Queens Botanical Garden Society Inc

Overview

Mission

Queens botanical garden is an urban oasis where people, plants and cultures are celebrated through inspiring gardens, innovative educational programs and demonstrations of environmental stewardship.

What it reported doing in 2024

Grounds care and security - responsible for the upkeep and security of this 39-acre public garden and living museum, comprising 18 acres of formal gardens and 21 acres of arboretum. Maintains more than 20 ornamental and educational gardens including: a herb garden, woodland garden, rose garden, wedding garden, other perennial gardens and seasonal displays. Environmental strategies are in practice throughout the facility: water permeable pavers are in place throughout the garden; bioswales absorb excess rainwater, helping to ease the burden on nyc's sewer system; geothermal wells heat and cool the leed platinum certified visitor & administration building; native plantings, including the green roof, feed local fauna and migratory birds. Composting toilets and gray water systems result in using 82% less water, photovoltaic panels harness the sun's energy just as plants do. All features mentioned support the garden's commitment to sustainability.

Operating model

Revenue model
Mixed. Its operating money came from several sources; no one source provided a clear majority.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
111635083
IRS 990 coverage
2013–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-T 2024
Location
Flushing, NY, USA
Phone
7188863800
Rating
84
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Botanical Gardens, Arboreta and Botanical Organizations

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$6,705,072
Expenses
$5,855,328
Assets
$16,222,079
Liabilities
$1,986,408

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised and assets have declined or grown slowly.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 72
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 63
  • Growth: 80

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 70.6%; rating input score 71
  • Program expense ratio: 78.7%; rating input score 79
  • Fundraising efficiency: $15.89 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 12.7%; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.77; rating input score 72; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.12; rating input score 54; 54th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 9%; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 1.3% per year; rating input score 100; 19th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 4.9% per year; rating input score 100; 40th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: -3.9% per year; rating input score 0; 5th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 70.6% of revenue deployed · 78.7% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 16 of 16 board members independent · 8 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 4 filed program accomplishments · $4.6M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $150K · 21 people listed
  • Highest-paid contractors: 1 contractor listed · $134K reported
  • Consistency: 33 of 33 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 5 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 12 annual filings from 2013 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 4 filed money-flow records
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • Review — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 53/100.
  • High — Growth: Asset growth scored 0/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 33/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 54/100.

Leadership & pay

21 people listed

Highest reported compensation

  • REBECCA WOLF-GURMAN (DEPUTY DIRECTOR): $149,913 total reported compensation
  • EVIE HANTZOPOULOS (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR): $148,996 total reported compensation
  • LATEISHA JONES-THOMAS (DIRECTOR OF FINANCE): $117,237 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024.