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TUCSON BOTANICAL GARDENS

TUCSON, AZ · EIN 237037310 · Form 990 · FY2021 · NTEE C410 · Environment · Medium ($1M-$10M) · www.tucsonbotanical.org
revenue
$3.5M
expenses
$2.2M
net assets
$6.7M
employees
61
volunteers
128
program ratio
75%
mission · from form 990

TUCSON BOTANICAL GARDENS CONNECTS PEOPLE WITH PLANTS AND NATURE THROUGH ART, SCIENCE, HISTORY AND CULTURE.

profile · synthesized from sources

Tucson Botanical Gardens is an operational nonprofit that maintains a lush oasis featuring diverse plant collections and specialty gardens in Tucson, Arizona. It serves as a living museum and offers educational programs, community classes, and horticultural therapy to the public. The gardens also host events and provide a space for nature exploration.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2021

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $451K
    EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS EDUCATIONAL & OUTREACH PROGRAMS: TBG OFFERS CLASSES, WORKSHOPS & LECTURES TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, ABILITIES & BACKGROUNDS. IN A NORMAL YEAR OVER 12,000 CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN YOUTH PROGRAMS AND TBGS HORTICULTURAL THERAPY PROGRAM WORKS WITH OVER 1,300 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH BOTH OUTREACH AND ON-SITE PROGRAMS. TBG ALSO OFFERS DISPLAYS, EXHIBITS AND EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT HIGHLIGHT TOPICS OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL INTEREST TO THE COMMUNITY. AN ANNUAL LECTURE SERIES IS PRODUCED TO BROADEN THE IMPACT OF THE ONSITE EXHIBITS.
  2. #2 $183K
    SPECIAL EXHIBITS: OUTDOOR EXHIBITS INCLUDED ROTATING HORTICULTURAL AND FLORAL DISPLAYS, GLASS & STEEL SCULPTURES, AND NEON LIGHTS, AS WELL AS AN AUGMENTED REALITY EXHIBIT, "SEEING THE INVISIBLE" CURATED BY THE JERUSALEM BOTANIC GARDEN. EXHIBITS IN THE FOUR GALLERIES INCLUDED EGYPTIAN TAPESTRIES FROM RAMSES WISSA WASSEF ART CENTRE, VICKI WESTOVER PHOTOS, THE WATERCOLORS OF DONNA HELMS, THE HERITAGE PLANT EXHIBIT OF THE AMERICAN BOTANICAL SOCIETY, AND THE ALL THINGS NATURE PAINTINGS OF DAVID CONKLIN.
named programs · 9 · from sources

what they call their work

Bird Watching
Activities and resources for bird identification within the gardens, including a birding checklist and use of the Merlin App.
Butterfly Magic
An exhibit featuring butterflies, open daily from 9:30 am – 3:00 pm.
Community Classes
In-person and online classes on ecology, gardening, illustration, and watercolor, with a 20% discount for members.
Field Trips
Self-guided visits for groups to explore the 20 themed gardens with discounted rates available.
Harrison Yocum Collection
A self-guided tour or exhibit within the gardens.
Horticultural Therapy
A program using gardening and nature-related activities to facilitate health and well-being, serving the Tucson community since the 1980s.
Magic through Microscopes
An activity outside the COX Butterfly & Orchid Pavilion to examine butterfly wings under a microscope.
The Great Garden Express
A garden feature or tour available Tuesday – Sunday from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm.
Youth Education
Programs and activities in the Children’s Garden with hands-on STEM activities and family fun events like Day of the Dead and Earth Day celebrations.
activities · 6 groups

what they do

  • Desert & Native Plant Garden Management 4 activities
    • Maintain and display specialty gardens
      Maintains specialty gardens featuring a diversity of plants, including historic trees planted over 80 years ago by the original property-owning family. These gardens are open to the public daily.
    • Maintaining and exhibiting specialty gardens
      Maintains and exhibits over 20 themed specialty gardens, some featuring trees planted over 80 years ago, which are open daily to the public.
    • Maintaining and operating botanical gardens
      Tucson Botanical Gardens maintains and operates 20 themed gardens, including specialty gardens with trees over 80 years old, open daily to the public.
    • Provide educational field trips
      Offers self-guided field trips to its 20 themed gardens year-round, with discounted rates available for school and community groups.
  • Dog-Friendly Garden Events 3 activities
    • Host seasonal public events
      Hosts seasonal events such as "Dog Days of Summer" from June to September, which allow pets on-site to increase community access and engagement.
    • Hosting Dog Days of Summer event
      Hosts a "Dog Days of Summer" event from June to September, allowing visitors to bring their pets to the gardens.
    • Hosting seasonal events
      The organization hosts seasonal events like the "Dog Days of Summer" from June to September, which allows pets to visit the gardens.
  • Horticultural Therapy Programs 3 activities
    • Operating a Horticultural Therapy program
      Operates a Horticultural Therapy program that utilizes gardening and nature-related activities to promote health and well-being.
    • Run horticultural therapy program
      Operates a Horticultural Therapy program that uses gardening and nature-based activities to support health and well-being for participants.
    • Running a Horticultural Therapy program
      The organization operates a Horticultural Therapy program that utilizes gardening and nature-related activities to foster health and well-being.
  • Lifelong Learning Classes for Older Adults 2 activities
    • Offering community classes
      Offers in-person and online community classes on various subjects throughout the year.
    • Providing community education classes
      Tucson Botanical Gardens offers a variety of in-person and online community classes on diverse subjects throughout the year.
  • Garden-Based Education Programs 1 activity
    • Deliver community education programs
      Offers in-person and online community classes on various topics related to gardening, horticulture, and nature throughout the year.
  • Uncategorized 4 activities
    • Host seasonal and daily exhibits
      Operates recurring public exhibits such as "Butterfly Magic," open daily from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm, and "The Great Garden Express," open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.
    • Operating The Great Garden Express
      Operates "The Great Garden Express" Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.
    • Operating special exhibits and attractions
      The organization operates specific attractions such as the "Butterfly Magic" exhibit daily and "The Great Garden Express" several days a week, enhancing the visitor experience.
    • Operating the Butterfly Magic exhibit
      Operates a daily "Butterfly Magic" exhibit, open from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm, showcasing butterflies.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$3.47M
Contributions & grants$1.70M49%
Program service revenue$1.57M45%
Investment income$23K1%
Other revenue$181K
expenses
Total expenses$2.19M
Program expenses75%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising16%
Salaries & benefits$1.13M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$7.48M
Cash$2.09M
Investments$850K
Liabilities$777K
Net assets$6.70M
Liquid reserves16.1 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue +26.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
MICHELLE CONKLIN EXECUTIVE DI 40 $150K
LYNN RICHARDS FINANCE DIRE 40 $76K
board members · 19
  • ANNE FISHER SEGAL — DIRECTOR
  • ARCH BROWN — DIRECTOR
  • CHRISTINE SZUTER — DIRECTOR
  • DAN CHAVEZ — DIRECTOR
  • DEIDRA SPINKS — DIRECTOR
  • ELLEN WHEELER — SECRETARY
  • ERIN LINGARD — DIRECTOR
  • JAYNE HENNINGER — DIRECTOR
  • JOAN MCGANN — DIRECTOR
  • KAREN MCCLOSKEY — TREASURER
  • KATHARINE KENT — PAST PRESIDE
  • LISA OWENS-SREDZINSKI — DIRECTOR
  • LYUDA EISENMAN — DIRECTOR
  • MICHAEL LEX — PRESIDENT
  • MICHAEL LURIA — DIRECTOR
  • MICHAEL TOIA — DIRECTOR
  • RITA POWER — DIRECTOR
  • STEVE BOSSE — DIRECTOR
  • WILLIAM LAMEAR — DIRECTOR
relationships · 3

who they work with

  • Charly’s Grill Partner — Operates Edna's Eatery within the gardens.
  • Creative Slice Partner — Website design and development partner.
  • Tucson community Partner — Engages with the Tucson community through educational programs and events.