Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden reported $13.5 million in revenue and $10.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $77.65 went to program services, $18.51 to management and general costs and $3.84 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 58.3% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $236,269 (PRESIDENT AND CEO). 5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 28% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $11MFor 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 March 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $13MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 77.7% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 18.5% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.8% | 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 | 58.3% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 2.0% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 26.8% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $236,269 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.21% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 45.5 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 30 of 30 | 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 expenseHorticulture - the horticulture department is responsible for the heart of the garden's missions of display, research, education and community outreach. Permanent collections are integrated into varied garden settings in 35-intensely cultivated acres (on an 82-acre property), some themed (e.g., asian valley, cochrane rose garden.) year-round display in the conservatory and annual seasonal displays in the outdoor garden are interpreted through labels, signs and the presence of horticulturists and gardeners able to answer guest questions while they go about the business of designing, planting…
Education and exhibitions - the education and exhibitions department is responsible for developing and coordinating a diverse array of multi-generational exhibits, events, educational programs, guest resources, and community alliances that encourage life-long learning about the plant world. Programs are designed to engage visitors of all ages, from toddlers to seniors, in active learning, where first-hand experience and observation of the natural world help to build knowledge, expand awareness and encourage attitudes of stewardship. The varied programs include adult continuing education…
Guest services - the umbrella of guest services encompasses departments directly dealing with the guest experience and amenities (visitor services, membership, garden shop, facility rental, food services, special events) and those departments that support those departments (operations, security, it, facilities maintenance). Admissions desk, telephone reception, facility rental and catering, the garden shop, the garden cafe and the robins tea house restaurant are enfolded in guest experience activities and amenities. Staff members in these areas work together to ensure the quality of the…
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 Director/trustee, officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $220,183 | $0 | $16,086 | $236,269 |
| CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $192,866 | $0 | $15,279 | $208,145 |
| VP, ACCOUNTING AND ADMIN Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $121,647 | $0 | $13,095 | $134,742 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $118,215 | $0 | $12,988 | $131,203 |
| VP, FACILITIES Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $101,346 | $0 | $12,071 | $113,417 |
5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $221K (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–1b30 · 30 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 5192
- Volunteers Part I, line 6625
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| HOURIGAN CONSTRUCTION CORP Capital campaign construction contractor | $10,245,756 |
| PROSPLANT INC Conservatory greenhouse structures contr | $1,707,123 |
| RESTAURANT ASSOCIATES Garden's "onsite" outsourced caterer | $434,150 |
| 3NORTH Capital campaign design and architect co | $290,836 |
| WATERTRONICS LLC Conservatory lake - pumping systems cont | $289,570 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 9 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
36 private foundations reported grants to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden totaling $3.1M 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 Lewis Ginter 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 Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden spent in FY2025, $77.65 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Questions people ask
How much of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden reported that 77.7% of its $10.7 million in expenses went to program services, 18.5% to management and general and 3.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden reported for one person in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 was $236,269, for the role of PRESIDENT AND CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden get its money?
Of $13.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, 58.3% came from contributions and grants (including 2.0% from government grants) and 26.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 54-1273467 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 March 31, 2025, object 202620419349301792 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, object 202510469349300716 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, object 202440439349301919 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, object 202340389349300344 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, object 202220399349300207 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020, object 202140429349301904 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 54-1273467: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.