Review Before Proceeding
Impact & Measurement
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix AZ | IRS ruling year: 1949 | EIN: 86-0136925 
An EIN is a unique nine-digit number that identifies a business for tax purposes.
An EIN is a unique nine-digit number that identifies a business for tax purposes.Organization Mission
Nestled amid the red buttes of Papago Park, the Desert Botanical Garden hosts one of the world's finest collections of desert plants. Founded in 1939, this one-of-a- ... (More)
Rating Information
Great
This charity's score is 93%, earning it a Four-Star rating.
This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores, weighted as follows: 74% Accountability & Finance, 10% Leadership & Adaptability, 16% Culture & Community. Learn more about our criteria and methodology.
Historical Ratings 
Historical Ratings 
Charity Navigator's ratings previously did not consider Leadership & Adaptability, Culture & Community, or Impact & Measurement. The historic rating mainly reflects a version of today’s Accountability and Finance score. More information on our previous rating methodologies can be found on our rating methodology page.
| Date Published | Overall Rating | ||
| 12/1/2020 |  | ||
| 10/1/2020 | | ||
| 7/1/2019 | | ||
| 12/21/2018 | | ||
 This organization received multiple star ratings within this fiscal year, due to an update to its Accountability and Transparency data and/or the receipt of an amended Form 990. | |||
| 3/1/2018 | | ||
| 2/1/2017 | | ||
| 6/1/2016 | | ||
| 11/1/2015 | | ||
| 5/1/2015 | | ||
| 9/1/2013 | | ||
| 12/1/2012 | | ||
| 12/23/2011 | | ||
| 9/20/2011 | | ||
| 12/22/2010 | | ||
| 3/1/2010 | | ||
| 2/1/2009 | | ||
| 2/1/2008 | | ||
| 12/15/2006 | | ||
| 1/1/2006 | | ||
| 12/1/2004 |  | ||
| 1/1/2004 | | ||
| 4/15/2003 | | ||
| 4/15/2002 | | ||
Review Before Proceeding - Confirmed DelinquencyThis organization appears on the most recent listing of nonprofits that are delinquent with California state registrations
For more information about our alerts methodology, see here.
Rating Report
Accountability & Finance
Score
93
Most Recent Fiscal Year:
FY 2022
FY 2022
This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.
Key Accountability Metrics
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No CreditMajority Independent Board Members - 100% independent members8 out of 8 points
Majority Independent Board Members - 100% independent members8 out of 8 points
Industry professionals strongly recommend an independent governing body to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters. We check to see that a majority of board members are identified as independent on their tax form.
Source: IRS Form 990
Independent Board Size - 47 independent members7 out of 7 points
Independent Board Size - 47 independent members7 out of 7 points
Industry professionals strongly recommend an independent governing body to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters. For most organizations, we check to see if the organization has at least three independent board members. For large, donor-funded organizations, we check to see if the organization has at least five independent board members
Source: IRS Form 990
Financial Statements - Audit and Oversight Committee15 out of 15 points
Financial Statements - Audit and Oversight Committee15 out of 15 points
An Audit, Review, or Compilation provides important information about financial accountability and accuracy. Organizations are scored based on their Total Revenue Amount:
| Total Revenue Amount | Expectation to Receive Credit |
| $2 million or higher and 40% or higher donor support | Expected to complete an audit and have an audit oversight committee |
| $1 million or higher | Expected to complete an audit |
| $500,000 - $1 million | Expected to complete an audit, review, or compilation |
| Less than $500,000 | No expectation (removed from scoring methodology) |
Source: IRS Form 990
Material Diversion of Assets - None10 out of 10 points
Material Diversion of Assets - None10 out of 10 points
A diversion of assets — any unauthorized conversion or use of the organization's assets other than for the organization's authorized purposes, including but not limited to embezzlement or theft — also can seriously call into question a charity's financial integrity. We review the charity's most recent IRS Form 990 to see if the charity has reported any diversion of assets.
Source: IRS Form 990
Tax Form Disclosures and Policies
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditWebsite Listed on Tax Form - Listed2 out of 2 points
Website Listed on Tax Form - Listed2 out of 2 points
Charity Navigator looks for a website on the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency metric.
Nonprofits act in the public trust and reporting publicly on activities is an important component.
Source: IRS Form 990
Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed4 out of 4 points
Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed4 out of 4 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a conflict of interest policy on the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy protects the organization and by extension those it serves, when it is considering entering into a transaction that may benefit the private interest of an officer, director and/or key employee of the organization.
Source: IRS Form 990
Whistleblower Policy - Listed4 out of 4 points
Whistleblower Policy - Listed4 out of 4 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a whistleblower policy per the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy outlines procedures for handling employee complaints, as well as a confidential way for employees to report financial or other types of mismanagement.
Source: IRS Form 990
Document Retention and Destruction - Listed4 out of 4 points
Document Retention and Destruction - Listed4 out of 4 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a document retention and destruction policy per the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy establishes guidelines for the handling, backing up, archiving and destruction of documents. These guidelines foster good record keeping procedures that promote data integrity.
Source: IRS Form 990
Documents Board Meeting Minutes - Yes2 out of 2 points
Documents Board Meeting Minutes - Yes2 out of 2 points
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the IRS Form 990 that the organization has this process in place as an accountability and transparency measure.
An official record of the events that take place during a board meeting ensures that a contemporaneous document exists for future reference.
Source: IRS Form 990
Website Disclosures
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditTax Form Posted on Nonprofit's Website - Listed4 out of 4 points
Tax Form Posted on Nonprofit's Website - Listed4 out of 4 points
For almost all charities, we check the charity's IRS Form 990 to see if it discloses that the Form 990 is available on the charity's website. As with the audited financial statement, donors need easy access to this financial report to help determine if the organization is managing its financial resources well.
Source: IRS Form 990
Financial Metrics
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditLiabilities to Assets: Ratio - 8.41%15 out of 15 points
Liabilities to Assets: Ratio - 8.41%15 out of 15 points
The Liabilities to Assets Ratio is determined by Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets (most recent IRS Form 990). This ratio is an indicator of an organization's solvency and/or long-term sustainability.
Source: IRS Form 990
Program Expense: Ratio - 64.04%18 out of 25 points
Program Expense: Ratio - 64.04%18 out of 25 points
The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three IRS Forms 990). This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver.
Source: IRS Form 990
Additional Information
Total Revenue and Expenses - Data Available
Total Revenue and Expenses - Data Available
This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990.
Salary of Key Persons - Data Available
Salary of Key Persons - Data Available
Presented here are up to five of this organization's highest compensated employees. This compensation data includes salary, cash bonuses, and expense accounts and is displayed exactly how it is reported to the IRS. The amounts do not include nontaxable benefits, deferred compensation, or other amounts not reported on Form W-2. In some cases, these amounts may include compensation from related organizations. Read the IRS policies for compensation reporting
Kenneth J Schutz, Executive Director
$339,679
Margaret Burke, Cfoo
$219,952
Elaine Mcginn, Chief Experience Officer
$162,656
Kimberlie Mccue, Chief Science Officer
$146,562
Tina Wilson, Senior Director Of Horticu
$146,452
Source: IRS Form 990 (page 7), filing year 2022
IRS Published Data (Business Master File) - Data Available
IRS Published Data (Business Master File) - Data Available
Below are some key data points from the Exempt Organization IRS Business Master File (BMF) for this organization. Learn more about the BMF on the IRS website
Foundation Status:
Organization that normally receives no more than one-third of its support from gross investment income and unrelated business income and at the same time more than one-third of its support from contributions, fees, and gross receipts related to exempt purposes. 509(a)(2) (BMF foundation code: 16)
Affiliation:
Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations). (BMF affiliation code: 3)
Data Sources (IRS Forms 990) - Data Available
Data Sources (IRS Forms 990) - Data Available
The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage accountability and finance data from it to form Encompass ratings. Click here to search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available). Simply enter the organization's name (Desert Botanical Garden) or EIN (860136925) in the 'Search Term' field.
Impact & Measurement
Not Currently Scored
Desert Botanical Garden cannot currently be evaluated by our Impact & Measurement methodology because either (A) it is eligible, but we have not yet received data; (B) we have not yet developed an algorithm to estimate its programmatic impact; (C) its programs are not direct services; or (D) it is not heavily reliant on contributions from individual donors.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
Culture & Community
Score
89
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's culture and connectedness to the community it serves.
Metrics
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditConstituent Feedback - Data Available100/100 points
Constituent Feedback - Data Available100/100 points
33.33% of beacon score
This organization reported that it is collecting feedback from the constituents and/or communities it serves. The methodology leveraged for Constituent Feedback is based on The Core Principles of Constituent Feedback, which describes listening and responding well to feedback. Charity Navigator participates in a consortium with other feedback experts and leading nonprofit infrastructure platforms to drive Constituent Feedback's advancement, promotion, and data collection.
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
What challenges does your organization face in collecting feedback from the people you serve?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback
Equity Practices - Data Available83/100 points
Equity Practices - Data Available83/100 points
66.67% of beacon score
This organization's score of 83 is a passing score. The organization reported that it is implementing 6 Equity Practices.
The Equity Strategies Checklist, developed by Equity in the Center, consists of practices and policies that promote racial equity in operations and programs. This data is collected in partnership with Candid.
| Equity Practices (2/7) | |
We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race. | |
We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and/or portfolios. | |
We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization/'s programs, portfolios, and the populations served. | |
We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support. | |
We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders. | |
We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured | |
We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization. | |
| Equity Policies and Procedures (4/7) | |
We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity. | |
We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions. | |
We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization. | |
We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board. | |
We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability. | |
We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team. | |
We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization. | |
Leadership & Adaptability
Score
100
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes in constituent demand/need or other relevant social and economic conditions to achieve the organization's mission.
- Strategic Partnerships
- Networks of Collective Impact Efforts
- Thought Leadership
- Raising Awareness
Metrics
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditMission 10/10 points
Mission 10/10 points
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission
Note: The organization did not respond to this question.
Vision 10/10 points
Vision 10/10 points
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
Note: The organization did not respond to this question.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Goals 20/20 points
Goals 20/20 points
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: The first goal is to complete the Hazel Hare Center for Plant Conservation, an 85,000-square-foot Center where our staff grow, study, and take care of a world-class collection of desert plants.
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Two: Another goal is to expand educational and recreational programming for children. Children that spend time in nature at a young age are more likely to become stewards of the natural world.
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Three: A third goal is to increase attendance among children and their families, the LatinX community, and millennials.
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Leadership Development 15/15 points
Leadership Development 15/15 points
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
Describe an investment in leadership
The Garden was awarded a prestigious Museums Empowered three-year grant for $250,000 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). This award allowed for the development of “Cultivating Excellence,” a robust professional development program that includes leadership training that assists in building great leaders and more inclusive and effective teams. In addition, the program includes mandatory diversity and inclusion trainings, which lays the groundwork for understanding diversity and inclusion, creating awareness, and showing ways to demonstrate inclusion in everything we do.
Mobilizing for Mission 15/15 points
Mobilizing for Mission 15/15 points
The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
This organization mobilizes for mission in the following ways:
What are this organization’s external mobilizaton efforts?
The Garden, a leader in the conservation of desert plants, is a founding member of the Center for Plant Conservation and works continuously to conserve native plants in the Southwest. We are committed to sharing our knowledge and best practices to conserve and protect desert plants and habitats. The Garden aims to publish 10 new scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals yearly and to mentor three graduate students each academic year.
The Garden works with other organizations to become more inclusive. During Autism Awareness Month, we partnered with Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center to provide a workshop on how to assist and serve Autistic visitors. During Hispanic Heritage Month, we partnered with Dr. Christine Marin to facilitate a discussion on Latino history in Phoenix. On Earth Day, our staff volunteered at Spaces of Opportunity, where they shared the importance of conservation with students.
Adaptability Story 30/30 points
Adaptability Story 30/30 points
The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
In response to the pandemic, the Garden implemented stringent operating procedures to keep our staff and visitors safe. We also realized that the Garden could be a place of healing and respite for everyone, young and old, and we created novel outdoor experiences for our guests to enjoy safely. First up was the stunning work of Waterlily Pond Studio: Wind, Water, and Earth. Then, in the summer, we reinvented Flashlight Nights and curated special outdoor, after-dark events for families in search of safe and “cool” experiences. Finally, in December, we brought back the work of master glass artist Dale Chihuly.
The Garden continued to reimagine its approach to educational offerings through the challenges of the pandemic. We piloted a safe re-opening of Cactus Clubhouse, a nature play space for children, and allowed kids and their families to connect with nature. Forty-two mentors and youth were able to visit the Garden through The Happiness Tour in partnership with New Pathways for youth. In 2021, the Garden hosted three school outreach events, 419 Cactus Clubhouse Visitors, three Girl Scout Events with 50 children in attendance, and 3,693 Flashlight Nights guests.
The Garden also stepped up to address poaching, a huge problem affecting cactus worldwide. Nearly a third of cactus are at risk of extinction— primarily from smugglers who illegally remove them from their native habitats. Smuggled cactus can’t be planted in just any random place in the wild. Doing so could harm the resident population of a genetically different population of the same species. Because authorities usually don’t know where these plants came from, they send confiscated plants to designated plant rescue centers like the Garden. In 2021, the Garden cared for 104 smuggled/confiscated cactus.