SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

1926

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

STEVEN WINDHAGER

Phone

8056824726

Tax Period

2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31

SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN, founded in 1926, is a mid-sized nonprofit in the Environment sector that reported $13.1M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue surged 79% from the prior year, signaling strong growth momentum. The organization ran a surplus of $3.2M, a strong 25% operating margin.

Mission

TO CONSERVE NATIVE PLANTS AND HABITATS FOR THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE AND OUR PLANET.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $2,441,159 Revenue: $1,098,454

THE HORTICULTURE PROGRAM CURATES, INSTALLS, AND MAINTAINS THE GARDEN'S LIVING COLLECTION, WHICH ENCOMPASSES 78 ACRES OF NATIVE PLANTS DRAWN FROM CALIFORNIA'S FLORISTIC PROVINCE, AS WELL AS HISTORIC LANDMARKS AND FEATURES DATING BACK TO 1806. THE PROGRAM ENSURES GUESTS EXPERIENCE SEASONAL WILDFLOWER DISPLAYS, ECOSYSTEM-THEMED SECTIONS FROM DESERT TO REDWOOD GROVES, AND GARDENS THAT CELEBRATE CALIFORNIA'S TAXONOMIC DIVERSITY, FROM RARE SPECIES TO ICONIC FIXTURES SUCH AS THE GOLDEN POPPY. NEWER GARDEN EXHIBITS EXPLORE "PLANTING WITH PURPOSE" THEMES SUCH AS WATER CONSERVATION, ATTRACTING WILDLIFE, AND HOME DEMONSTRATION GARDENING. PROGRAM STAFF ALSO MANAGE TWO PLANT NURSERIES - ONE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AND ONE SUPPORTING CONSERVATION AND THE REGENERATION OF THE LIVING COLLECTION.

Program 2

Expenses: $3,544,631 Revenue: $1,393,661

WITH NATIVE PLANTS AND HABITATS AT ITS CORE, THE CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH PROGRAM FOCUSES ON SOLUTIONS TO TODAY'S COMPLEX CONSERVATION CHALLENGES - FROM GENES TO ECOSYSTEMS. WITH A TEAM OF...

WITH NATIVE PLANTS AND HABITATS AT ITS CORE, THE CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH PROGRAM FOCUSES ON SOLUTIONS TO TODAY'S COMPLEX CONSERVATION CHALLENGES - FROM GENES TO ECOSYSTEMS. WITH A TEAM OF SCIENTISTS, TECHNICIANS, PARTNERS, AND BUDDING CONSERVATION LEADERS, THE PROGRAM WORKS COLLABORATIVELY TO UNDERSTAND, PROTECT, AND RESTORE CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE BOTANIC ECOSYSTEMS. IN RESPONSE, THE TEAM PRODUCES ESSENTIAL PLANT INVENTORIES AND RESEARCH, SAFEGUARDS ENDANGERED PLANT SPECIES, AND WORKS TO RESTORE ENTIRE FOOD WEBS, WHILE SECURING AND MAINTAINING COLLECTIONS THAT INFORM AND SUPPORT RECOVERY.

Program 3

Expenses: $845,625 Revenue: $192,447

THE EDUCATION PROGRAM AT THE GARDEN SUPPORTS THE MISSION OF CONSERVING CALIFORNIA'S NATIVE PLANTS BY PROVIDING MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES IN NATURE. THE GARDEN GROUNDS OFFER A UNIQUE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM...

THE EDUCATION PROGRAM AT THE GARDEN SUPPORTS THE MISSION OF CONSERVING CALIFORNIA'S NATIVE PLANTS BY PROVIDING MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES IN NATURE. THE GARDEN GROUNDS OFFER A UNIQUE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM WHOSE DIVERSE COLLECTIONS PROVIDE A BACKDROP FOR PROGRAMS. BY ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITY WITH ONSITE INTERPRETATION OF OUR LIVING COLLECTIONS AND A WIDE VARIETY OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS ON AND OFF SITE, WE FACILITATE CONNECTIONS TO THE NATURAL WORLD AND FOSTER LOVE FOR NATIVE PLANTS. TRANSFORMATIVE YOUTH PROGRAMS INCLUDE SCHOOL TOURS, SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS AGES FIVE TO 10, AND ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH OUR 4.5 ACRE CHILDREN'S GARDEN, "THE BACKCOUNTRY". THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO ALIGN WITH THE CALIFORNIA COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS, CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION INITIATIVE & NEXT-GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $7,453,258

Program Service Revenue $2,853,899

Investment Income $2,226,056

Other Revenue $544,530

TOTAL REVENUE $13,077,743

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0

Salaries & Benefits $5,891,440

Fundraising Expenses $1,166,450

Program Expenses $7,199,907

Other Expenses $3,899,671

TOTAL EXPENSES $9,842,859

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2024	2023	Change
Revenue	$13,077,743	$7,323,891	+0.8%
Expenses	$9,842,859	$8,502,237	+0.2%
Net Income	$3,234,884	$-1,178,346	-3.7%

Key Indicators

✗ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✗ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

112

Volunteers

348

Governance Policies

✓ Conflict of Interest Policy

✓ Whistleblower Policy

✓ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

✗ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✗ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✓ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

$394,809

Total Directors

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
MARK FUNK	CHAIRMAN	2.75	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
JOHN GABBERT	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
WILLIAM MURDOCH	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
ANN STEINMETZ	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
HELENE SCHNEIDER	VICE CHAIR	2.75	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
SHARON BRADFORD	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
GEORGE LEIS	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
JEREMY BASSAN	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
FRANK DAVIS PHD	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
BIBI MOEZZI	TREASURER	2.75	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
NANCY WEISS	SECRETARY	1.50	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
CAT ALLDAY	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
VALERIE HOFFMAN	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
GELARE MACON	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
EILEEN WHITE READ	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
DAWN SEYMOUR	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
LINDA STIRLING	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
STEVEN WINDHAGER	EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR	40.00	Officer	$245,761	$32,072	$277,833
DIANE WONDOLOWSKI	DIR. OF FINANCE	40.00	Officer	$100,492	$16,484	$116,976
DENISE KNAPP	DIR. OF CONSERVATION & RES	40.00	Highest	$133,813	$27,720	$161,533
JAIME ESCHETTE	DIR. OF MARKETING & COMMUN	40.00	Highest	$118,289	$12,666	$130,955
MELISSA PATRINO	DIR. OF DEVELOPMENT	40.00	Highest	$139,404	$12,237	$151,641
KEITH NEVISON	DIR. HORTICULTURE & OPS	40.00	Highest	$118,091	$13,845	$131,936
JILL FREELAND	DIR. OF HUMAN RESOURCES	40.00	Highest	$102,100	$19,844	$121,944

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2024	$13,077,743	$9,842,859	$42,030,607	$3,234,884
2023	$7,323,891	$8,502,237	$38,881,524	$-1,178,346
2022	$7,523,888	$7,680,135	$38,190,125	$-156,247
2021	$7,409,122	$5,935,916	$41,433,162	$1,473,206
2020	$4,952,364	$5,036,505	$40,853,837	$-84,141
2019	$4,177,381	$5,184,751	$40,895,685	$-1,007,370
2018	$4,436,297	$4,724,091	$39,965,389	$-287,794