San Antonio Botanical Garden Society
San Antonio Botanical Garden Society reported $15.2 million in revenue and $11.6 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $84.50 went to program services, $8.44 to management and general costs and $7.06 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 56.3% of the total. Government grants made up 34.0%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $267,993 (CEO). 3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 61% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, FY2025 (9 mo.).
Where $100 of spending went
The 9-month short period ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $12MFor 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 9-month short period ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $15MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 84.5% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.4% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.1% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.10 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 56.3% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 34.0% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 30.3% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $267,993 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.32% | 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 | 47.8 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 28 of 28 | 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 (9 mo.) · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseThe San Antonio Botanical Garden serves the children of bexar county and the south-central region with exceptional experiences in learning that can only be found at this public garden. We serve 25,000 k-12 grade students annually, and 61% of those students come to the garden from title 1 schools. Though funder support, title 1 students receive free admissions and reimbursement for bus/transportation costs. Our school programs are teks- and STEM-based to align with what educators are teaching back in their classrooms. Students receive an exciting day of learning at the garden that includes fun…
The San Antonio Botanical Garden displays hundreds of thousands of plants and plant collections across our 39 acres. We also propagate and grow more rare and endangered native texas plants than any other organization in the state. Based on our national reputation for excellence in horticulture, the center for plant conversation has entrusted US to protect and grow 100+ rare plant species. Throughout the year, our horticulture and plant conservation teams travel across texas to make new horticulture discoveries and protect native plant species. We conduct hundreds of conservation classes for…
The San Antonio Botanical Garden welcomes 400,000 visitors annually who come to the garden to explore nature and our incredible plant collections and participate in the 960+ educational experiences we offer. They also come to celebrate life events through our extraordinary event spaces. Through our premier rental spaces, we welcome community members for 200+ life events annually that take place in our beautiful betty kelso center and across our lush greehey lawn. We also present two world-class art/nature exhibitions each year that bring thousands of visitors to the garden from around the…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 (9 mo.) · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $257,550 | $0 | $10,443 | $267,993 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $157,568 | $0 | $10,215 | $167,783 |
| VP OF VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND MARKETING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $110,001 | $0 | $0 | $110,001 |
| CDO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $39,846 | $0 | $0 | $39,846 |
3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from San Antonio Botanical Garden Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $659K (Part IX, line 5).
7 filings since 2019
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 (9 mo.) · 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–1b28 · 28 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13No
- 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 61,393
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 (9 mo.) · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SUNBELT WATERPROOFING & RESTORATION LLC Construction services | $3,163,432 |
| IDLEWILD SLONEM Glass and bronze art | $413,231 |
| NOISY TRUMPET Marketing services | $326,666 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 4 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
42 private foundations reported grants to San Antonio Botanical Garden Society totaling $1.2M 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 San Antonio Botanical Garden 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 San Antonio Botanical Garden Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 San Antonio Botanical Garden Society spent in 2024, $84.50 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Questions people ask
How much of San Antonio Botanical Garden Society's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, San Antonio Botanical Garden Society reported that 84.5% of its $11.6 million in expenses went to program services, 8.4% to management and general and 7.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does San Antonio Botanical Garden Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation San Antonio Botanical Garden Society reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $267,993, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does San Antonio Botanical Garden Society get its money?
Of $15.2 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 56.3% came from contributions and grants (including 34.0% from government grants) and 30.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is San Antonio Botanical Garden Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 74-2178792 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, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025 (9 mo.): Form 990 for the 9-month short period ending September 30, 2025, object 202601399349300310 · read the filing · XML
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202511349349310811 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202441359349307869 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202343189349310224 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202203199349318555 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202103199349325995 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202013219349314261 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 74-2178792: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.