Brookgreen Gardens
Brookgreen Gardens reported $18.5 million in revenue and $12.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $81.06 went to program services, $5.15 to management and general costs and $13.79 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 46.5% of the total. Government grants made up 6.8%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $353,308 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 65% between 2020 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 $13MFor 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) | 81.1% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 5.1% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 13.8% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.21 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 46.5% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 6.8% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 34.1% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $353,308 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.75% | 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 | 77.3 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 23 of 24 | 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 expenseExhibition and preservation of figurative american sculpture currently containing over 1100 works spanning the entire period of american sculpture -- from the early 1800s to the present
Horticulture - the floral jewel of sc is a diverse mix of forested swamps, salt marshes and fresh tidal swamps. The 9,200 acre property continues to preserve its natural heritage and develop gardens to showcase sculptures
Public operations: supports the organization's mission by offering daily guest services that enhance public engagement and access to the gardens. The program also provides additional logistical and operational assistance during special events to ensure a safe, enjoyable, and informative visitor experience
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, 37.50 hrs/week | $327,856 | $0 | $25,452 | $353,308 |
| CFO Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $119,601 | $0 | $10,194 | $129,795 |
| DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $101,600 | $0 | $0 | $101,600 |
3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Brookgreen Gardens (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $495K (Part IX, line 5).
6 filings since 2020
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–1b24 · 23 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 4Yes
- 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 5187
- Volunteers Part I, line 6433
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| DARGAN CONSTRUCTION HOLDINGS LP Construction | $8,944,231 |
| BEC CONSTRUCTION Construction | $1,489,701 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
17 private foundations reported grants to Brookgreen Gardens totaling $741K 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 Brookgreen 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 Brookgreen Gardens, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Brookgreen Gardens spent in FY2025, $81.06 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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All environment charities · Largest charities in South Carolina
Questions people ask
How much of Brookgreen Gardens's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Brookgreen Gardens reported that 81.1% of its $12.8 million in expenses went to program services, 5.1% to management and general and 13.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Brookgreen Gardens pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Brookgreen Gardens reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $353,308, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Brookgreen Gardens get its money?
Of $18.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 46.5% came from contributions and grants (including 6.8% from government grants) and 34.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Brookgreen Gardens a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 57-0380356 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 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 (amended), object 202621359349313127 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202521349349304882 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401369349318990 · read the filing
- FY2022 (6 mo.): Form 990 for the 6-month short period ending June 30, 2022, object 202311369349301301 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202300479349300300 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202133199349330588 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 57-0380356: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.