Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY.

Totals

Total revenue
$7,488,387
Total expenses
$8,302,910
Contributions and grants received
$3,685,529
Grants paid
$211,632
Program service revenue
$3,001,870
Investment income
$230,524
Other revenue
$570,464
Total assets, end of year
$15,475,051
Total liabilities, end of year
$747,700
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$14,727,351
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$6,551,355
Management and general expenses
$1,057,587
Fundraising expenses
$693,968
Program service expenses (Part III)
$6,551,355

Program services were 78.9% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1b · Membership dues

    $780,098

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $2,905,431

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $133,966

  • 2a · Program service revenue: Conference income

    total $94,151 · related or exempt $94,151

  • 2b · Program service revenue: Contract Income

    total $2,728,843 · related or exempt $2,728,843

  • 2c · Program service revenue: Membership Dues & Assessments

    total $91,424 · related or exempt $91,424

  • 2d · Program service revenue: Other program income

    total $4,898 · related or exempt $4,898

  • 2e · Program service revenue: Workshop income

    total $80,754 · related or exempt $80,754

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $1,800 · unrelated business $1,800

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $215,373 · excluded $215,373

  • 4 · Income from investment of tax-exempt bond proceeds

    total $0

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $0

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $2,941,219 · other assets $2,234,286

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $2,926,068 · other assets $2,234,286

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $15,151

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $15,151 · related or exempt $15,151

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $0

  • 9c · Net income from gaming

    total $0

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $767,858

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $197,394

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $570,464 · related or exempt $570,464

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $0

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $77,202 · program services $77,202

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $134,430 · program services $134,430

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $0

  • 4 · Benefits paid to or for members

    total $0

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $180,190 · program services $140,097 · management and general $27,435 · fundraising $12,658

  • 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

    total $0

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $4,002,882 · program services $3,113,625 · management and general $608,504 · fundraising $280,753

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $205,720 · program services $159,946 · management and general $31,322 · fundraising $14,452

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $362,234 · program services $281,636 · management and general $55,152 · fundraising $25,446

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $324,823 · program services $252,549 · management and general $49,456 · fundraising $22,818

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $0

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $26,300 · program services $26,300

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $31,075 · management and general $31,075

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $55,118 · program services $55,118

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $0

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $0

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,089,438 · program services $891,965 · management and general $42,853 · fundraising $154,620

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $3,293 · management and general $3,293

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $58,178 · program services $19,001 · management and general $37,890 · fundraising $1,287

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $118,859 · program services $54,887 · management and general $21,595 · fundraising $42,377

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $385,652 · program services $360,824 · management and general $18,082 · fundraising $6,746

  • 17 · Travel

    total $327,281 · program services $313,768 · management and general $6,253 · fundraising $7,260

  • 18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials

    total $0

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $301,332 · program services $301,332

  • 20 · Interest

    total $0

  • 21 · Payments to affiliates

    total $0

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $37,893 · program services $17,150 · management and general $20,743

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $86,344 · program services $68,882 · management and general $15,136 · fundraising $2,326

  • 24a · Other expenses: Printing and Publications

    total $233,832 · program services $144,963 · management and general $1,920 · fundraising $86,949

  • 24b · Other expenses: Miscellaneous

    total $129,221 · program services $32,879 · management and general $60,954 · fundraising $35,388

  • 24c · Other expenses: Supplies

    total $128,933 · program services $104,801 · management and general $23,244 · fundraising $888

  • 24d · Other expenses: Donations

    total $2,680 · management and general $2,680

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $0

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $4,357,783 · end of year $1,948,948

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $1,556,286 · end of year $980,278

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $834,971 · end of year $1,102,098

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $652,647 · end of year $852,312

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    end of year $0

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    end of year $0

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $227,257 · end of year $193,657

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $83,342 · end of year $138,687

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $574,036

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $49,677

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $339,376 · end of year $524,359

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $4,873,998 · end of year $9,730,975

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    end of year $0

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    end of year $0

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    end of year $0

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $2,242,023 · end of year $3,737

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $530,990 · end of year $617,268

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $138,371 · end of year $130,432

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $9,556,871 · end of year $9,826,062

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $4,941,451 · end of year $4,901,289

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

To protect Californias native plants and their natural habitats, today and into the future, through science, education, stewardship, gardening, and advocacy

  • PLANT SCIENCECalifornia's ambitious climate, working land, and biodiversity initiatives require best available science on the state's native plants and habitats. This year, the combined work of the CNPS Rare Plant Program, the Vegetation Program, the Education Program, and CNPS stewardship and community science staff helped provide much-needed data, review, and best practices on California's rare plants and habitats. With the State of California's record investment in vegetation mapping, the CNPS Vegetation Program quickly scaled up work in mapping and monitoring, supporting fine-scale vegetation mapping efforts for at least 4 million acres in Northern and Central California. CNPS staff and volunteers completed over 2,000 vegetation surveys; collected over 600 botanical specimens; installed 120 Bureau of Land Management Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring plots across California, and completed CNPS Vegetation staff, volunteers, and subcontractors completed over 1,650 vegetation surveys and installed 40 Bureau of Land Management Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring plots across California; and completed updates or additions for at least 50 alliances in our Manual of California Vegetation online. The Rare Plant Program completed 57 rare plant status reviews, completed 445 Species of Critical Concern plant and lichen accounts for 6 northern USDA Region 5 national forests, and conducted 30 California Plant Rescue seed collections (up 275% from 2022). CNPS also launched the California Native Seed Strategy, a plan to address the State's growing supply gap for genetically appropriate native seed needed for ecological restoration. Other highlights included: 104,400 California Oak Watch observations; 76 Certified Botanists (up 14% from the prior year); 163 graduates of the California Native Plant Landscaper Certification; and 125 plant science workshop participants.

    Expenses $3,841,643 · Revenue $2,728,843

  • ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACHThis year, CNPS Public Affairs, Education, and Stewardship staff worked to engage the public, industry, and decisionmakers through a wide range of activites. In Education, CNPS partnered to develop and host a sold-out Educators Conference (185 attendees), lead student-created native plant interpretive signage, and begin work on a middle-school native plant curriculum -- all part of the CNPS School Nature Gardens project. Education Staff also worked to update and expand the CNPS Student Research Grants to diversify areas of research and the students eligible to receive grants. (See additional Education highlights under Plant Science.) The CNPS Calscape team wrapped up worked on the updated Calscape.org website, which has seen a 98% increase in traffic since 2020 with 1.3M visits this year. In Public Affairs, the team supported the successful passage of SB 337, codifying the States 30x30 goal into law; lobbied to secure record State of CA budget investments in vegetation mapping; led communications for the Power in Nature 30x30 California coalition; and partnered to support strategic communications across national monument campaigns. Since 2020, CNPS has seen a 125% increase in email subscribers, growing the list to 45k, gained a total 154k social media followers, and increased visitss to the cnps.org website by 69%. The Publications Program worked with Indigenous scholars and authors to produce the special Artemisia journal issue, Indigenous Perspectives: Native Plants and Climate Change. Meanwhile, staff horticulture experts continued the popular Naturehood webinars, with each monthly webinar hosting hundreds of attendees. The CNPS Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) Committee also worked with staff and volunteers across the organization to finalize the organization's first DEIJ Vision Statement, which was overwhelmingly approved in votes by the CNPS Board and Chapter Council.

    Expenses $1,666,934 · Revenue $174,905

  • CONSERVATIONThe CNPS Conservation Program works with volunteers, staff, and partners to undertake the environmental review, legal action, and advocacy needed to protect California native plants and habitats today and into the future. This year, CNPS played a key role in supporting national monument campaigns and pushing back against threats to sensitive habitat and species. The most notable victory included the expansion of Berryessa Snow Mountain and the San Gabriel Mountains national monuments, totaling 123,000 acres of new, permanently protected land. Working with partners and the CNPS Public Affairs team, the program organized and hosted visits for leaders and media to the Molok Luyuk expansion of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, including a tour with US Dept of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. The team completed natural resource reporting for national monument Objects of Interest reports; published stories on the Supreme Court's Sackett decision and CEQA attacks; and helped advance site-based conservation across the state, including the successful protection of four rare plants in the San Bernardino National Forest and the Inyo Rock Daisy in Conglomerate Mesa, all of which face immediate threats due to mining. The year wrapped up with the preliminary roll-out of the new CNPS online Conservation Advocacy Toolkit.

    Expenses $563,947

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Brock Wimberley

    Sr Operations Dir

    Total calculated
    $211,750
    From this org
    $188,841
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,909
    Hours/week
    51

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $155,491
    Bonus
    $33,350
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $11,330
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,579
    Filer's total
    $211,750

  • Liv R O'Keeffe

    Dir Public Affairs

    Total calculated
    $193,674
    From this org
    $182,518
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,156
    Hours/week
    56

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $156,108
    Bonus
    $26,410
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $10,956
    Nontaxable benefits
    $200
    Filer's total
    $193,674

  • Kathy Jun Bando

    Executive Dir.

    Total calculated
    $176,530
    From this org
    $157,256
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,274
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $157,256
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $9,435
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,839
    Filer's total
    $176,530

  • Julie Evens

    Vegetation Prg Dir

    Total calculated
    $146,524
    From this org
    $126,248
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,276
    Hours/week
    44

  • Christine Pieper

    Development Dir

    Total calculated
    $145,031
    From this org
    $125,898
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,133
    Hours/week
    42

  • Aaron E Sims

    Dir Rare Plants

    Total calculated
    $121,136
    From this org
    $112,646
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,490
    Hours/week
    44

  • Vince Scheidt

    Vice President

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Vivian Neou

    President

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Larry Levine

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Steve Schoenig

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • April Owens

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Carol Witham

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Lucy Ferneyhough

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Leslie Warren

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Alice Centelow

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Robin Mitchell

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Cathy Capone

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
13 February 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202520449349301777

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.