Chicago Horticultural Society
1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL · IRS data through FY2024
Revenue, expenses and net assets
Revenue Expenses Net assets
| Tax year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 | $68,147,549 | $73,382,562 | $293,793,946 |
| FY2023 | $76,930,745 | $69,918,513 | $279,826,836 |
| FY2022 | $77,057,735 | $60,660,427 | $249,977,028 |
| FY2021 | $72,376,611 | $53,561,911 | $267,732,015 |
| FY2020 | $53,583,619 | $46,241,769 | $239,452,470 |
| FY2019 | $88,318,689 | $48,907,247 | $225,015,053 |
| FY2018 | $49,317,007 | $47,979,832 | $186,911,256 |
| FY2017 | $49,757,988 | $48,755,048 | $195,173,731 |
| FY2016 | $50,149,476 | $47,026,301 | $184,555,533 |
| FY2015 | $49,740,250 | $45,901,974 | $180,348,299 |
| FY2014 | $66,185,119 | $41,730,474 | $178,455,833 |
| FY2013 | $51,973,972 | $40,010,257 | $154,864,656 |
| FY2012 | $44,809,710 | $39,358,680 | $132,591,006 |
| FY2011 | $38,503,450 | $38,289,266 | $124,008,672 |
Form 990 filings
The returns filed by Chicago Horticultural Society (EIN 36-2225482), including Form 990 PDFs and e-file data by year, are available in ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer. The figures on this page come from IRS data files built from those returns.
Where the revenue came from
| Source | Amount | % of revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Contributions & grants | $39,376,498 | 58% |
| Program service revenue | $27,009,050 | 40% |
| Other revenue | $1,762,001 | 3% |
Where the money was spent
| Category | Amount | % of expenses |
|---|---|---|
| Program services | $59,357,004 | 81% |
| Management & general | $7,721,805 | 11% |
| Fundraising | $6,303,753 | 9% |
What the numbers show
- Contributions & grants made up 58% of total revenue in FY2024.
- Program services accounted for 81% of functional expenses, management & general 11%, and fundraising 9%.
- 81% of functional expenses went to program services in FY2024. That is higher than 42.8% of 334 Environment organizations nationwide (too few in IL for a state comparison).
- Net assets covered about 48 months of expenses at the end of the reporting year. That puts it in the 61st percentile among 191 Environment organizations in IL.
- Total revenue was the highest among 201 Environment organizations in IL.
- Total revenue rose from $38,503,450 in FY2011 to $68,147,549 in FY2024. Revenue increased in 7 and decreased in 6 of 13 year-over-year comparisons.
- Expenses exceeded revenue in 1 of 14 reported years (FY2024).
- The highest revenue on record here is $88,318,689 in FY2019.
- Net assets grew from $124,008,672 to $293,793,946 between FY2011 and FY2024.
- Contributions and grants made up 67% of revenue in FY2011 and 58% in FY2024.
- Listed in the IRS Publication 78 data as eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions (public charity).
Figures compared against other organizations of the same NTEE program area in the same state. See the methodology page for how these are calculated and the guide to reading nonprofit financials for their limits.
About this organization
WE CULTIVATE THE POWER OF PLANTS TO SUSTAIN AND ENRICH LIFE. THE CHICAGO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OPERATES THE CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN ON LAND OWNED BY THE FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF COOK COUNTY.
IRS status
| Ruling year | 1949 |
| Subsection | 501(c)(3) |
| Classification | Public charity |
| Program area (NTEE) | C410 — Environment |
| Donations | Listed in the IRS Publication 78 data as eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions (public charity). |
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Source: Internal Revenue Service — Exempt Organizations Business Master File (downloaded November 4, 2026), Statistics of Income extracts, Form 990 e-file data, Publication 78 and the Automatic Revocation list. Figures are as reported by the organization; IRS processing may adjust them. This is not a charity rating and not tax advice. Confirm deductibility in IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.
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