Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden reported $11.8 million in revenue and $5.0 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $82.12 went to program services, $8.24 to management and general costs and $9.64 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 78.8% of the total. Government grants made up 10.3%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $216,039 (PRESIDENT / CEO). 2 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 204% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $5.0MFor 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 June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $12MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.1% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.2% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 9.6% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.05 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 78.8% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 10.3% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 13.2% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $216,039 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 4.31% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 2 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 65.7 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 19 of 19 | 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 expenseMore than sixty years ago, community leaders saw the need for an urban garden in the heart of Des Moines. After years of persistence, their vision came to life with the opening of the botanical center (as it was then known) in 1979. The original botanical center operated as part of the city of Des Moines' parks and recreation department, featuring the domed conservatory, a tropical plant collection, and a couple of classrooms. Municipal oversight of the botanical center continued through the early 2010s. At that time, four community leaders-former Des Moines mayor tom urban, buz brenton, fred…
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 Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $181,290 | $0 | $34,749 | $216,039 |
| CHIEF PROGRAMMING OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $117,027 | $0 | $4,491 | $121,518 |
2 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $327K (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–1b19 · 19 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 548
- Volunteers Part I, line 6536
Private foundation grants it received
16 private foundations reported grants to Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden totaling $1.1M 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 Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden spent in FY2025, $82.12 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Valley Clean Air NowSacramento, CA · revenue $12M · programs 94.9% · FY2025
- Oceantic NetworkBaltimore, MD · revenue $12M · programs 70.5% · 2024
- Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens SocietyBuffalo, NY · revenue $12M · programs 72.5% · 2025
- Nature For JusticeFalls Church, VA · revenue $12M · programs 80.6% · 2025
- Climate Power Education FundWashington, DC · revenue $12M · programs 96.8% · 2024
Questions people ask
How much of Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden reported that 82.1% of its $5.0 million in expenses went to program services, 8.2% to management and general and 9.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $216,039, for the role of PRESIDENT / CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden get its money?
Of $11.8 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 78.8% came from contributions and grants (including 10.3% from government grants) and 13.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 42-0540765 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. 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 June 30, 2025, object 202513429349300716 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202433539349300328 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202323549349300707 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202213419349301201 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202102939349300625 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202002799349301400 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 42-0540765: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.