Quail Botanical Gardens Foundation
Also known as San Diego Botanic Garden
Quail Botanical Gardens Foundation reported $11.1 million in revenue and $9.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $76.13 went to program services, $21.30 to management and general costs and $2.57 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 52.7% of the total. Government grants made up 5.9%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $305,996 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 4 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 176% 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 $9.5MFor 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 $11MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 76.1% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 21.3% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.6% | 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 | 40.4% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 5.9% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 52.7% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $305,996 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 3.24% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 4 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 18.8 | 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 expenseVisitor experience - san diego botanic garden (sdbg) spans 37-acres overlooking the pacific ocean and serves as a peaceful urban oasis in the heart of encinitas, california. During fiscal year 2025 116,139 visitors enjoyed the garden's 4 miles of trails and 29 uniquely-themed gardens and plant collections which provide an immersive educational experience of various plant families, flowers, and trees from all over the world. Gardens range from the largest bamboo collection in north america to the award-winning hamilton children's garden. Sdbg was named one of the" top 10 botanic gardens" by…
Lightscape is an illuminated walking trail through the san diego botanical garden featuring a holiday experience that combines art, nature, and technology through a one-mile walking trail with international artistic installations and returning favorites, all coming to life after dark with color, imagination, and sound. The lightscape welcomed 116,165 visitors during the fiscal year
Science & conservation - sdbg's science & conservation programs work to conserve threatened plants and habitats, including san diego's native flora as well as rare plants from around the world. The programs conduct and communicate science & conservation to enhance the persistence of and access to plant diversity within and beyond the garden. The programs also serve to address the most pressing challenges - from biodiversity loss to climate change to food insecurity due to environmental degradation. The work of the programming continues in ever more ambitious and urgent forms. The science and…
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 | $288,838 | $0 | $17,158 | $305,996 |
| CHIEF OPERATIONS AND EXPERIENCE OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $131,966 | $0 | $14,274 | $146,240 |
| SR. DIRECTOR, PEOPLE & CULTURE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $126,228 | $0 | $4,974 | $131,202 |
| SR. DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $114,771 | $0 | $10,886 | $125,657 |
4 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Quail Botanical Gardens Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $294K (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 592
- Volunteers Part I, line 6285
Private foundation grants it received
1 private foundation reported grants to Quail Botanical Gardens Foundation totaling $11,850 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 Quail Botanical Gardens Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Quail Botanical Gardens Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Quail Botanical Gardens Foundation spent in FY2025, $76.13 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Western Climate InitiativeSacramento, CA · revenue $11M · programs 80.5% · 2025
- Georgia-Alabama Land TrustPiedmont, AL · revenue $11M · programs 92.8% · 2024
- Sevier Solid WastePigeon Forge, TN · revenue $11M · programs 96.4% · FY2025
- Little Traverse ConservancyHarbor Springs, MI · revenue $11M · programs 86.3% · 2024
- Global Environment & Technology FoundationArlington, VA · revenue $11M · programs 87.8% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Quail Botanical Gardens Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Quail Botanical Gardens Foundation reported that 76.1% of its $9.5 million in expenses went to program services, 21.3% to management and general and 2.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Quail Botanical Gardens Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Quail Botanical Gardens Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $305,996, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Quail Botanical Gardens Foundation get its money?
Of $11.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 40.4% came from contributions and grants (including 5.9% from government grants) and 52.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Quail Botanical Gardens Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 95-6120581 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 202640939349301529 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202520929349300442 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202431219349302123 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202233189349308978 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202113269349301201 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202033159349301893 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 95-6120581: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.