Norfolk Botanical Garden
Norfolk Botanical Garden reported $17.8 million in revenue and $22.2 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $89.41 went to program services, $8.63 to management and general costs and $1.96 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 71.8% of the total. Government grants made up 6.2%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $347,520 (PRESIDENT AND CEO). 3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 122% 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 $22MFor 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 $18MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 89.4% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.6% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.0% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.03 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 71.8% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 6.2% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 16.5% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $347,520 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.57% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 3 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 18.1 | 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 expenseHighest 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, 45.00 hrs/week | $329,270 | $0 | $18,250 | $347,520 |
| EXECUTIVE VP OF PHILANTHROPY / COO Officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $158,696 | $0 | $12,127 | $170,823 |
| CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $97,089 | $0 | $16,444 | $113,533 |
3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Norfolk Botanical Garden (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $588K (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 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5197
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,000
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| A R CHESSON CONSTRUCTION CO INC Construction services | $9,930,498 |
| CHIHULY INC Glass art | $1,478,400 |
| SENTARA HEALTH PLAN Health insurance | $594,434 |
| DILLS ARCHITECTS Architect drawings | $440,930 |
| THE HARTFORD Insurance | $121,728 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 6 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
16 private foundations reported grants to Norfolk Botanical Garden totaling $4.1M 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 Norfolk 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 Norfolk Botanical Garden, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Norfolk Botanical Garden spent in FY2025, $89.41 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Big Sur Land TrustMonterey, CA · revenue $18M · programs 75.9% · FY2025
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- Tri City Economic Development CorporationUnion City, CA · revenue $18M · programs 97.0% · 2024
- Grand Canyon ConservancyGrand Canyon, AZ · revenue $18M · programs 61.5% · 2025
- The Marie Selby Botanical GardensSarasota, FL · revenue $18M · programs 78.3% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Norfolk Botanical Garden's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Norfolk Botanical Garden reported that 89.4% of its $22.2 million in expenses went to program services, 8.6% to management and general and 2.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Norfolk Botanical Garden pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Norfolk Botanical Garden reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $347,520, for the role of PRESIDENT AND CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Norfolk Botanical Garden get its money?
Of $17.8 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 71.8% came from contributions and grants (including 6.2% from government grants) and 16.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Norfolk Botanical Garden a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 54-0788933 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 202621359349312277 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202541269349301709 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202430899349300708 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202340899349300504 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202231369349314078 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202121259349302207 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 54-0788933: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.