Quick charity verification for New York Botanical Garden (EIN: 131693134)
Verdict: New York Botanical Garden appears trustworthy
80/100Mission Score
$179.2MRevenue
$659.2MAssets
2Red Flags
3Strengths
Red Flags
Expenses exceeded revenue in the 2023 fiscal period ($101.0M vs $87.1M), indicating a deficit.
Consistent 0% reported for 'Officer Comp' across all filings, which is highly unusual for an organization of this scale and suggests a lack of clear disclosure for executive salaries.
Strengths
Maintains a very strong asset base, consistently over $600 million, providing financial stability.
Demonstrates a long history of operations with consistent revenue generation over many years.
Significant scale of operations, indicated by over $80 million in annual expenses, suggesting a broad impact.
Spending Breakdown
How New York Botanical Garden allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
75%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
10%
Fundraising
Within typical range
How to read this: Well-run charities typically spend 75% or more on programs, keep admin under 25%, and fundraising under 15%. A high program ratio means more of every dollar goes directly to the mission.
How to Interpret This Report
What Red Flags Mean
Red flags are potential warning signs identified by AI analysis of IRS 990 filings. They may indicate issues like declining revenue, high executive pay relative to program spending, lack of transparency, or governance concerns. A single red flag does not necessarily mean an organization is untrustworthy, but multiple flags warrant further investigation before donating.
What Mission Score Measures
The Mission Score (0-100) evaluates how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated purpose. It combines multiple factors: program spending efficiency (how much goes to programs vs. overhead), financial health and sustainability, governance quality, transparency in reporting, and consistency of operations over time. A score of 70+ indicates strong alignment with the organization’s mission.
Using This Data for Donation Decisions
Use this report as one input in your decision. Look at the overall Mission Score for a quick assessment, review red flags and strengths for specific concerns, check the spending breakdown to see where money goes, and compare executive compensation to the organization’s size. Consider viewing the full transparency report for deeper analysis, and always verify tax-exempt status with the IRS before making large donations.
Frequently Asked Questions about New York Botanical Garden
Is New York Botanical Garden a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, New York Botanical Garden (EIN: 131693134) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 80/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
Is New York Botanical Garden a good charity to donate to?
New York Botanical Garden has a Mission Score of 80/100. Revenue: $179.2M. Assets: $659.2M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for New York Botanical Garden?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for New York Botanical Garden is 131693134. This is the unique tax ID assigned by the IRS.
What is a Mission Score?
The Mission Score is a 0-100 rating that measures how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated mission. It factors in program spending efficiency, financial transparency, governance practices, and outcome reporting. Scores above 70 indicate strong mission alignment, 40-69 suggest mixed performance, and below 40 signals potential concerns.
How does New York Botanical Garden spend its money?
New York Botanical Garden allocates 75% to programs, 15% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify New York Botanical Garden's tax-exempt status?
You can verify New York Botanical Garden's tax-exempt status using EIN 131693134 on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) at apps.irs.gov/app/eos. You can also request copies of their Form 990 directly from the organization, as they are required by law to provide them upon request.
AI Transparency Report
The New York Botanical Garden demonstrates a generally stable financial position with substantial assets, consistently exceeding $600 million in recent years, reaching $659 million currently. While revenue has fluctuated, with a notable dip to $87.1 million in 2023 from $101.6 million in 2022, the organization has managed its expenses, which have remained relatively consistent, hovering around $80-100 million annually. The 2023 filing shows expenses ($101.0 million) exceeding revenue ($87.1 million), indicating a deficit for that period, which warrants attention. However, the organization's significant asset base provides a strong buffer against short-term fluctuations.
The organization's transparency regarding executive compensation is notable, with 'Officer Comp' consistently reported as 0% across all available filings. This suggests that either no officers receive compensation, or it is reported under different categories, which would require further investigation for complete clarity. The consistent reporting of 0% for officer compensation across all filings is a significant data point for transparency. The NTEE code C410 (Botanical Gardens & Arboreta) aligns with its mission, and its substantial assets and revenue indicate a large-scale operation.