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Nonprofiteer
← GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN.

Totals

Total revenue
$11,844,203
Total expenses
$5,009,061
Contributions and grants received
$9,328,618
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$1,565,684
Investment income
$338,129
Other revenue
$611,772
Total assets, end of year
$31,369,806
Total liabilities, end of year
$3,948,973
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$27,420,833
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$4,113,265
Management and general expenses
$412,635
Fundraising expenses
$483,161
Program service expenses (Part III)
$4,113,265

Program services were 82.1% 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.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $135,471

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $1,221,451

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $7,971,696

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $564,844

  • 2a · Program service revenue: GENERAL ADMISSION

    total $1,250,199 · related or exempt $1,250,199

  • 2b · Program service revenue: PROGRAM FEES

    total $303,057 · related or exempt $303,057

  • 2c · Program service revenue: MEMBERSHIP DUES

    total $12,428 · related or exempt $12,428

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $195,830 · excluded $195,830

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $340,532

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $0

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $340,532

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $340,532 · excluded $340,532

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $887,010

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

    securities $744,711

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $142,299

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $142,299 · excluded $142,299

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $15,300

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $135,471

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $24,507

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$9,207 · excluded -$9,207

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $349,397

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $154,814

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $194,583 · unrelated business $100,556 · excluded $94,027

  • 11a · Other revenue: COMMISSIONS

    total $85,864 · excluded $85,864

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $85,864

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $327,038 · program services $139,179 · management and general $99,101 · fundraising $88,758

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,407,795 · program services $1,190,313 · management and general $63,938 · fundraising $153,544

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $40,405 · program services $30,965 · management and general $3,797 · fundraising $5,643

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $171,733 · program services $131,608 · management and general $16,139 · fundraising $23,986

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $157,072 · program services $120,372 · management and general $14,762 · fundraising $21,938

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $125 · management and general $125

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $31,131 · management and general $31,131

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $76,500 · fundraising $76,500

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $306,086 · program services $129,908 · management and general $133,164 · fundraising $43,014

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $51,046 · program services $45,099 · management and general $4,499 · fundraising $1,448

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $64,318 · program services $49,290 · management and general $6,045 · fundraising $8,983

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $124,198 · program services $122,982 · management and general $489 · fundraising $727

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $365,188 · program services $361,611 · management and general $1,439 · fundraising $2,138

  • 17 · Travel

    total $1,124 · program services $861 · management and general $106 · fundraising $157

  • 20 · Interest

    total $255,077 · program services $195,479 · management and general $23,972 · fundraising $35,626

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $1,037,169 · program services $1,027,011 · management and general $4,086 · fundraising $6,072

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $107,561 · program services $106,507 · management and general $424 · fundraising $630

  • 24a · Other expenses: PROGRAM

    total $166,652 · program services $166,652

  • 24b · Other expenses: HORTICULTURE

    total $78,314 · program services $78,314

  • 24c · Other expenses: JANITORIAL

    total $51,771 · program services $51,264 · management and general $204 · fundraising $303

  • 24d · Other expenses: REPAIRS

    total $26,916 · program services $26,916

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $161,842 · program services $138,934 · management and general $9,214 · fundraising $13,694

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $289,255 · end of year $136,043

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $593,057 · end of year $4,554,374

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $763,956 · end of year $3,434,089

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $60,859 · end of year $53,708

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $46,214 · end of year $47,618

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $37,035 · end of year $41,018

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

    $25,774,778

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

    $6,923,453

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $19,090,017 · end of year $18,851,325

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    beginning of year $158,179 · end of year $127,602

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $4,516,064 · end of year $4,124,029

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $833,757 · end of year $740,754

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $408,505 · end of year $826,647

  • 24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable

    beginning of year $3,896,674 · end of year $2,311,237

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $95,420 · end of year $70,335

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $17,470,566 · end of year $18,102,293

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $2,849,714 · end of year $9,318,540

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

EXPLORING, EXPLAINING AND CELEBRATING THE WORLD OF PLANTS.

  • MORE THAN SIXTY YEARS AGO, COMMUNITY LEADERS SAW THE NEED FOR AN URBAN GARDEN IN THE HEART OF DES MOINES. AFTER YEARS OF PERSISTENCE, THEIR VISION CAME TO LIFE WITH THE OPENING OF THE BOTANICAL CENTER (AS IT WAS THEN KNOWN) IN 1979. THE ORIGINAL BOTANICAL CENTER OPERATED AS PART OF THE CITY OF DES MOINES' PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, FEATURING THE DOMED CONSERVATORY, A TROPICAL PLANT COLLECTION, AND A COUPLE OF CLASSROOMS. MUNICIPAL OVERSIGHT OF THE BOTANICAL CENTER CONTINUED THROUGH THE EARLY 2010S. AT THAT TIME, FOUR COMMUNITY LEADERS-FORMER DES MOINES MAYOR TOM URBAN, BUZ BRENTON, FRED WEITZ, AND JANIS RUAN-LED THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE BOTANICAL CENTER INTO THE GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN. THIS TRANSFORMATION INCLUDED THE CLOSURE OF ROBERT D. RAY DRIVE TO ALLOW FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF OUTDOOR GARDENS ALONG THE DES MOINES RIVER. THE GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN OPENED AS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IN 2013 AND CONTINUES TO THRIVE THROUGH A STRONG PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF DES MOINES TODAY.MORE THAN 40 YEARS AFTER ITS ORIGINAL OPENING, TODAY'S GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN IS A VIBRANT 12-ACRE PUBLIC GARDEN-INCLUDING NEARLY FOUR ACRES OF FREE PUBLIC GARDEN SPACE-SITUATED IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN DES MOINES. THE MISSION OF THE BOTANICAL GARDEN IS TO EXPLORE, EXPLAIN, AND CELEBRATE THE WORLD OF PLANTS. AS AN INFLUENTIAL ARTS AND CULTURE DESTINATION, THE BOTANICAL GARDEN BRINGS TOGETHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TOURISTS, CHILDREN, FAMILIES, HORTICULTURISTS, AND MORE IN A UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT THAT PROMOTES EDUCATION AND ECOLOGICAL STEWARDSHIP. THROUGH THE FUSION OF ART, HORTICULTURE, AND LEARNING, WE ARE UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PLANTS, PEOPLE, AND THE NATURAL WORLD FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE STATE AND AROUND THE GLOBE.IN 2023, THE BOTANICAL GARDEN CELEBRATED A MAJOR MILESTONE: ONE DECADE SINCE TRANSITIONING TO AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT. OVER THAT DECADE, WE EXPANDED OUR PHYSICAL GARDENS TO 12 BEAUTIFULLY DEVELOPED ACRES, GREW OUR PLANT COLLECTIONS TO NEARLY 3,400 SPECIES, INCREASED OUR WORKFORCE TO MORE THAN 30 EMPLOYEES AND 400 VOLUNTEERS, AND BUILT A STRONG COMMUNITY OF MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. ANNUAL ATTENDANCE INCLUDES VISITORS FROM ALL 50 STATES AND MORE THAN 25 INTERNATIONAL LOCATIONS.IN FY2025, THE BOTANICAL GARDEN CONTINUED THIS POSITIVE TRAJECTORY, WELCOMING MORE THAN 144,000 VISITORS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. NEARLY 13,000 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED FREE ADMISSION AS PART OF OUR PINEAPPLE PROGRAM. WE ENGAGED THOUSANDS OF LEARNERS THROUGH YEAR-ROUND EDUCATION PROGRAMS, CONTINUED TO SELL OUT SUMMER CAMPS, AND SUSTAINED RECORD-BREAKING ATTENDANCE FOR THE NEW HOLIDAY LIGHT EVENT, DOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. MEMBERSHIP REMAINED STRONG, AND THE VOLUNTEER WORKFORCE GREW TO NEARLY 650, PLAYING A VITAL ROLE IN OPERATIONS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. ADDITIONALLY, THE BOTANICAL GARDEN OPERATING THE WELCOME, GATHER, GROW CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, RAISING GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE MUCH-NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FACILITY AND GROUNDS. CONSTRUCTION BEGAN AT THE END OF FY25 WITH THE FIRST OF THOSE PROJECTS SLATED TO REOPEN IN FY26.THE GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN IS MORE THAN A DOME. IT IS A CONNECTION POINT BETWEEN PLANTS, PEOPLE, AND THE NATURAL WORLD-A PLACE WHERE ANYONE CAN EXPLORE, CREATE, CONNECT, AND EMBRACE THEIR TRUE NATURE.

    Expenses $4,113,265 · Revenue $1,565,684

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • KIMBERLEY PEREZ

    PRESIDENT / CEO

    Total calculated
    $216,039
    From this org
    $181,290
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $34,749
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $180,839
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $451
    Deferred
    $5,812
    Nontaxable benefits
    $28,937
    Filer's total
    $216,039

  • WHITNEY BOUMA

    CHIEF PROGRAMMING OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $121,518
    From this org
    $117,027
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,491
    Hours/week
    40

  • MIKE ABBOTT

    CHAIR OF THE BOARD

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.42

  • CHRIS HENSLEY

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3.6

  • TRAVIS SHEETS

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.77

  • DOUG VAN ZANTEN

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.73

  • EVERETT MILES

    TREASURER THRU 1-30-2025

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.19

  • JILL STEVENSON

    INTERIM TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4.22

  • SHANNON BIELSKI

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.92

  • SARA BOESE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.29

  • KEVIN CHORNIAK

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.62

  • JENNY DRAKE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.56

  • GRAHAM GILLETTE

    DIRECTOR THRU 12-31-20204

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.21

  • JEN HANKS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.63

  • SCOTT JOHNSON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.52

  • ED KENNY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.54

  • PROCTOR LUREMAN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.08

  • SHANNON MADDY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.61

  • BEN PAGE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.46

  • RANDY RAMUNDT

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.19

  • CLAUDIA SCHABEL

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.71

  • MIKE SIMONSON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.15

  • LINDA WESTERGAARD

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.56

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 · Compensation survey or study
  • 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

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
4 December 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202513429349300716

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