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Nonprofiteer
← HOUSTON BOTANIC GARDEN

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by HOUSTON BOTANIC GARDEN.

Totals

Total revenue
$7,644,996
Total expenses
$8,511,110
Contributions and grants received
$4,688,525
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$2,643,779
Investment income
$5,910
Other revenue
$306,782
Total assets, end of year
$31,892,272
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,034,211
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$30,858,061
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$6,775,324
Management and general expenses
$879,284
Fundraising expenses
$856,502
Program service expenses (Part III)
$6,775,324

Program services were 79.6% 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

    $277,655

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $740,531

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $539,797

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $3,130,542

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $38,258

  • 2a · Program service revenue: Admission fees

    total $2,643,779 · related or exempt $2,643,779

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $5,910 · excluded $5,910

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $202,456

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $0

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $202,456

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $202,456 · related or exempt $202,456

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $19,860

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

    $740,531

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $71,096

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$51,236 · excluded -$51,236

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $215,684

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $60,122

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $155,562 · related or exempt $155,562

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $355,788 · program services $160,104 · management and general $124,328 · fundraising $71,356

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,493,364 · program services $1,321,739 · management and general $4,250 · fundraising $167,375

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $20,751 · program services $16,701 · management and general $1,381 · fundraising $2,669

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $198,106 · program services $165,891 · management and general $7,662 · fundraising $24,553

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $132,371 · program services $106,539 · management and general $8,809 · fundraising $17,023

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $9,300 · management and general $9,300

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $165,624 · management and general $165,624

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $34,140 · fundraising $34,140

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $432,426 · program services $399,845 · management and general $5,214 · fundraising $27,367

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $421,209 · program services $383,406 · management and general $30,203 · fundraising $7,600

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $310,707 · program services $68,572 · management and general $133,615 · fundraising $108,520

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $136,184 · program services $58,638 · management and general $38,333 · fundraising $39,213

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $98,834 · program services $81,822 · management and general $6,642 · fundraising $10,370

  • 17 · Travel

    total $28,500 · program services $24,459 · management and general $4,041

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $6,592 · program services $4,451 · management and general $1,891 · fundraising $250

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $2,453,822 · program services $1,964,858 · management and general $157,773 · fundraising $331,191

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $83,173 · program services $69,865 · management and general $8,317 · fundraising $4,991

  • 24a · Other expenses: Program expense

    total $999,404 · program services $999,404

  • 24b · Other expenses: Building/grounds maint.

    total $378,538 · program services $363,049 · management and general $8,274 · fundraising $7,215

  • 24c · Other expenses: Equipment expenses

    total $371,454 · program services $336,209 · management and general $35,245

  • 24d · Other expenses: Plants and supplies

    total $240,473 · program services $236,961 · management and general $2,802 · fundraising $710

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $140,350 · program services $12,811 · management and general $125,580 · fundraising $1,959

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,382,662 · end of year $2,427,542

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $10,080 · end of year $73,137

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $452,214 · end of year $210,400

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $61,684 · end of year $23,631

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $57,339 · end of year $77,885

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    end of year $76,854

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

    $38,720,273

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

    $9,717,450

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $31,257,224 · end of year $29,002,823

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $1,276,808 · end of year $886,986

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $220,220 · end of year $147,225

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $30,844,093 · end of year $29,838,444

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $880,082 · end of year $1,019,617

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

To enrich life through discovery, education, and the conservation of plants and the natural environment.

Activities or mission (Part I)

Enriching life through discovery, education, and conservation of the natural environment.

  • The Houston Botanic Garden enriches lives through discovery, education, and the conservation of plants and the natural environment. The Garden's grand opening in September 2020 provided a major addition to Houston's cultural, educational, and scientific institutions and growing list of urban green spaces. Located a short distance from downtown, the 132-acre site is filled with horticultural displays, natural ecosystems, and walking trails. Through collections, interpretation, and education programs, the Garden provides a beautiful place for visitors to learn about plants, conservation, and nature; connects Houstonians across different cultures and ethnicities; and closes an existing gap in the world-class City's amenities for residents and tourists. See Schedule O.The Garden also participates in scientific research and the conservation of the planet's precious plant biodiversity.

    Expenses $6,775,324 · Revenue $3,001,797

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

Listed in Part VII

  • Alberto P Cardenas Jr

    Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    8 + 1 related

  • Melbern G Glasscock

    Vice Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4 + 1 related

  • Emily Emmett

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Annise D Parker

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Nancy O'Connor Abendshein

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Carole Bailey

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Jack Bellows

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • John Eads

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Jessica Essalih

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Katie Grahmann

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Saundria Chase Gray

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Jennifer Patton Grosvenor

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Gail Hendryx

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Phillip Holder

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Lynne Hudson

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Ruthie Lee-Esene

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Steven J Lindley

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Blair Richardson Loocke

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Ryan Martin

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Jose Rocha

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • James William Stewart Jr

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Elizabeth Stone

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Kingslea von Helms

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Bass Wallace

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Joy Warren

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Michael Watson

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Sharyn Weaver

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Jill M Barry

    President & CEO

    Total calculated
    $238,511
    From this org
    $228,889
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $9,622
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $228,889
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,622
    Filer's total
    $238,511

  • Katherine Sadler

    Deputy Director

    Total calculated
    $117,277
    From this org
    $108,736
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,541
    Hours/week
    40

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

  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Written employment contract
  • 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.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Disregarded entities

Part I: entities that legally are the filer and file no return of their own.

  • HBG Holdings LLC

    Hold real estate · TX · income $0 · assets $275,028

    Directly controlled by Houston Botanic Garden

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
21 October 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202532949349301718

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