West Michigan Horticultural Society
Also known as And Sculpture Park
West Michigan Horticultural Society reported $38.1 million in revenue and $39.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $80.15 went to program services, $15.58 to management and general costs and $4.27 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 48.5% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $432,377 (PRESIDENT/CEO). 15 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 77% 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 $39MFor 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 $38MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 80.1% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 15.6% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 4.3% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.13 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 34.0% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.1% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 48.5% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $432,377 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.10% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 15 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 126.8 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 37 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 expenseCollections and exhibitions: the frederik meijer gardens & sculpture park (meijer gardens) promotes the enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment and the arts. Throughout the year, guests experience exhibitions on their own, through a guided tour, a tram ride or with a downloadable tour. Permanent exhibitions include indoor display gardens (tropical conservatory, arid garden, victorian garden, and carnivorous plants), acres of outdoor gardens and a world renowned sculpture collection.temporary exhibitions generally include up to three sculpture…
Culinary arts & events: the culinary arts & events of meijer gardens includes taste of the gardens cafe, as well as the ability to enjoy social or corporate functions in one of our event spaces. Event gatherings may be enhanced with our on site audiovisual services and our catering and beverage service. Culinary arts & events offerings also include concessions food and beverage at outdoor artistic events such as concerts and winter light show
Education: meijer gardens offers educational opportunities for temporary exhibitions and permanent displays through interpretive signage, guided tours, looking guides, films, downloadable tours and interaction with knowledgeable staff and volunteers. Additional offerings include classes, camps, workshops, lectures, school tours and programs. Because we believe that learning should be fun and that the most effective education sparks curiosity, virtually all of our educational offerings are innovative and interactive. Approximately 30,560 children interacted with our educational opportunities
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/CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $417,738 | $0 | $14,639 | $432,377 |
| FORMER EXEC VP & CFO ENDING JAN 2025 Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $313,702 | $0 | $23,018 | $336,720 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $260,298 | $0 | $5,953 | $266,251 |
| SENIOR VP OF HORTICULTURE Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $225,890 | $0 | $21,891 | $247,781 |
| VP OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $168,159 | $0 | $20,294 | $188,453 |
| VP OF COLLECTIONS & CURATO Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $165,920 | $0 | $17,791 | $183,711 |
| SENIOR DIRECTOR OF TALENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $160,118 | $0 | $6,847 | $166,965 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVANCEMENT ENDING APR 2025 Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $151,054 | $0 | $6,787 | $157,841 |
15 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from West Michigan Horticultural Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.3M (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 · 37 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 11aNo
- 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 5446
- Volunteers Part I, line 6690
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| OWENS-AMES-KIMBALL CO Construction | $1,163,146 |
| UPSTAGING INC Winter lighting event | $1,107,438 |
| DK SECURITY Security guards | $821,508 |
| TOM OTTERNESS Artwork | $471,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 33 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
18 private foundations reported grants to West Michigan Horticultural Society totaling $246K 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 West Michigan Horticultural Society's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for West Michigan Horticultural Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 West Michigan Horticultural Society spent in FY2025, $80.15 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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- Rewiring AmericaWashington, DC · revenue $38M · programs 75.1% · 2024
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Questions people ask
How much of West Michigan Horticultural Society's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, West Michigan Horticultural Society reported that 80.1% of its $39.4 million in expenses went to program services, 15.6% to management and general and 4.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does West Michigan Horticultural Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation West Michigan Horticultural Society reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $432,377, for the role of PRESIDENT/CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does West Michigan Horticultural Society get its money?
Of $38.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 34.0% came from contributions and grants (including 0.1% from government grants) and 48.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is West Michigan Horticultural Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 38-2394044 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 202632159349300373 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202520859349301632 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202410999349300911 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202301119349300900 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202232019349300428 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202110689349301016 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 38-2394044: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.