THE BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL SOCIETY INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

THE BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL SOCIETY INC

EIN 63-0495111 · Environment (C114)

What they do

THE ORGANIZATION ("THE FRIENDS") ADVANCES PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE and APPRECIATION of PLANTS, GARDENS, and THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH EDUCATION, VOLUNTEERISM, and ASSISTANCE to A PUBLIC BOTANICAL GARDEN. THE FRIENDS MOST SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ASSISTING WITH HORTICULTURAL STEWARDSHIP AT THE BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS; DELIVERING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS and COMMUNITY EVENTS; and CONDUCTING COMMUNICATIONS, MEMBERSHIP, and FUNDRAISING to ASSIST THE GARDENS.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $68.00 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders34 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

53.37%of revenue went to mission work68.0% of expenses · Program services

7.66%of revenue went to fundraising9.8% of expenses

$78.53spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

17.51%of revenue went to management and office costs22.3% of expenses

$9.30in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

62.6%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $213,986 for THOMAS W UNDERWOOD (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$3,680,914

Mission workProgram services$1,964,34453.37% of revenue68.0% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$644,45217.51% of revenue22.3% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$281,8967.66% of revenue9.8% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$790,22221.47% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$2,890,69278.53% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 68.0% mission · 22.3% management · 9.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 78.53% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 63.1% mission · 23.5% management · 13.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 77.47% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 60.9% mission · 22.2% management · 16.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 81.70% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 63.9% mission · 21.2% management · 14.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 69.99% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 67.0% mission · 18.8% management · 14.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 84.51% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 68.7% mission · 19.3% management · 11.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 81.35% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 68.8% mission · 19.9% management · 11.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 88.11% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 63.4% mission · 21.3% management · 15.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 64.13% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$3,680,914

Expenses$2,890,692

Annual surplus $790,222 Revenue was higher than expenses for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$1,964,344 · 68.0% of expenses

Management and office costs$644,452 · 22.3% of expenses

Fundraising$281,896 · 9.8% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$3,680,914

Expenses$2,890,692

Assets$26,895,533

Income$11,559,602

Contributions$2,302,957

Mission work (program services)$1,964,344

Fundraising$281,896

Management and general$644,452

Executive compensation (total)$278,656

Stocks and bonds$10,782,497

Accounting fees$37,764

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

THOMAS W UNDERWOODEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · 44 hrs/week $213,986Base $206,048 · Other $7,938

PENELOPE HARTLINEDIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT · 40 hrs/week $126,114Base $115,353 · Other $10,761

STEPHANIE BANKSCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $117,562Base $106,798 · Other $10,764

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (34)

THOMAS W UNDERWOODEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

PENELOPE HARTLINEDIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

STEPHANIE BANKSCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

SARAH SLAUGHTERMEMBER

LARRY THORNTON SRMEMBER

LEE MCLEMORECHAIR OF OPERATIONS

LEIGH HAVERMEMBER

MARGARET W BROOKEMEMBER

MARTHA SIMSMEMBER

MAZIE BRYANTMEMBER

NICOLE FAULKMEMBER

KIRK FORRESTERSECRETARY

SHARON DEEP-NELSONMEMBER

SHARON WALKERMEMBER

VIRGINIA WILLINGSMEMBER

WALTER B EVANS JRIMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR

WENDY EVESQUEMEMBER

EVELYN JONESCHAIR OF DEVELOPMENT

CAROLINE LITTLECHAIR OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

DAVID GERMANYMEMBER

DESMOND LAYNEMEMBER

DONALD C COSTONTREASURER & CHAIR OF FINANCE

ELEANOR ESTESMEMBER

ELIZABETH M VAUGHANCHAIR OF GOVERNMENT RELATI

ELLEN SPENCERMEMBER

EMILY BOWRONCHAIR

ANNE SANDERSMEMBER

FREDERICK BELDEN IIICHAIR OF COMMUNICATIONS

GENE PAGEMEMBER

JANET KAVINOKYMEMBER

JESSE VOGTLE JRMEMBER

JOANICE THOMPSONMEMBER

JOHN EVANS JRMEMBER

JOHN W SMITH TCHAIR OF GOVERNANCE

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1964
Location: 2612 LANE PARK RD, MOUNTAIN BRK, AL 35223-1802
County: Jefferson
In care of: THOMAS W UNDERWOOD
Primary officer: THOMAS W UNDERWOOD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emailinfo@bbgardens.org Phone(205) 414-3950

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: January 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: BORLAND BENEFIELD PC
NTEE classification: Environment (C114)
IRS tax category: Other Grantmaking and Giving Services