named programs · 13 · from sources
what they call their work
Cactus Clubhouse
Hands-on nature play experience for children and families, included with admission and access to Framerate: Desert Pulse.
Central Arizona Cactus and Succulent Society Annual Show & Sale
Annual event featuring over 400 cacti and succulents cultivated by club members, with experts available to answer visitor questions.
Dog Days After Dark
Evening version of Dog Days, giving pets a chance to experience Garden: After Dark.
Dog Days at the Garden
Special morning events allowing dogs and their owners to explore the garden together.
Framerate: Desert Pulse
Multi-sensory art exhibit by ScanLAB Projects that immerses visitors in the visual and emotional energy of the Sonoran Desert.
Garden: After Dark
Evening experience where trails are illuminated and the garden transforms into a nighttime desert escape, featuring art and light installations.
Majestic Mariposas
Seasonal exhibit (Oct 11 - May 10) celebrating butterflies, with admission including access to Framerate: Desert Pulse.
Mark Klett: Desert Citizens
Photography exhibition featuring the work of award-winning Arizona landscape photographer Mark Klett, exploring time, cultural memory, and the Sonoran Desert.
Seedlings
Program for children ages 3–5 and their caretakers to explore nature and the garden through interactive experiences.
Sunset Sound Meditation
Meditation experience featuring singing bowls and gongs to promote relaxation in a natural setting.
Sunset Yoga
Yoga sessions led by Metta Yoga at sunset, offering a peaceful connection with nature.
The Central Arizona Cactus and Succulent Society Annual Show & Sale
An annual show and sale featuring over 400 cactus and succulent plants cultivated by club members, with experts available to answer questions.
VIP Pup Club Pass
Special pass offering exclusive access and experiences for dogs and their owners during Dog Days events.
activities · 18
what they do
direct service · 12
- Deliver educational programs for children Nature-Based Early Childhood EducationOffers the Seedlings program for children aged 3–5 and their caregivers, providing guided nature-based activities to foster early environmental engagement.
- Ensure accessibility during extreme weatherReduces evening admission prices during heat waves to maintain public access and safety for visitors.
- Host pet-inclusive garden events Fee-Based Public Access to Recreational AttractionsOrganizes Dog Days After Dark, a special evening event that allows dogs and their owners to experience the Garden After Dark program together.
- Host public exhibitions and art installations Recurring Community Art WalksHosts immersive art and photography exhibitions such as Desert Pulse by ScanLAB Projects and "Mark Klett: Desert Citizens" to engage visitors with the Sonoran Desert’s visual and emotional landscape.
- Hosting plant shows and sales Horticultural Exhibitions and Plant SalesHosts annual shows and sales featuring hundreds of cactus and succulent specimens, providing access to plant experts for visitors.
- Lead field conservation and community science efforts GIS Mapping & Specimen Data ManagementCoordinates community science surveys for rare plants on the Tonto National Forest and conducts research and conservation for endangered plant species.
- Offering educational programs for children Nature-Based Early Childhood EducationOffers the Seedlings program for children aged 3–5 and their caretakers, providing guided activities to experience nature.
- Operating a botanical garden and hosting exhibits Public Garden & Visitor Education OperationsOperates a botanical garden focused on desert plants and hosts various art and photography exhibits, including multi-sensory installations and landscape photography, to immerse visitors in the Sonoran Desert.
- Organize cactus and succulent shows and sales Horticultural Exhibitions and Plant SalesHosts annual events like the Central Arizona Cactus and Succulent Society Show & Sale, featuring hundreds of cacti and succulent specimens and offering access to plant experts.
- Organizing special events Fee-Based Public Access to Recreational AttractionsOrganizes special events such as Dog Days After Dark, allowing dogs and their owners to attend Garden After Dark, and reduces evening admission prices to maintain accessibility during heat waves.
- Provide wellness and recreational events Sound-Based Meditation and Relaxation ProgramsHosts Sunset Yoga and Sunset Sound Meditation sessions using singing bowls and gongs to promote relaxation and mindfulness in a garden setting.
- Providing wellness activities Sound-Based Meditation and Relaxation ProgramsHosts Sunset Yoga sessions and Sunset Sound Meditation sessions using singing bowls and gongs to promote relaxation and meditation.
research · 3
- Conduct desert plant conservation research GIS Mapping & Specimen Data ManagementManages GIS mapping of the Garden's living collections, conducts propagation and germination studies for rare plants, and supports habitat restoration and species reintroduction.
- Conducting plant conservation researchOperates as a nationally recognized research center focused on desert plant conservation, conducting research and conservation efforts for endangered plant species, developing propagation techniques, and performing seed germination studies for rare plants to support habitat restoration and species reintroduction.
- Coordinating community science surveys GIS Mapping & Specimen Data ManagementCoordinates community science surveys for rare plants on the Tonto National Forest.
capacity building · 3
- Maintain living plant collections database GIS Mapping & Specimen Data ManagementManages databasing, accessioning, and labeling of plant specimens in the Garden's Living Collections to support research, conservation, and public education.
- Managing plant collections data and GIS GIS Mapping & Specimen Data ManagementManages the enterprise geographic information system (GIS) to map plants in the Garden's living collection, providing spatial analysis for research and publications, and oversees databasing, accessioning, and labeling of plant specimens.
- Support volunteer engagement and recognition Volunteer Recognition EventsRecognizes and celebrates volunteers annually during Volunteer Appreciation Month to support ongoing garden operations and community involvement.
strategies · 16
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any approach shared with other orgs to see the full field.
- Accessible and adaptive public programming day-night programming unique to this orgExpands public access and engagement by offering educational and recreational programming across day and night hours and providing climate-responsive plant care guidance to support community resilience and continuous learning.
- Art and cultural integration in environmental education art-nature integration unique to this orgCombines art and nature through multi-sensory exhibits, photography, and at-home activities to deepen public emotional and intellectual engagement with desert ecosystems and cultural relationships to the landscape.
- Art-nature integration for public engagement art-nature integration unique to this orgCombines art and nature through multi-sensory exhibits and photography to emotionally and intellectually engage visitors with the Sonoran Desert, using creative expression to deepen understanding of ecological and cultural relationships.
- Collaborative, policy-integrated conservation collaborative conservation and policy integration unique to this orgAdvances conservation through cross-boundary collaboration that integrates ecosystem management with legal and policy frameworks to create scalable, systemic impact.
- Collaborative, policy-integrated conservation approach collaborative conservation and policy integration unique to this orgDrives large-scale conservation outcomes by integrating scientific research with legal frameworks and cross-boundary policy collaboration, ensuring ecosystem management is both scientifically sound and institutionally viable.
- Data privacy and security protocols data-security-protocols unique to this orgProcesses personal data in compliance with legal and ethical standards through contractual necessity, user consent, and legitimate interests, while employing robust technical and organizational security measures to protect information.
- Donor circle model for high-level giving donor circle model unique to this orgEngages high-level donors through an annual giving circle to provide sustained support for scientific research, education, and conservation initiatives.
- Early childhood nature education through experiential learning early childhood nature education unique to this orgEngages young children and caregivers in hands-on, experiential learning programs to foster early connection with nature and environmental stewardship.
- Early childhood nature immersion programs early childhood nature education unique to this orgIntroduces young children and their caregivers to desert ecosystems through hands-on, experiential learning to foster early environmental literacy and lifelong stewardship.
- Extended access and climate-responsive programming day-night programming unique to this orgIncreases public engagement by offering day and night programming to accommodate diverse visitor needs, and provides climate-specific plant care guidance to support home gardeners during extreme weather conditions.
- Membership-based funding and engagement model membership-based funding model unique to this orgUtilizes a tiered membership system to generate sustainable funding for education, research, and conservation while offering reciprocal benefits and exclusive access to cultivate long-term donor relationships and broaden public engagement.
- Membership-based funding with tiered engagement membership-based funding model unique to this orgUses a membership model offering reciprocal benefits and exclusive access to fund education, research, and conservation, while targeting young professionals through a specialized program to cultivate early philanthropic engagement and long-term support.
- Pollinator conservation via research and public outreach pollinator conservation through research and outreach unique to this orgConducts research on plant-insect interactions and couples findings with public outreach to drive community action in pollinator conservation.
- Science-driven ecological restoration and conservation ecological restoration through plant-fungal interactions unique to this orgAdvances restoration of desert and riparian ecosystems through research on plant-fungal interactions, plant physiology, and molecular ecology, integrating traditional and genetic data to support conservation and arid-lands agriculture.
- Scientific research for ecological restoration and conservation ecological restoration through plant-fungal interactions unique to this orgAdvances desert and riparian ecosystem restoration through integrated research in plant-fungal interactions, plant systematics, molecular ecology, and pollinator-plant relationships, directly informing conservation strategies and sustainable agriculture in arid lands.
- Strategic donor engagement for conservation support donor circle model unique to this orgEngages high-capacity donors through structured giving circles to secure targeted funding for scientific research, education, and conservation initiatives, leveraging collective philanthropy for greater impact.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
the money
revenue
Total revenue$39.21M
Contributions & grants$16.27M41%
Program service revenue$17.81M45%
Investment income$4K0%
Other revenue$5.13M
expenses
Total expenses$21.92M
Program expenses73%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising14%
Salaries & benefits$12.05M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$67.70M
Cash$21.05M
Investments$616K
Liabilities$5.70M
Net assets$62.00M
Liquid reserves11.9 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue +105.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021
who runs it
paid leadership · 7
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KENNETH J SCHUTZ | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $363K |
| MARGARET BURKE | CFOO | 40 | $251K |
| ELAINE MCGINN | CHIEF EXPERIENCE OFFICER | 40 | $179K |
| KIMBERLIE MCCUE | CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER | 40 | $175K |
| TINA WILSON | SENIOR DIRECTOR OF HORTICU | 40 | $162K |
| JOSEPH MCAULIFFE | SR RESEARCH SCIENTIST | 40 | $150K |
| MARCIA FLYNN | SR DIRECTOR EVENT SERVICES | 40 | $131K |
board members · 18
- ADRIANA MURRIETTA — TRUSTEE
- AMANDA BURKE — TRUSTEE
- AMY FLOOD — PRESIDENT
- ANN STANTON — TRUSTEE
- BARBARA HOFFNAGLE — TRUSTEE
- BARRY K FINGERHUT — TRUSTEE
- BILL JACOBY — TRUSTEE
- BRUCE MACDONOUGH — TRUSTEE
- CAROLE KRAEMER — TRUSTEE
- CARRIE LOUIS HULBURD — TRUSTEE
- CHRISTOPHER GATELY — TRUSTEE
- DAN PEREZ — VICE PRESIDENT
- DAVE ROBERTS — TRUSTEE
- DIANA GREGORY — TRUSTEE
- DIRK ELLSWORTH — TRUSTEE
- DOUG CARTER — TRUSTEE
- EDGARDO RIVERA MD FACP — TRUSTEE
- HAROLD C DORENBECHER — TRUSTEE
relationships · 10
who they work with
- American Horticultural Society Network — Participates in the American Horticultural Society's Reciprocal Admissions Program, offering members access to 300+ gardens, arboreta and conservatories.
- Central Arizona Cactus & Succulent Society Partner — Collaborates on the annual cactus and succulent show and sale.
- Central Arizona Cactus and Succulent Society Partner — Co-hosts the Annual Show & Sale featuring member-grown cacti and succulents.
- Central Arizona Conservation Alliance Coalition — Leads and supports conservation initiatives through the CAZCA program, including partner engagement and community science projects.
- Dorrance Family Foundation Funder — Provides funding support for the Conservation Biologist position focused on rare plant genetics and conservation.
- European Commission Government — Uses standard contractual model clauses approved by the European Commission for transferring personal data outside the EEA.
- IUCN CSSG Partner — Collaborates on riparian ecosystem protection and endangered species awareness through the IUCN CSSG Program Officer role.
- Metta Yoga Partner — Provides instructors for Sunset Yoga sessions at the garden.
- ScanLAB Projects Partner — Collaborates on the creation of Desert Pulse, a multi-sensory art exhibit.
- Tonto National Forest Partner — Collaborates on community science surveys and conservation of rare plant species.