New York Botanical Garden
New York Botanical Garden maintains substantial assets despite recent revenue dip and deficit spending.
EIN: 131693134 · Bronx, NY · NTEE: C410 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $179.2M |
| Total Expenses | $101.0M |
| Program Spending | 75% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $100 |
| Net Assets | $579.5M |
| Transparency Score | 80/100 |
Is New York Botanical Garden Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
New York Botanical Garden directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About New York Botanical Garden
New York Botanical Garden (EIN: 131693134) is a nonprofit organization based in Bronx, NY, classified under NTEE code C410. The organization reported total revenue of $179.2M and total assets of $659.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of New York Botanical Garden's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
New York Botanical Garden is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 101 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -0.9%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $87.2M |
| Total Expenses | $101.0M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-13,888,804 |
| Total Assets | $635.2M |
| Total Liabilities | $55.7M |
| Net Assets | $579.5M |
| Operating Margin | -15.9% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 8.8% |
| Months of Reserves | 75.4 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, New York Botanical Garden reported a deficit of $13.9M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 75.4 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 8.8% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), New York Botanical Garden's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -0.9%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -14.2% | +6.0% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | +3.7% | +13.3% | -8.8% |
| 2021 | +11.8% | +1.2% | +15.4% |
| 2020 | +0.1% | -4.3% | -1.5% |
| 2019 | -19.7% | -1.4% | +1.3% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2800 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1925 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates New York Botanical Garden with a Mission Score of 80 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 75%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, New York Botanical Garden allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 75%, fundraising: 10%. With 75% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $13.9M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 8.8%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available IRS 990 filings, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size with over $100 million in annual expenses, suggesting compensation may be reported under other categories or through related entities.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of New York Botanical Garden's IRS 990 filings:
- 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
The following positive indicators were identified for New York Botanical Garden:
- 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.
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) some concerns. Mission Score: 80/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does New York Botanical Garden spend its money?
New York Botanical Garden directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to New York Botanical Garden tax-deductible?
New York Botanical Garden is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 131693134). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the New York Botanical Garden CEO make?
New York Botanical Garden's highest-compensated officer earns $100 annually. The organization reported $179.2M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of New York Botanical Garden's spending goes to programs?
New York Botanical Garden directs 75% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does New York Botanical Garden compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 80/100 (Excellent), New York Botanical Garden is above average for NTEE category C410 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is New York Botanical Garden located?
New York Botanical Garden is headquartered in Bronx, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 131693134. It is classified under NTEE code C410.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does New York Botanical Garden have?
New York Botanical Garden has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $179.2M in total revenue.
How does the New York Botanical Garden fund its operations given the 2023 deficit where expenses ($101.0M) exceeded revenue ($87.1M)?
The organization likely draws from its substantial asset base ($635.1M in 2023) or endowment to cover operational deficits, as seen in the 2023 filing.
What is the true executive compensation, given the consistent 0% reported in filings?
The consistent 0% reported for 'Officer Comp' across all filings suggests that executive compensation might be reported under other expense categories or through a related entity, requiring deeper scrutiny of the full 990 forms.
What caused the significant drop in revenue from $101.6 million in 2022 to $87.1 million in 2023?
The specific reasons for the revenue decline are not detailed in the provided data but could be due to reduced donations, grants, or earned income, warranting further investigation into the organization's financial statements.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for New York Botanical Garden showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), New York Botanical Garden's revenue has declined by 9.8%, moving from $96.6M to $87.2M. Total assets increased by 12.1% over the same period, from $566.5M to $635.2M. Total functional expenses rose by 48.6%, from $68.0M to $101.0M. In its most recent filing year (2023), New York Botanical Garden reported a deficit of $13.9M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $55.7M in liabilities against $635.2M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 8.8%), resulting in net assets of $579.5M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $87.2M | $101.0M | $635.2M | $55.7M | — | — |
| 2022 | $101.6M | $95.3M | $637.4M | $60.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $98.0M | $84.2M | $698.6M | $74.4M | — | — |
| 2020 | $87.6M | $83.2M | $605.6M | $84.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $87.5M | $86.9M | $614.9M | $84.0M | — | — |
| 2018 | $109.0M | $88.2M | $606.9M | $85.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $89.1M | $85.2M | $575.6M | $91.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $81.6M | $81.4M | $547.4M | $99.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $67.9M | $77.5M | $580.5M | $94.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $89.1M | $74.5M | $619.4M | $95.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $83.1M | $73.2M | $580.8M | $101.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $78.3M | $70.1M | $554.5M | $109.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $96.6M | $68.0M | $566.5M | $104.4M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $87.2M, expenses of $101.0M, and assets of $635.2M (revenue -14.2% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $101.6M, expenses of $95.3M, and assets of $637.4M (revenue +3.7% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $98.0M, expenses of $84.2M, and assets of $698.6M (revenue +11.8% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $87.6M, expenses of $83.2M, and assets of $605.6M (revenue +0.1% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $87.5M, expenses of $86.9M, and assets of $614.9M (revenue -19.7% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $109.0M, expenses of $88.2M, and assets of $606.9M (revenue +22.4% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $89.1M, expenses of $85.2M, and assets of $575.6M (revenue +9.2% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $81.6M, expenses of $81.4M, and assets of $547.4M (revenue +20.1% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $67.9M, expenses of $77.5M, and assets of $580.5M (revenue -23.8% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $89.1M, expenses of $74.5M, and assets of $619.4M (revenue +7.1% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $83.1M, expenses of $73.2M, and assets of $580.8M (revenue +6.1% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $78.3M, expenses of $70.1M, and assets of $554.5M (revenue -18.9% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $96.6M, expenses of $68.0M, and assets of $566.5M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for New York Botanical Garden:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for New York Botanical Garden is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.