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Environment : Botanical Gardens, Parks, and Nature Centers

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Connecting people through plants to improve communities.

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Impact Information is available from our partner, GuideStar

four stars

92.08

1800 Lakeside Avenue Richmond, VA 23228
tel: (804) 262-9887   Web Site
EIN: 54-1273467

Board Leadership
J. Melvin Watkins
President

CEO
Shane Tippett
Executive Director

 
 
  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 92.08 four stars
  Financial 89.55 three stars
  Accountability & Transparency 96.00 four stars
This rating was published 08/01/2019 and includes data from FY2018, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

Founded in 1984, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is located on 80 acres in Richmond, Virginia. A public place for the display and scientific study of plants, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is one of the only two independent public botanical gardens in Virginia and has the designation of a state botanical garden. The Garden provides education to the community about the plant world, promotes the best in horticulture and landscape design, and works toward the goal of being a leader in botanical and applied horticultural research. The Garden is providing technical guidance and counsel to a growing number of urban community gardens, neighborhood associations, and civic-minded institutions that are committed to improving the quality of life in our region through greening initiatives.

Founded in 1984, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is located on 80 acres in Richmond, Virginia. A public place for the display and scientific study of plants, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is one of the only two independent public botanical gardens in Virginia and has the designation of a state botanical garden. The Garden provides education to the community about the plant world, promotes the best in horticulture and landscape design, and works toward the goal of being a leader in botanical and applied horticultural research. The Garden is providing technical guidance and counsel to a growing number of urban community gardens, neighborhood associations, and civic-minded institutions that are committed to improving the quality of life in our region through greening initiatives.

Impact Information

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GuideStar is Charity Navigator's trusted partner in sharing information on how this organization seeks impact.  GuideStar has recognized this organization with a Platinum Seal of Transparency for voluntarily and publicly sharing information about how they measure their progress and results.  Learn More about Impact Information.
Reported Results
Showing 3 of 5
Total in 2017
Number of clients participating in educational programs
17,335
Number of overall donors
1,516
Total number of free admissions
28,187
Number of free registrants to classes
6,600
Number of students enrolled in service-learning courses
545
This organization has earned a GuideStar's Platinum Seal of Transparency by voluntarily sharing the measures of progress and results they use to pursue their mission. Organizations earn Platinum Seals by selecting from a catalog of over 900 expert recognized metrics or by creating a new metric that best fits their work. This information is reported by the organization and displayed publicly on their GuideStar Nonprofit Profile. With over 1.6 million Nonprofit Profiles, 9 million annual visitors and over 200 data partners, GuideStar is the world's leading source of information about nonprofit organizations. A nonprofit itself, GuideStar is dedicated to providing better data for better decisions for a better world.
This impact information is current as of September 2019, when it was provided to us by GuideStar. At this time, Impact information published on this organization's page has no effect on its rating per our methodology.

Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

three stars

89.55

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

96.00

This rating was published 08/01/2019 and includes data from FY2018, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 90.4%
  Administrative Expenses 8.3%
  Fundraising Expenses 1.2%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.02
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 2.98
  Program Expenses Growth 4.6%
  Liabilities to Assets 6.8%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Information Provided on the Form 990  
  Independent Voting Board Members
  No Material diversion of assets
  Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
  Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
  Documents Board Meeting Minutes
  Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
  Conflict of Interest Policy
  Whistleblower Policy
  Records Retention and Destruction Policy
  CEO listed with salary
  Process for determining CEO compensation
  Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?  
  Donor Privacy Policy
  Board Members Listed
  Audited Financials
  Form 990
  Key staff listed

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (VA) 92.08 four stars
American Horticultural Society (VA) 86.89 three stars
The Horticultural Society of New York (NY) 89.24 three stars
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (MI) 91.82 four stars
Descanso Gardens Guild, Inc. (CA) 89.78 three stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $3,336,111
   Federated Campaigns $0
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $0
   Related Organizations $1,324,623
   Government Grants $0
Total Contributions $4,660,734
   Program Service Revenue $2,118,461
Total Primary Revenue $6,779,195
   Other Revenue $1,321,956
TOTAL REVENUE $8,101,151
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $7,355,604
   Administrative Expenses $709,000
   Fundraising Expenses $107,707
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $8,172,311
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $-71,160
   
Net Assets $23,509,206

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Program Name Amount Spent % of Program Expenses
Guest Services $4,111,853 55.9%
Horticulture $1,188,393 16.2%
Advancement $720,208 9.8%
Education $696,526 9.5%

Ratings History
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden has received 4 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2018-03 08/01/2019 92.08 four stars
2017-03 09/01/2018 95.14 four stars
2016-03 10/01/2017 92.75 four stars
2015-03 07/01/2016 96.17 four stars
2015-03 06/01/2016 91.80 four stars
 
CN 2.0
2014-03 11/01/2015 84.31 three stars
2014-03 11/01/2015 84.31 three stars
2013-03 11/01/2014 89.88 three stars
2012-03 06/01/2013 90.81 four stars
2011-03 05/01/2012 90.17 four stars
2010-03 09/20/2011 85.80 three stars
 
CN 1.0
2010-03 06/01/2011 89.58 three stars
2009-03 11/24/2010 81.01 three stars
2008-03 05/01/2009 82.82 three stars
2007-03 04/01/2008 73.00 two stars
2005-12 03/01/2007 78.20 two stars
2004-12 02/01/2006 90.70 four stars
2003-12 12/01/2004 88.17 three stars
2002-12 12/01/2003 75.13 two stars
2001-12 10/15/2002 91.87 four stars

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 54-1273467
Name in IRS Master File LEWIS GINTER BOTANICAL GARDEN INC
NTEE Code C41
NTEE Classification Botanical Gardens, Arboreta and Botanical Organizations
NTEE Type Environmental Quality, Protection and Beautification
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities (60) Museum, zoo, planetarium, etc.
(379) Other conservation, environmental or beautification activities
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)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
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).
Group Name [Not Applicable]
Ruling Date December, 1984
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End March
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • March, 2017
  • March, 2016
  • March, 2015
  • March, 2014
  • March, 2013
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$144,699 1.77% Shane Tippett Executive Director

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (VA) 92.08 four stars
Idaho Botanical Gardens (ID) 89.35 three stars
Denver Botanic Gardens (CO) 90.84 four stars
American Horticultural Society (VA) 86.89 three stars
Descanso Gardens Guild, Inc. (CA) 89.78 three stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

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Charity Contact Info

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
1800 Lakeside Avenue
Richmond, VA 23228
tel: (804) 262-9887
fax: (804) 553-3178
EIN: 54-1273467

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

J. Melvin Watkins
President

CEO

Shane Tippett
Executive Director

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