Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Meets Standards
Standards For Charity Accountability
Governance
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Board Oversight
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Board Size
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Board Meetings
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Board Compensation
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Conflict of Interest
Measuring Effectiveness
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Effectiveness Policy
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Effectiveness Report
Finances
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Program Expenses
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Fundraising Expenses
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Accumulating Funds
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Audit Report
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Detailed Expense Breakdown
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Accurate Expense Reporting
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Budget Plan
Fundraising & Info
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Truthful Materials
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Annual Report
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Website Disclosures
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Donor Privacy
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Cause Marketing Disclosures
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Complaints
Brooklyn Botanic Garden meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Stated Purpose:
Brooklyn Botanic Garden is an urban botanic garden that connects people to the world of plants, fostering delight and curiosity while inspiring an appreciation and sense of stewardship of the environment.
In the Garden, in its community, and well beyond, BBG inspires people of all ages through the conservation, display, and enjoyment of plants; with educational programs that emphasize learning by doing; and with research focused on understanding and conserving regional plants and plant communities.
Year, State Incorporated:
1910, NY
Brooklyn Botanic Garden was founded in 1910 with the revolutionary vision that environmental education, conservation, and community engagement were necessary elements of urban life. Today, the Garden—one of New York City’s leading cultural institutions—welcomes over 900,000 visitors a year from around the corner and across the globe. On its 52 acre site, the public can experience over 18,000 different kinds of plants from around the world, along with many specialty gardens such as the Cranford Rose Garden, Japanese Hill and Pond Garden, Native Flora Garden, Discovery Garden, and Shelby White and Leon Levy Water Garden. The Garden extends well beyond its gates, engaging more than 150,000 children, teachers, and families annually through educational programs offered free or at minimal cost. Over 50,000 Brooklyn residents participate in the Garden’s urban greening programs, which bring neighbors together, block by block, to strengthen communities on a grassroots level.
For the year ended December 31, 2009, Brooklyn Botanic Garden's program expenses were:
| Maintenance | $5,212,221 |
| Horticulture | $5,205,313 |
| Education | $4,591,301 |
| Security | $2,878,877 |
| Program enhancement | $1,986,057 |
| Membership | $988,707 |
| Admissions | $924,451 |
| Publications | $646,855 |
| Capital campaign | $350,121 |
| Total Program Expenses | $22,783,903 |
Chair of the Board
Diane Steinberg
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Board Size
31
Paid Staff Size
225
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Membership appeals
This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
The following information is based on Brooklyn Botanic Garden's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009.
Source of Funds
| Contributions | $7,215,840 |
| Appropriations by the City of New York | $5,587,590 |
| Admissions | $4,477,271 |
| Grants | $3,964,181 |
| Membership dues | $2,452,345 |
| Special fees | $2,052,788 |
| Special events | $554,338 |
| Educational programs | $513,490 |
| Interests and dividends | $193,829 |
| Sale of plants and other items | $192,645 |
| Plants and gardens publications | $42,805 |
| Total Income | $27,247,122 |
Programs: 84% Fundraising: 5% Administrative: 10%
| Total Income | $27,247,122 |
| Total expenses: | $27,247,122 |
| Program expenses | $22,783,903 |
| Fundraising expenses | $1,400,591 |
| Administrative expenses | $2,772,635 |
| Other expenses | $289,993 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $0 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $115,300,721 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $-10,315,288 |
| Ending Net Assets | $104,985,433 |
| Total Liabilities | $16,898,357 |
| Total Assets | $121,883,790 |
An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.
This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.
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Report completed by:
BBB Foundation of Metropolitan New York