Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens reported $16.1 million in revenue and $18.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $87.91 went to program services, $7.90 to management and general costs and $4.19 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 48.6% of the total. Government grants made up 24.1%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $714,763 (PRESIDENT AND CEO). 10 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 5% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $18MFor context, the median across 371 covered environment charities: $85.82 programs, $10.80 management, $3.38 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $16MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 87.9% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 7.9% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 4.2% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.10 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 48.6% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 24.1% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 39.9% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $714,763 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 3.96% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 10 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 49.7 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 38 of 38 | 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
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseOverview/horticulture: in 2025, phipps remained at the forefront of the public garden movement as one of the nation's select certified botanic museums, advancing its regenerative operating model to reinforce a more resilient institution. Following its prior receipt of the imls national medal for museums, the field's highest honor for community impact, and the epa green power leadership award for excellence in renewable energy innovation, phipps continued its national ascent when newsweek named it the nation's best botanical garden. From world - class exhibits and science education to bold…
Guest services: in 2025, Phipps Conservatory welcomed more than 420,000 onsite guests from 46 countries and 1.6 million virtual visitors from across the nation and globe into an environment where nature, science, art, and sustainability intersect in meaningful and educational ways. Through prudent planning and disciplined scenario forecasting, phipps navigated short-term economic pressures while maintaining operational stability and positioning the organization for sustained growth and continued innovation.see continuation on schedule o.as one of the region's leading cultural institutions and…
Education: as america's first public teaching conservatory, phipps has been an innovator, community-anchor, and environmental educator since 1893 - combining the beauty of gardens with the power of plant-based science and humanities to shape a better future. Today, phipps continues to lead with bold vision and purpose, offering hands-on, inquiry-based programs that empower learners of all ages to explore, create, and act.our approach to education is rooted in a regenerative approach and maker mindset - where imagination, experimentation, and discovery drive meaningful learning. See…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT AND CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $631,119 | $0 | $83,644 | $714,763 |
| DIRECTOR, CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $246,938 | $0 | $24,343 | $271,281 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $163,659 | $0 | $28,665 | $192,324 |
| OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $163,447 | $0 | $18,943 | $182,390 |
| OF SITE OPERATIONS (EXIT 5/25) Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $142,829 | $0 | $27,435 | $170,264 |
| FACILITIES & SUSTAIN. (ENTER 10/24) Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $119,555 | $0 | $26,056 | $145,611 |
| REGENERATIVE CULTURE & CMTY ENGMT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $126,385 | $0 | $16,173 | $142,558 |
| RESEARCH & SCIENCE ED. (EXIT 7/25) Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $125,805 | $0 | $9,312 | $135,117 |
10 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.1M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · 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–1b38 · 38 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 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5211
- Volunteers Part I, line 6202
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| RENOVATION SERVICES INC Construction services | $1,139,139 |
| RUTHRAUFFSAUER LLC Hvac contractor | $685,006 |
| SODEXO LIVE Food service & janitorial service | $384,052 |
| ST MORITZ SECURITY SERVICES INC Security provider | $297,304 |
| HANLON ELECTRIC COMPANY Electrical contractor | $249,307 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 19 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
32 private foundations reported grants to Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens totaling $624K 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 Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens spent in FY2025, $87.91 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Alliance for the Chesapeake BayAnnapolis, MD · revenue $16M · programs 87.4% · 2024
- 'Sconset TrustSiasconset, MA · revenue $16M · programs 71.2% · 2024
- 350ORGBoston, MA · revenue $16M · programs 88.9% · FY2025
- Center for Coastal StudiesProvincetown, MA · revenue $16M · programs 77.8% · 2025
- National Wild Turkey FederationEdgefield, SC · revenue $16M · programs 100.0% · FY2025
All environment charities · Largest charities in Pennsylvania
Questions people ask
How much of Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens reported that 87.9% of its $18.1 million in expenses went to program services, 7.9% to management and general and 4.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $714,763, for the role of PRESIDENT AND CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens get its money?
Of $16.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 48.6% came from contributions and grants (including 24.1% from government grants) and 39.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 25-1492587 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, object 202602189349301535 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202501899349300545 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202442049349301074 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202302079349300530 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202221889349300612 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202142289349301524 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 25-1492587: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.