M
- Investment income$11.76 $1.5M
Other revenue was negative: −$439K. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 58.4% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 21.9% | 11.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 19.7% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.13 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 81.4% | 29.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 3.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 10.0% | 58.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $272,532 | $301,601 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 4.32% | 1.38% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 110.0 | 6.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 22 of 22 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseGanna Walska Lotusland's public tours showcase plant collections encompassing over 3,800 taxa, including species from mediterranean regions around the world. Many of these species are rare, endangered, and some are extinct in the wild. The collections feature cacti, succulents, cycads, palms, ferns, begonias, and conifers. Our sustainable horticulture methods are founded on organic methods and are designed to demonstrate enviornmental stewardship and teach best practices
Junior botanist program offers 4th grade students from santa barbara county immersive experiences within lotusland's 37-acre garden classroom. In 2025, we continued nurturing the environmental stewards of tomorrow by educating them about botany, horticulture, and sustainable plants healthcare practices. In 2025, this program served: - 1,858 k-12 students from 37 elementary schools (some schools sent multiple classes)- 230 university students - 2 paid student interns
Enhancing access and inclusion: north america's botanic gardens serve over 132 million people annually, demonstrating their immense value. However, some visitors find it challenging to access or afford a visit to lotusland given the $60 admission for adults. To address this, lotusland operates the museums for all program, with subsidized admissions for individuals receiving food assistance (snap benefits) by presenting their ebt card and a photo id.grant funds support educational programs and interns, sustainability programs and partnerships, and admissions and access. The garden also hosts…
Highest reported compensation
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $260,782 | $0 | $11,750 | $272,532 |
| DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $136,962 | $0 | $6,848 | $143,810 |
| DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $125,857 | $0 | $12,118 | $137,975 |
| DIRECTOR OF GROUNDS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $113,272 | $0 | $18,279 | $131,551 |
| CHIEF EXPERIENCE OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $110,000 | $0 | $14,014 | $124,014 |
| DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $102,215 | $0 | $17,659 | $119,874 |
| DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $109,109 | $0 | $3,217 | $112,326 |
7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Ganna Walska Lotusland (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $385K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b22 · 22 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 556
- Volunteers Part I, line 6197
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ESAU LANDSCAPES Landscaping | $418,205 |
| TYNAN GROUP LP Construction | $318,343 |
| HARRISON DESIGN ASSOCIATES Architecture | $130,405 |
| DUO EVENTS Events | $105,447 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 6 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
35 private foundations reported grants to Ganna Walska Lotusland totaling $559K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Ganna Walska Lotusland's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Ganna Walska Lotusland, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Ganna Walska Lotusland spent in 2025, $58.39 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Cil Realty of MaHartford, CT · revenue $12M · programs 99.4% · FY2025
- Ironbound Community CorporationNewark, NJ · revenue $12M · programs 89.1% · FY2025
- New Orleans MissionNew Orleans, LA · revenue $12M · programs 92.4% · FY2025
- Community Action Stops AbuseSt Petersburg, FL · revenue $12M · programs 81.4% · FY2025
- Arizona Community Action AssociationPhoenix, AZ · revenue $12M · programs 94.1% · FY2025
All unclassified charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Ganna Walska Lotusland's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Ganna Walska Lotusland reported that 58.4% of its $6.3 million in expenses went to program services, 21.9% to management and general and 19.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Ganna Walska Lotusland pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Ganna Walska Lotusland reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $272,532, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Ganna Walska Lotusland get its money?
Of $12.0 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 81.4% came from contributions and grants and 10.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Ganna Walska Lotusland a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 23-7082550 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202602259349301035 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202511989349301021 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202423189349311582 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202322969349300622 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202223199349318887 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202143009349302034 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202033179349309018 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 23-7082550: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.