Form 990 for tax year 2024

Totals

Total revenue

$4,688,817

Total expenses

$4,348,843

Contributions and grants received

$1,476,169

Grants paid

$0

Program service revenue

$1,121,049

Investment income

$103,261

Other revenue

$1,988,338

Total assets, end of year

$11,882,698

Total liabilities, end of year

$560,577

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$11,322,121

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$3,393,956

Management and general expenses

$615,612

Fundraising expenses

$339,275

Program service expenses (Part III)

$3,393,956

Program services were 78.0% 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.

Mission and programs · 2024

• GARDENS & FACILITIESTHE GARDENS AND FACILITIES TEAM AT TOHONO CHUL HAD ANOTHER GREAT YEAR OF FULFILLING OUR CORE MISSION OF MAKING TOHONO CHUL A COMMUNITY OASIS THAT INSPIRES RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP WHILE CULTIVATING REVERENCE FOR THE CULTURAL AND NATURAL ECOLOGY OF THE SONORAN DESERT.ONE OF OUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON THE COMMUNITY OASIS MISSIONS WAS FUNDRAISING FOR AND COMPLETING A NEW 700' PATHWAY FROM THE HEART OF OUR GARDENS OUT TO OUR DESERT DISCOVERY CENTER AND THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF ORO VALLEY. THIS PATHWAY WAS BUILT TO BE 100% ADA ACCESSIBLE, GREATLY EXPANDING THE ACCESSIBLE PORTIONS OF OUR PARK AND ALLOWING US TO WELCOME ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE PATH WAS BUILT USING A MATERIAL CALLED POROUS PAVE, MADE FROM RECYCLED TIRES, REDUCING THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF THE PATH WHILE ALSO CREATING A POROUS SURFACE THAT ALLOWS WATER TO INFILTRATE INTO THE SOIL AND TOWARDS THE ROOTS OF SURROUNDING VEGETATION.WE INSPIRED RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP BY INSTALLING A NEW WATER HARVESTING CISTERN THAT PREVENTS FLOODING WHILE STORING WATER FOR LANDSCAPE USE, REDUCING OUR DEPENDENCE ON POTABLE WATER FOR IRRIGATION. WE CONSTRUCTED FOUR NEW BASINS THAT PASSIVELY HARVEST RAINWATER AND CAPTURE IT IN OUR GARDENS INSTEAD OF ALLOWING IT TO RUN OFF. THESE TYPES OF STRUCTURES ARE AN IMPORTANT SOLUTION TO WATER CONSERVATION IN URBAN LANDSCAPES IN THE ARID SOUTHWEST, AND INSTALLING THESE IN PUBLIC SPACES MAKES US A LEADER IN DEMONSTRATING THEIR USE AND MAINTENANCE TO THE PUBLIC.WE CULTIVATED REVERENCE FOR THE CULTURAL AND NATURAL ECOLOGY OF THE SONORAN DESERT IN SEVERAL WAYS. TO BEGIN WITH, WE CONTINUED OUR LONG-TERM SURVEY OF SAGUARO (CARNEGIEA GIGANTEA) GROWTH RATES AND COMPLETED A CENSUS OF ALL THE SAGUARO PLANTS ON OUR 49-ACRES. THIS IS A SPECIES OF CONSERVATION CONCERN AND THE SUBJECT OF MUCH RESEARCH TO ASSESS HOW WELL THEY ARE FARING AS THE CLIMATE BECOMES WARMER AND DRIER. THROUGHOUT THE RANGE OF THIS SPECIES THERE ARE SEVERAL STUDIES ASSESSING GROWTH RATE AND AGE RELATIONSHIPS AND THE RECRUITMENT OF NEW PLANTS TO REPLACE DYING OLDER SPECIMENS. BY WORKING ON THESE STUDIES, WE ARE ABLE TO SHARE INFORMATION AND HELP RESEARCHERS AND LAND MANAGERS BETTER UNDERSTAND THIS KEYSTONE SPECIES WHILE MODELING WHAT THE FUTURE WILL LOOK LIKE FOR THESE PLANTS IN THE SONORAN DESERT. IN 2025, WE ADDED A TOTAL OF 1,627 PLANTS TO OUR DOCUMENTED LIVING CONNECTION. THIS IS A COMBINATION OF NEW PLANTS ADDED TO THE GARDENS AS WELL AS EXTANT PLANTS THAT HAD NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY DOCUMENTED. THIS NUMBER REPRESENTS A NEARLY 25% INCREASE IN OUR TOTAL DOCUMENTED LIVING COLLECTION AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC VIEWING.

  Expenses $1,290,926 · Revenue $1,096,246

• ARTS & ENGAGEMENTTOHONO CHUL'S ARTS AND CULTURAL PROGRAMMING CELEBRATES THE DIVERSITY OF THE SOUTHWEST WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PEOPLE, PLACE, AND THE SONORAN DESERT ENVIRONMENT. PROGRAMMING INCLUDES ROTATING EXHIBITIONS, LECTURES, WORKSHOPS, PERFORMANCES, AND INTERPRETIVE EXPERIENCES DESIGNED TO FOSTER CULTURAL AWARENESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL UNDERSTANDING.TOHONO CHUL MAINTAINS THREE GALLERIES LOCATED IN A HISTORIC 1937 RESIDENCE. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, ROTATING EXHIBITIONS DISPLAYED 901 WORKS BY 164 ARTISTS. MAIN GALLERY EXHIBITIONS INCLUDED THE EXOTIC SUBLIME | TREADING SOFTLY, EXPLORING TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE SONORAN DESERT; THE EXOTIC SUBLIME | ON PLANTS, FOCUSING ON PLANT LIFE ACROSS DESERT LANDSCAPES; JIM WAID AND ANDY IVENTOSCH: THE HEART OF NATURE; 40 FOR 40, AN INVITATIONAL EXHIBITION HONORING TOHONO CHUL'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY; AND IMPRESSIONS IN PLACE, EXAMINING ARTISTIC INTERPRETATIONS OF PLACE AND IDENTITY.THREE CALLS FOR ENTRIES WERE ISSUED DURING THE YEAR WITH NO SUBMISSION FEE, SUPPORTING ACCESS FOR EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED ARTISTS. FOUR PUBLIC OPENING RECEPTIONS WERE HELD IN THE MAIN GALLERY, EACH FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, FOLLOWED BY CURATOR'S TALKS OFFERED WITH ADMISSION. MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT AT OPENINGS WAS PROVIDED BY REGIONAL MUSICIANS.THE ENTRY AND WELCOME GALLERIES FEATURED SOLO EXHIBITIONS BY ARIZONA ARTISTS MOIRA GEOFFRION AND NORAH SILLER, AS WELL AS PERMANENT COLLECTION EXHIBITIONS INCLUDING BEGINNINGS: THE WILSON GIFT AND NEW PERSPECTIVES, A VOLUNTEER AND DOCENT CURATED EXHIBITION. THE ENTRY GALLERY PROJECT SPACE HOSTED THREE SOLO EXHIBITIONS. ANNUAL EXHIBITIONS INCLUDING QUEEN OF THE NIGHT AND 10 X 10 | A FUNDRAISER CONTINUED. SCULPTURAL WORKS WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE GARDEN PAVILION IN CONJUNCTION WITH SUMMER PROGRAMMING.ADDITIONAL ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDED ART TALKS WITH EXHIBITING ARTISTS AND A PRESENTATION ON NAVAJO TEXTILES AND SOUTHWEST BASKETRY.FISCAL YEAR 2025 ALSO MARKED THE RETURN OF THE ANNUAL CHILES, CHOCOLATE, AND DAY OF THE DEAD FESTIVAL. THE ART DEPARTMENT COLLABORATED WITH THREE SCHOOLS, ENGAGING 131 STUDENTS, AND 12 ARTISTS WHO CREATED PERSONAL ALTARS OF REMEMBRANCE FOR THE ALTAR PROJECT, INTRODUCING VISITORS TO THE CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH DA DE LOS MUERTOS. THE FESTIVAL ALSO FEATURED MUSICAL AND DANCE PERFORMANCES REFLECTING REGIONAL CULTURAL TRADITIONS.EDUCATIONAL AND ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES EXTENDED BEYOND EXHIBITIONS. THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM INTRODUCED THUNDERSTORM THURSDAYS, A SUMMER SERIES FOCUSED ON MONSOON RELATED THEMES. PARTNERSHIPS CONTINUED WITH TUCSON BIRD ALLIANCE FOR BIRDING PROGRAMS AND WITH SARSEF THROUGH SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMMING CENTERED ON SONORAN DESERT ECOLOGY. WE ALSO HOSTED A LECTURE CELEBRATING THE RELEASE OF THE SOUTHWEST NATIVE PLANT PRIMER, AUTHORED BY TOHONO CHUL'S GARDENS MANAGER AND ENGAGEMENT MANAGER, HIGHLIGHTING NATIVE PLANT CONSERVATION AND RESILIENT LANDSCAPE PRACTICES. A PUBLIC PROGRAM MARKING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WILD CHILE BOTANICAL AREA FURTHER EMPHASIZED THE ECOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL IMPORTANCE OF CROP WILD RELATIVES.VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT WAS STRENGTHENED THROUGH THE RELAUNCH OF OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, ONBOARDING 144 NEW VOLUNTEERS. DURING THE YEAR, WE REDESIGNED OUR DOCENT TRAINING PROGRAM, DEVELOPED A NEW GUIDED TOUR TITLED DISCOVERING TOHONO CHUL, AND BEGAN ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR A NEW COHORT OF DOCENTS, WITH TRAINING SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN 2026.THROUGH THESE INITIATIVES, TOHONO CHUL CONTINUED TO ADVANCE ITS WORK AS A COMMUNITY CENTERED ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO EDUCATION, CULTURAL CONNECTION, AND STEWARDSHIP OF THE SONORAN DESERT.

  Expenses $543,764 · Revenue $96,442

• GUEST SERVICESDURING THE PAST YEAR, TOHONO CHUL PARK WELCOMED MORE THAN 76,000 VISITORS AND MAINTAINED APPROXIMATELY 14,000 ACTIVE MEMBERS. IN ADDITION, THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM RECEIVED OVER 28,000 VISITORS. WE CONTINUED THE MERRY MARKET DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, OFFERING EXTENDED EVENING HOURS TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.TO SUPPORT HIGH QUALITY GUEST EXPERIENCES ACROSS PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND PRIVATE RENTALS, WE EXPANDED STAFFING BY HIRING A PRIVATE RENTALS MANAGER AND AN EVENTS ASSISTANT. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE HOSTED 19 WEDDINGS, 7 CELEBRATIONS OF LIFE, 17 CORPORATE GATHERINGS, AND 17 ADDITIONAL PRIVATE EVENTS, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO GATHER IN THE GARDENS FOR SIGNIFICANT LIFE EVENTS AND COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS. THESE PRIVATE RENTALS INCLUDED COLLABORATIONS WITH TUCSON FOODIE AND THE LOCAL BOOKSTORE STACKS.SEASONAL AND RECURRING EVENTS REMAIN AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE. THESE INCLUDED BLOOM NIGHT, CHILES, CHOCOLATE AND DAY OF THE DEAD FESTIVAL, AND HOLIDAY NIGHTS. THE CHILES, CHOCOLATE AND DAY OF THE DEAD FESTIVAL INCLUDED A SPECIAL EVENING CONCERT BY TUCSON BASED BAND XIXA AS PART OF ITS CULTURAL PROGRAMMING. ADDITIONAL MUSIC OFFERINGS INCLUDED SUNDAYS IN THE GARDEN, JAZZ UNDER THE STARS, AND A REBRANDED FALL ACOUSTIC MUSIC SERIES, TOHONO CHUL UNPLUGGED.SUMMER PROGRAMMING EMPHASIZED ACCESSIBILITY AND REPEAT VISITATION. OUR FREE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES, CHILLIN AT THE CHUL, CONTINUED WITH THEMED EVENINGS AND PARTICIPATORY ACTIVITIES. WE ALSO HOSTED MONSOON MARKET, A REBRANDED SUMMER PLANT FOCUSED EVENT FEATURING NATIVE PLANT VENDORS, EDUCATIONAL TALKS, ARTISAN GOODS, AND FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES.

  Expenses $1,559,266 · Revenue $885,358

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

Listed in Part VII

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

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

16 April 2026

IRS schema version

2024v5.5

Source object

202601069349301465

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