2023 Annual Report

DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN ANNUAL REPORT 2023

As I look back at 2023, I am reminded that great ideas take time, effort and support from you, the Garden’s most important and dedicated friends. Your generosity has allowed us to succeed at being your Garden and fulfill our mission of being a premier attraction for guests worldwide.

Within this past year alone, the Garden has broken ground on phase two of the Hazel Hare Center for Plant Science that includes a new plant/art exhibits gallery, a state-of-the-art production plant nursery and a horticultural headquarters building. The Center will advance the Garden’s vision to become a global leader in desert plant conservation and provide the most sophisticated center in the Southwest for cactus and agave conservation and research. In addition to designing these new facilities, the Garden’s Research and Collections team added more than 670 new specimens to our living collections in just the last year.

For our visitors we will soon open the new Christensen Family Desert Oasis featuring a new recirculating water wall, a grove of shade trees and a pallet of seasonal flowers that will add bursts of color throughout the year.

During the year, the Garden also saw more than 20,000 children, along with their families, enjoying the Cactus Clubhouse, which is a nature play space for kids that engages the next generation of botanists and gardeners in self-directed learning.

More than five years ago, staff at Desert Botanical Garden embarked on a mission to bring the larger-than-life artwork from one of Latin America’s beloved artists to the Garden. That dream was realized when the work of Colombian painter and sculptor Fernando Botero was displayed around the Garden. His paintings and sculptures accentuated the Garden’s trails and Dorrance Hall, adding a touch of everyday Colombian life to visitors’ experience.

As I always do at this time of year, I would like to thank each of you for choosing to invest in the Garden’s mission. Everything we do is possible only because of the donors, board members, volunteers and staff who work tirelessly to see the Garden bloom in every way.

We are so successful because of you.

Ken Schutz

The Dr. William Huizingh

Executive Director

Ann Stanton Vice President

Amanda Burke

Vice President

Laura A. Lo Bianco Secretary

Bruce Macdonough

Treasurer

Trustees

Rebecca Ailes-Fine

Luis Avila

Kate Baker

Quintin Boyce

Scott Burdick

John Burnside

Shelley Cohn

Joe Colianni

Linda Elliott

Ann Ewen

Barry K. Fingerhut

Ursula Gangadean

Diana Gregory

Martin Harvier

Lori A. Higuera

Mary Hovden

Thomas R. Jones

Jane Jozoff

Chris Kline

Mark Landy

Jan Lewis

Timothy Long

David Martinez III

Rea Mayer

Geri Mingura

Paul J. Mountain

Kathy Munson

Linda Norquist

Dan Perez

Robert S. Reder

Edgardo Rivera

Bill Rubin

Sara Schaefer

Joette Schmidt

Melanie Stuckenberg

Kathleen Taddie

Jamey Wetmore

Julie Williams

Trustees Emeriti

Lee Baumann Cohn

Cliff Douglas

Barton Faber

Martha Hunter Henderson

Carolyn Polson O’Malley

Donald R. Ottosen

Rosellen C. Papp

Carol Schilling

Nancy Swanson

NUMBERSBy the

550K+ member households

total visitors in 2023

94,110 attended free with Community Day, Culture Pass & Community and Audience Engagement Committee Challenge

28,876

33.4M social media impressions

318K+ followers across all social channels

6.7M website views

99,300 herbarium specimens

5,880 seed accessions

4,821 taxa

768 new accessions

544 rare, threatened & endangered taxa

IN REVIEW The year

January 2023

FLYING FORWARD

Lee Baumann Cohn and Mike Cohn are devoted supporters of the Garden for many reasons. “The very important plant science that goes on behind-thescenes, the beauty of the Garden, the top-quality attraction it provides for our residents and visitors and our community, as well as for the friends I’ve made and relationships I treasure,” says Lee. Lee has served as Trustee Emerita since 2012. Prior to that she served two full terms on the board and two 2-year terms as president in 1998-2000 and 2009-2011.

In 2023, Lee and Mike decided to make a commitment to the Garden’s butterfly pavilion. The Cohn’s support was motivated by the public access to this exhibit. “Butterflies are simply magical; I’ve always been fascinated by them, and we love that the Garden hosts them for the public to enjoy” Lee shared.

22,925 butterflies on display

3,043 pupae emerged

104 caterpillars were raised

150K+

guests visited the Butterfly Pavilion

In the Cohn Butterfly Pavilion: Haute Media

18,644

visitors moonstruck

February 2023

MUSEUM OF THE MOON

During February 2023, aligned with Super Bowl LVII competing in Arizona, the Garden presented the awe-inspiring and radiant installation of Museum of the Moon. The limited-time immersive experience featured a 23-foot diameter glowing sculpture of the Moon created by UK artist Luke Jerram.

Suspended in open air and set against the Garden’s iconic desert landscape, this outdoor art installation, fused with a stellar soundtrack by composer Dan Jones, left 18,644 visitors moonstruck. Each inch of the artwork represents eight miles of the Moon’s surface. The high-resolution image used for the sculpture was created by the USGS Astrogeology Science Center in Flagstaff, Arizona.

On view both day and night, Museum of the Moon offered visitors the unique opportunity to not only walk around and under the Moon but also the surreal experience of viewing the dark side of the Moon in three dimensions.

March 2023

FUND THE FARM

In March, 500 guests came together and raised $77,000 for Spaces of Opportunity. Guests enjoyed delicious food and drinks, while taking in the scenery of the Garden and danced to performances by Las Calakas. All funds were raised to support the Lead Farmer and Community Farmer salaries at Spaces. The Garden also hosted a Spaces Open House to share about the mission of Spaces with its guests. Guests had a chance to learn about events, volunteer opportunities and experience a Farmers Market with all fresh produce grown at Spaces.

In 2023, Spaces hosted nearly 40 events from farmers markets to volunteer days to community events that had more than 2,330 people in attendance. More than 100 volunteers worked in the garden, assisted at the markets and in other tasks. Because of the work of staff and volunteers, many south Phoenix community members of all ages were served by Spaces.

April 2023

DINNER ON THE DESERT

Desert Botanical Garden’s 2023 Dinner on the Desert on April 22 brought 630 Garden enthusiasts together to raise more than $500,000 for the Garden’s critical work for desert plant conservation.

The event was co-chaired by Faye Kitchel (left) and Shoshana Tancer (right) who curated an evening full of wonder and beauty that included a silent auction that raised $98,000. Guests enjoyed cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, music and dance along Garden trails and dining under the stars.

Shoshana has been a donor and friend of the Garden since 1990. She and her late husband Bob Tancer were Valley arts advocates and Bob was a dedicated Trustee Emeritus of the Garden for more than 13 years.

“Dinner on the Desert was fantastic this year. Thanks to the wonderful work by my co-chair Faye and the stupendous Garden staff. We hope all guests enjoyed it and if you haven’t experienced Dinner on the Desert before, please save the date for 2024,” says Shoshana Tancer.

Faye Kitchel’s ties to the Garden date back to 1999 when her husband Jim became a Trustee and served through 2006. Faye herself became active at the Garden in 2001 and has fond memories of serving on the planning committees for several Dinner on the Deserts as well as first serving as chair in 2006. So, to be back as the 2023 DOD co-chair was a perfect fit. “It was wonderful to be there with our granddaughters and their husbands dining in the Cactus House next to the legacy plaque recognizing three generations of our family‘s commitment to the Garden,” shared Faye.

Haute Media

Haute Media

giving in 2023 $11.9M

GIVING IN 2023 Your

Our sincere gratitude to the generous community members who gave to the Garden in 2023. Because of you, the Garden will continue to grow into the future.

5,835 unique donors

$720K+ total corporation/ foundation/ government giving

$235K+ raised during fall matching gift challenge

$575K+ annual fund donations

1,070 visitors became members

334 Garden memberships donated to community organizations

View our Honor Roll of Supporters at dbg.org/thankyou.

May 2023

SAGUARO CENSUS

As part of the Garden’s Saguaro Initiative, the Saguaro Census recorded 3,670 saguaro observations across metro Phoenix in May with the support of Valley residents and volunteers. The total number of observations grew to 19,057 recorded on iNaturalist, an app that allows users to share and map observations of biodiversity.

Additionally, Garden scientists sequenced the DNA of saguaros. Samples were collected to better understand the iconic cactus’ genetics and find their closest relatives in the wild. This is part of a larger project — Saguaros Under Stress — led by the Garden’s New World Succulents Specialist, Dr. Tania Hernandez that will seek to understand the stress effects that extreme heat can have at the molecular level.

Users reported on the health of more than 580 saguaros – 44% were in good health, 42% in fair condition and 14% in poor condition. Saguaros reported to be in poor condition, exhibited damage from sun, rot, frost or human activity.

19,057 total saguaros recorded since 2022

3,670 observations in 2023

56 saguaros sampled

June 2023

GROWING THE GARDEN’S COLLECTION

Thanks to Bert (left) and Betty (right) Feingold, generous donors and Garden members since 1983, the Garden’s research conservation and collections staff were able to make three expeditions in 2023 to the Arizona Strip, San Luis Potosi, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

During these trips, researchers were able to help the Garden advance its goal to build the most complete collections of the cactus and agave families. The three trips funded by the Feingolds allowed the Garden to strengthen collaborations in Mexico and establish new contacts in Puerto Rico.

In addition to finding and collecting more than 450 herbarium specimens, 260 tissue samples for DNA and more than 160 seed packages and live plants, researchers also garnered new knowledge to support IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) conservation assessments of Caribbean agaves.

July 2023

CHILDREN’S EDUCATION

In 2023, more than 35% of the Garden’s visitors attended with children under 18. They had a chance to enjoy programming like Storytime, pop-up nature play, Cactus Clubhouse and more. Summer Desert Discovery Camp returned after a COVID pause, with more than 60 campers joining for five weeks of camps in the Garden.

20,619 Cactus Clubhouse visitors

286 Girl Scout badges completed

181 Storytime attendees

62

Kids attended Desert Discovery Camps

90

adult classes offered

ADULT EDUCATION

More than 1,134 lifelong learners attended classes, exploring wellness, photography and cooking. Learning while being immersed in nature also offered attendees a glimpse at botanical art, yoga, gardening and much more.

This year, the Garden launched its Read Between the Spines Author Series. Guests had the chance to dig into bestselling books with the authors — M. Jackson and Kathryn Aalto — themselves and enjoy informal and entertaining meet and greets.

VOLUNTEERS IN THE GARDEN

Thank you to the 658 volunteers, who dedicated more than 49,456 service hours across many tasks within the Garden in 2023.

Volunteers are a crucial part of the Garden. Through their time and commitment, volunteers ranging from 14 to 94-yearsold offer significant contributions that enable the Garden to fulfill its mission with assignments in Research, Conservation and Collections, Horticulture, Events, Education and so much more.

A special thanks to those who have achieved milestones of more than 10, 20 or 30+ years volunteering at the Garden.

To learn more about becoming a Garden volunteer, visit dbg.org/support/volunteer. total

August 2023

CHRISTENSEN FAMILY DESERT OASIS BREAKS GROUND

Fred and Anne Christensen have been Garden supporters since 1993 and have watched it grow and become a work of art. It’s always first on their list of the attractions for family and friends visiting. They both come from gardening families, so the love of observing and cultivating gardens comes naturally to them and is a necessary part of their lives. Supporting the community has also been a priority.

“The Sonoran Desert is unique and the Garden is unique. We feel it defines our Valley in relation to other parts of the world. When our children came to us with the idea to create another garden within the Garden, we were thrilled - they knew we loved it,” says Fred. Their children all grew up in Arizona and return to the Garden often. They said it was “an obvious choice as a place to help honor us, and build on the mission of the Garden,” continued Anne. “Our whole family believes it is a place of beauty, a place of learning, a place of celebration, a place of conservation, a place of refuge, a place of contemplation, a place of wonder and joy.”

Being part of the design process for the new garden was exciting for the Christensens. They met in several all-day sessions with the architect, the Garden leaders and the construction team. “They are definitely a genius cluster. We saw how intricate the workings of the Garden are and how many pieces have to fit together seamlessly to have the spectacular Garden we have,” said Fred.

“We wanted the garden to be a gathering place, and to have shade, color, water and drama. The genius cluster worked their magic and created the plan. Watching the evolution of the design over many months was amazing and our vision realized,” shared Fred.

“The water wall at the far north end of our garden is a dominant feature and is directly in line with a view of the butte. Water, of course, is the life-giving force that brings life to the desert and brings comfort and peace to those who see and hear it. We are a mountaineering family as well as a gardening family and love that connection,” shared Anne.

Opening Spring 2024

September 2023

IN MEMORY: OONAGH & JOHN BOPPART

In August, the Garden and the entire Arizona arts and culture community lost two of its greatest advocates, Oonagh and John Boppart. Their lives were celebrated in September at the Garden by family, friends and colleagues.

The Boppart’s combined passion for arts, culture, education and the sciences inspired them to support numerous organizations throughout the state. They were Garden supporters for nearly 30 years, Patrons Circle donors since 1995 and members of the Sonoran Circle legacy society. Every Friday since 2010, Oonagh volunteered at the Membership Kiosk. In 2015, John became a volunteer, working in the Herbarium where he was instrumental in keeping the specimen database, loans and exchanges running.

Oonagh served on the Garden’s Board of Trustees for 14 years and as a Trustee Emerita for six years, including serving as board president from 2007-2009. Her hard work and dedication to the Garden’s mission helped usher in multi-million dollar fundraising efforts that will benefit the community for generations to come.

Oonagh, along with her dear friend Hazel Hare, co-chaired the Tending the Garden campaign from 2006-2008 that exceeded its $16 million goal — raising $18 million

in funding for the Garden’s endowment, exhibits, education and research programs. Stepping up once again in 2010, Oonagh and Hazel led the Chihuly Desert Towers Invitational with Trustees Jan Lewis and Ted Lagried to raise funds to purchase and permanently display the sculptures. Created specifically for display at the Garden’s entrance in the agave spiral, the sculptures from the Chihuly: Nature of Glass exhibition are a stunning public art installation for the community.

In 2013, she led the planning for the Garden’s 75th Anniversary Celebration and served on the 75th Anniversary Cabinet for The Saguaro Initiative, which raised more than $18 million for the Garden.

For more than 20 years, she brought together CEOs from arts and culture organizations across Arizona to connect and collaborate. Energized by the positive results of these gatherings, she formed additional roundtable groups for education, marketing and development leaders. These groups formed new partnerships and created a sense of community that fueled resilience to challenges during the Great Recession in 2008 and during COVID-19.

We cherish the Boppart’s leadership and love for the Garden and they will be missed dearly.

“I have a love of the arts. In any leadership, you need to know your subject and be able to think outside the box. We are living in a changing world, and the arts are essential to our everyday life … I love chamber music, the Ballet and being at Desert Botanical Garden.”

— Oonagh Boppart

Haute Media

October 2023

FERNANDO BOTERO: EL MAESTRO

On October 5, the Garden hosted an opening reception chaired by Trustees Adriana Murrietta (left) and Linda Norquist (right). The event was inspired by Colombian culture in celebration of renowned figurative artist and sculptor Fernando Botero. This special event set the stage for the public grand opening a few days later.

Vibrant colors and voluptuous figures of Botero united in perfect harmony with the Garden for this first-ever Botero exhibit in Arizona. Colombian artist Fernando Botero (1932-2023) was a pioneer of figurative art who established himself as one of the most globally recognized artists of our time. In 2023, more than 600 guests experienced two monumental cast bronze sculptures — Dressed Woman and Reclining Woman — that showcased Botero’s unique and recognizable style known as “Boterismo.”

The exhibition extended inside Dorrance Hall with an expanded gallery space that featured 15 paintings and drawings, two small sculptures and a documentary

on Botero’s life and work that guests from across the world explored.

The exhibition was a collaboration with Long Beach, California-based Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) that is dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American and Latin art.

To see a full list of sponsors, visit the Honor Roll of Supporters at dbg.org/thankyou

Grey Shed Studio

GROWING AND MAINTAINING

the Garden

The horticulture department worked to ensure the beauty and health of the living collection’s 50,000 plants. In 2023:

8,000 plants salvaged and relocated for construction

2,431 new plants added

The horticulture team presented a Spring and Fall Plant sale with more than 30,000 products for 7,255 shoppers to add to their home gardens.

35,000

items purchased at Plant Sale

The Desert Landscape School (DLS) offers homeowners, gardeners and other landscape professionals the opportunity to share the Garden’s horticultural expertise in maintaining and developing desertfriendly landscapes. Courses are available in person and online, including complimentary resources to introduce new students to the program. 2023 saw:

• 113 new students

• 665 new DLS Hub users

• 3,600 active users on DLS site

• 453 landscaping resources downloaded

SECURING A PRECIOUS RESOURCE FOR THE GARDEN’S FUTURE

Desert Botanical Garden was Kitty Collins’ favorite place. “She loved Arizona, nature and most of all the Garden,” Janine Donovan shared when remembering her friend.

Mary Kathleen “Kitty” Collins passed away in September 2022, just miles from where she was born on her family’s citrus farm in Phoenix. As an ASU graduate, she studied accounting under Dr. William Huizingh, who introduced her to Desert Botanical Garden. Her relationship with the Garden blossomed from there.

Kitty was a lifelong learner and explorer. Her travels covered all corners of the United States Southwest, Pan American Highway, Europe and Asia. In 2019, she traveled with Executive Director Ken Schutz and a group of Garden donors on a photographic safari to the Serengeti Plains in Kenya and to the Virunga Mountains in Rwanda to observe mountain gorillas.

“Over the years, Kitty came to the Garden for inner peace. If she had a big decision to make, she immersed herself in the Garden. She became a Garden member in 1990 with a gift of $25 which ultimately led to the legacy gift she made in her estate in 2022. She truly loved this place, and knowing that her legacy at the Garden will live on forever would make her happy,” Janine said.

During one of her many trips in Arizona, Kitty journeyed down the Colorado River, where she learned more about water rights and the critical nature of water conservation for all of Arizona, including the Garden. As she educated herself about the future of water usage and conservation in Arizona, she approached the Garden with her idea that the Garden should acquire its own water rights in order to protect the future of the plant collection in perpetuity. Her estate gift

was specifically designated to “secure the Garden’s water future, ” and soon after her passing, the Garden was able to purchase rights to 61 acre-feet of SRP canal water per year, in perpetuity. Additional purchases of water rights, and implementation of stateof-the-art water conservation techniques in the future will also be funded with the proceeds from Kitty’s estate gift.

“Kitty would be pleased to know she protected this precious resource for the Garden, and thrilled that her estate gift will allow the Garden to be here in the future for others, as it was for her,” said Janine.

November 2023

A LIVING TRAIL REVITALIZED FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

A Midwest native with a penchant for plants and nature, Nancy Swanson (below) has been a Desert Botanical Garden volunteer and donor since 1980. She has completed more than 3,000 volunteer hours and is still supporting the Garden today.

Nancy was first introduced to the Garden after she moved to the Phoenix area and immediately joined the docent class. Previously, while working in the Midwest and England she joined and volunteered at local botanical gardens. Arizona’s dry packed desert soil meant there was a lot to learn here.

In 1983, Nancy joined the Garden board. About this time Dr. Charles Huckins, former Garden Director, came west and helped the Garden attain accreditation. He suggested growing membership by offering trips, Garden tours and events.

Later, as board president, Nancy asked key staff members to suggest new ideas to further grow the Garden. Ruth Greenhouse, a staff horticulturist and ethnobotanist, came with the idea of a plants and people trail, tracing man’s use of plants in the Sonoran Desert. Soon after, work began to make this idea a reality. “It became a trailblazer in teaching people about the desert land and people that called it home for thousands of years, as well as today,” says Nancy.

Nancy holds a deep veneration for the trail, so much so that in 2023 she supported the trail’s renovation through a generous gift. The revamped project allowed for upgraded interpretive signage, discovery stations, renovated ethno-botanical structures, new lighting, new plantings and paths.

The revitalized exhibit and trail reopened in November of 2023 with a festival of storytelling, music, dance and culture. Guests experienced a variety of ways native people use desert plants for food, textiles, medicine and shelter. Local artisans demonstrated basket weaving, pottery, etching and more.

An initiative of Desert Botanical Garden

In 2023, CAZCA consisted of more than 90 partner organizations joining in the collaborative, many of which participate in the four working groups and collaborate with CAZCA on a variety of projects, programs and educational efforts.

CAZCA launched two working groups: Sonoran Seed Collaborative, which emerged from a pilot run at Tovrea Castle with the Arizona Columbine Garden Club and Tovrea Castle Society and the Urban Desertscape Enhancement working group, which is focused on educating and encouraging property owners to create more native desert habitat in their yards and reduce their water use.

Desert Defenders grew to include more than 30 partner organizations and conducted invasive plant mapping and removal events and education and outreach events. Sonoran Insiders has grown to eight partner organizations and 14 Ambassadors helping to disseminate information and educate people across Instagram.

Additionally, in 2023 the CAZCA collaborative was awarded three grants and the Greenprint (a natural resource infrastructure viewer created by CAZCA, the Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land) layers were updated, including adding the Native Lands Map layer.

December 2023

CAPTIVATING EVENTS

Each year the Garden presents a captivating calendar of events and festivals. The Garden offers a backdrop to some of the most popular events in the Valley including 22 Music in the Concerts, more than 2,000 dogs wagged their tails along the Garden’s trails this year and more than 456 tried their luck at a game of Lotería in the Garden.

In the fall season, the Garden celebrates Hispanic culture through a variety of festivals showcasing the rich heritage through music, dance, art and culinary treats at Guelaguetza, Día de Muertos, La Posada and of course the holiday’s renowned Las Noches de las Luminarias, a magical event where the pathways were illuminated by thousands of flickering luminarias. More than 65,000 guests strolled through the Garden’s trails, enjoying live music performances and enjoying time with friends and loved ones.

Not only is the Garden the best place for festivals and events, but it was on the most sought after venues for weddings, social gatherings and corporate events. In 2023, more than 125 social events occurred in the Garden as well as 76 corporate events. The breathtaking views and iconic desert scenery was the location for our communities most cherished moments this past year.

MEMORY

Sue Glawe

Sue Glawe was a beloved community leader who generously supported many nonprofit organizations. During her tenure as Vice President of Community Relations at Blue Cross Blue Shield, she worked with hundreds of nonprofit partners to help move their missions forward. With Sue as a champion, the Garden has received over $1M in donations from Blue Cross Blue Shield since the early 1990s in support of several capital projects and community initiatives.

Carole Kraemer

Carole Kraemer was a longtime friend of the Garden, dedicating her time, talent and treasure for more than 15 years to preserving the beauty of the desert. She was a member of the Garden’s Board of Trustees from 2015 to 2021, chaired many events, including 2015’s Dinner on the Desert and the Patrons Circle trip to Spain in 2016. She was also involved in many community efforts and served on the boards of various nonprofits over the years.

Craig Pearson

Craig Pearson’s service to the Garden goes back to the 1990s, when he was a Garden Trustee from 1999 to 2002. Over the years, he made a positive impact on the Garden through a variety of committees, culminating in chairing an engaging Patrons Circle trip to British Columbia in 2018. Craig was an active community member and supported many organizations, such as Hospice of the Valley, SARRC, Phoenix Zoo and Arizona Humane Society.

FINANCIAL REPORT 2023

We are pleased to share with members, donors and friends the Garden’s financial statements for the fiscal year that ended September 30, 2023. As we continue our transition and establish our “new normal” in FY 2023, the Garden continued the use of timed admissions which enable us to manage the flow of guests in the Garden and the parking lot.

The Consolidated Statement of Activities shows total revenues for the year exceeded total expenditures by $6.7 million. This was driven by positive admission, membership, contribution and special event levels.

The Garden’s expenditures continue to be managed with careful stewardship in mind, while at the same time seizing opportunities for growth and greater mission impact.

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

Assets

Current Assets

Cash and Investments $20,267,331

Pledges & Other Receivables $3,596,263

Inventories & Other Current Assets

Total current assets

The Consolidated Statement of Financial Position shows the Garden’s fiscal position remains solid, with more than $68.7 million in total assets and approximately $6.5 million in total liabilities. Unrestricted cash and Boarddesignated cash, totaling $20.2 million, is sufficient for normal operations and to provide funds for repair and maintenance of major building systems as facilities age. The Garden Foundation manages endowment assets conservatively with an annual target of a 4.25 percent distribution from the Foundation to the Garden’s operating budget. The Garden’s total debt of $0.74 million represents less than 1 percent of the total combined assets of the Garden and Foundation. The Garden’s financial health and success in achieving its mission would not be possible without your commitment, dedication and generosity. On behalf of the Board, staff and volunteers, we extend our gratitude for all that you do for the Garden.

Pledge Receivables (noncurrent) $273,006

Property and equipment, Net $21,802,320

Operating right-of-use assets

Other Assets

Total Assets: $48,284,730

Liabilities And Net Assets

Current Liabilities

Current Portion of Long-term Debt

Ken Schutz

The Dr. William Huizingh Executive Director

Bruce Macdonough Treasurer

Desert Botanical Garden is committed to full transparency in financial stewardship. Our complete audited financial statements are posted on the website. There you will also find the annual IRS Form 990 filings for the Garden and Foundation. Please visit dbg.org to review these documents.

The Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities reports the results of Garden Operations excluding the effect of depreciation expense. Depreciation refers to the systematic allocation of the cost of long-lived assets, including buildings, furniture, fixtures and equipment, to the periods that benefit from their use. Recording depreciation has no effect on the liquidity or cash flow of the Garden. It reflects an estimate of the using up of the economic value of tangible assets. In the financial statements it reduces the Change in Net Assets (and, therefore, Total Net Assets) and the carrying basis of Property and Equipment.

Unlike for-profit firms, not-for-profit organizations generally do not provide for the addition or replacement of major long-lived assets out of operations. Historically such entities look to capital contributions for those improvements. Hence, the financial performance for not-for-profits is best evaluated by analyzing operating results excluding the effects of depreciation. Depreciation expense recognized in the Garden’s records for 2023 was $1.43 million.

Auditor’s Opinion | Desert Botanical Garden has received an unmodified opinion from their auditors, Mayer Hoffman McCann, P.C., on the audit of their financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2023.

MISSIONOur

The Garden’s commitment to the community is to advance excellence in education, research, exhibition and conservation of desert plants of the world with emphasis on the Sonoran Desert. We will ensure that the Garden is always a compelling attraction that brings to life the many wonders of the desert.

Front Cover Image by Polymath Studio Fernando Botero (Colombia, 1932); Reclining Woman / Mujer recostada, 2007; Bronze sculpture / Escultura en bronce; 132 x 76 x 77 inches / pulgadas; Private Collection of the Botero Family / Colección privada de la familia Botero