FRIENDS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO BOTANICAL GARDEN
To honor and preserve connections with Nature.
FRIENDS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO BOTANICAL GARDEN
EIN: 77-0248682
Mission
To honor and preserve our connection with nature Our botanical garden propagates and displays the diverse plant life of mediterranean climate zones. We serve the people of San Luis Obispo County and visitors, by providing nature education, opportunities for community interaction, an events space, water conservation demonstrations, a fire- safe landscape display, children’s exploration, life celebration gardens, outdoor recreation, botanical research, a horticultural library, connection to indigenous culture and artistic endeavors.
Ruling year
1996
Executive Director
Ms. Chenda Lor
Founder, Board President
Eva Vigil
Main address
3450 Dairy Creek Rd.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 USA
EIN
77-0248682
Cultural awareness
Education services
Environment
Botanical gardens
Population served
Children and youth
Adults
Young adults
Families
Academics
NTEE code
Botanical Gardens, Arboreta and Botanical Organizations (C41)
Educational Services and Schools - Other (B90)
Cultural, Ethnic Awareness (A23)
IRS subsection
501(c)(3) Public Charity
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Tax forms
Communication
Programs and results
Reports and documents
Download annual reportsWhat we aim to solve
Our botanical garden displays and preserves the diverse plant life of Mediterranean climate zones. We serve the residents of San Luis Obispo county by providing nature education, fire-safe garden practices, a community event space, youth programs, water conservation demonstrations, children's gardens of exploration, life celebration gardens, outdoor recreation, botanical research, a plants library, connection to native Chumash Indian culture, and celebration of the arts. We also contribute to the economy of SLO County by serving as a tourist destination for visitors.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Adult Tours
Knowledgeable docents will lead your group on a fascinating tour through our two-acre Garden or our Sustainable Facilities. Tours generally last about an hour and must be scheduled in advance.
School Tours
Journey through the Garden as knowledgeable docents guide your hands-on learning experience. All K-6 school tours are aligned with the State of California Content Standards.
Each trail is rich with botanical samplings of mediterranean climate plants and offers countless opportunities for exploring natural wonders. The Garden reflects the beauty and diversity of plant life that thrives in the similar climatic conditions of the five mediterranean climate zones of the world; the Mediterranean Basin in Europe, Central Chile, Cape Province of South Africa, South and Western Australia and our own region in California.Nestled along a natural riparian woodland, the Preview Garden is an ideal setting for outdoor learning activities.
Kid's Events
Get outside and PLAY! We’re making connections with nature, one child at a time.
With a goal of “education through exploration,” the Garden is dedicated to teaching children of all ages about the natural environment, rules of ecology, sustainability, where food comes from and how to eat healthfully. Our children’s garden was built to work with nature to help conserve water and help plants grow properly. The entire garden is made of edible plants that can be used for medicinal teas, spices or a side dish for dinner.
Garden Fresh Family Cooking
Garden Fresh Family Cooking
This is a great class for children and guardians to discover the joy of cooking fresh-from-the-garden meals, and features local, organic produce.
Summer Adventure Camp
Each summer children play, explore and Investigate the natural world one week each summer. Children enjoy the outdoors and explore the five mediterranean climates of the world through hikes, gardening, art, music, cooking, live animals and hands-on activities. Campers discover the relationship between people and plants. Camp is for 2nd-6th grade.
Saturday at the Garden
Saturday at the Garden is a monthly educational program held on the second Saturday of each month. Speakers cover a wide range of topics from plants structures to sustainable garden design.
Spring & Fall Plant Sale
This is more than just a plant sale! It is an opportunity to learn more about your climate region and see a multitude of plant species that thrive in such a climate. San Luis Obispo is in one of the five mediterranean climate zones spread throughout the world and you will find plants from these zones showcased in our beautifully landscaped garden. Plants from these mediterranean zones are well suited to our climate and are drought resistant, so be sure to wander through our Garden to get inspiration for your own landscaping!
Get expert advice– Are you having specific plant problems? Do you need advice for your garden? Come talk with our experts and find out what plants would work best for your situation.
Where we work
Affiliations & memberships
American Public Garden Association 2022
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Total number of volunteer hours contributed to the organization
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
To honor and preserve our connection with nature.
Our botanical garden propagates and displays the diverse plant life of mediterranean climate zones. We serve the people of San Luis Obispo County and visitors, by providing nature education, opportunities for community interaction, an events space, water conservation demonstrations, a fire- safe landscape display, children’s exploration, life celebration gardens, outdoor recreation, botanical research, a horticultural library, connection to indigenous culture and artistic endeavors.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We are a treasured local, national, and international resource for nature education, outdoor recreation, community interaction, celebration of the arts, health and wellness activities, world-class botanical collections, horticultural research, plant propagation, creative inspiration, local history, indigenous culture, and delight.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We have grown our staff and increased our volunteer capacity (including over $100k of donated labor) to maintain 150 acres of demonstration gardens, a propagation center, a children's education garden, and recreation trails.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Financials
Revenue vs. expenses: breakdown
Liquidity in 2021 info
1.00
Months of cash in 2021 info
4.7
Fringe rate in 2021 info
18%
Funding sources info
Assets & liabilities info
FRIENDS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO BOTANICAL GARDEN
Revenue & expensesFiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31
SOURCE: IRS Form 990
FRIENDS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO BOTANICAL GARDEN
Balance sheetFiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31
SOURCE: IRS Form 990
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.
FRIENDS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO BOTANICAL GARDEN
Financial trends analysis Glossary & formula definitionsFiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31
SOURCE: IRS Form 990
This snapshot of FRIENDS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO BOTANICAL GARDEN’s financial trends applies Nonprofit Finance Fund® analysis to data hosted by GuideStar. While it highlights the data that matter most, remember that context is key – numbers only tell part of any story.
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Business model indicators
| Profitability info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) before depreciation | $20,776 | $43,463 | -$72,487 | -$71,762 | $175,547 |
| As % of expenses | 11.5% | 22.1% | -24.0% | -23.6% | 40.3% |
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) after depreciation | -$33,251 | -$9,322 | -$125,688 | -$125,210 | $122,250 |
| As % of expenses | -14.1% | -3.7% | -35.4% | -35.1% | 25.0% |
| Revenue composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenue (unrestricted & restricted) | $189,147 | $232,275 | $232,815 | $231,770 | $609,657 |
| Total revenue, % change over prior year | -28.9% | 22.8% | 0.2% | -0.4% | 163.0% |
| Program services revenue | 12.4% | 8.6% | 13.8% | 12.1% | 9.2% |
| Membership dues | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 7.4% | 7.4% |
| Investment income | 0.2% | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| Government grants | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.7% | 13.8% |
| All other grants and contributions | 73.7% | 78.7% | 65.8% | 71.0% | 55.9% |
| Other revenue | 13.7% | 12.1% | 19.9% | 7.4% | 13.7% |
| Expense composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses before depreciation | $181,170 | $196,706 | $302,228 | $303,532 | $435,858 |
| Total expenses, % change over prior year | 1.5% | 8.6% | 53.6% | 0.4% | 43.6% |
| Personnel | 56.9% | 58.8% | 54.0% | 65.0% | 60.1% |
| Professional fees | 4.6% | 2.9% | 7.6% | 7.2% | 7.5% |
| Occupancy | 8.0% | 7.3% | 4.6% | 5.6% | 2.5% |
| Interest | 0.0% | 2.2% | 1.0% | 0.0% | 0.5% |
| Pass-through | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| All other expenses | 30.4% | 28.8% | 32.8% | 22.1% | 29.4% |
| Full cost components (estimated) info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses (after depreciation) | $235,197 | $249,491 | $355,429 | $356,980 | $489,155 |
| One month of savings | $15,098 | $16,392 | $25,186 | $25,294 | $36,322 |
| Debt principal payment | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $30,203 |
| Fixed asset additions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $132,673 |
| Total full costs (estimated) | $250,295 | $265,883 | $380,615 | $382,274 | $688,353 |
Capital structure indicators
| Liquidity info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Months of cash | 10.8 | 11.5 | 3.3 | 7.1 | 4.7 |
| Months of cash and investments | 10.8 | 11.5 | 3.3 | 7.1 | 4.7 |
| Months of estimated liquid unrestricted net assets | 3.6 | 5.6 | 1.7 | -2.6 | 3.4 |
| Balance sheet composition info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $162,730 | $188,468 | $83,873 | $179,481 | $169,114 |
| Investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Receivables | $100 | $1,200 | $0 | $0 | $4,107 |
| Gross land, buildings, equipment (LBE) | $2,172,780 | $2,178,316 | $2,152,887 | $2,188,451 | $2,321,124 |
| Accumulated depreciation (as a % of LBE) | 31.3% | 33.6% | 36.4% | 38.3% | 38.4% |
| Liabilities (as a % of assets) | 4.8% | 4.7% | 1.2% | 14.4% | 10.8% |
| Unrestricted net assets | $1,546,837 | $1,537,515 | $1,411,827 | $1,286,617 | $1,408,867 |
| Temporarily restricted net assets | $29,313 | $21,419 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Permanently restricted net assets | $0 | $0 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Total restricted net assets | $29,313 | $21,419 | $24,493 | $24,493 | $22,745 |
| Total net assets | $1,576,150 | $1,558,934 | $1,436,320 | $1,311,110 | $1,431,612 |
Key data checks
| Key data checks info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material data errors | No | No | No | No | No |
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Documents
Executive Director
Ms. Chenda Lor
Chenda Lor was born in Cambodia and immigrated to the Chicago in 1980 with her family. She graduated with a BA in Biology, Honors in Geology, and a minor in Studio Art from Bates College. Chenda moved to the Central Coast in 2001 from Bainbridge Island, WA to be closer to family. In SLO, she owned and operated Better Builders Inc. with her ex-husband for 12 years; has coached over 40 youth sports teams; and has traveled to many countries. She's lived all over the world and is happy to call the Central Coast home. She enjoys parenting her four young adults and being part of the San Luis Obispo community. She loves dogs, learning something new each day, gardening, surfing, traveling, painting, hiking, volunteering in the community as a Rotarian, and playing with power tools. Between 2014 and 2018, she was the Business Manager for Taylor & Syfan Consulting Engineers. In 2018, she became the Executive Director of the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden which is her dream job.
Founder, Board President
Eva Vigil
Eve attended UC Berkeley but her degree in liberal arts did not satisfy her passion for science. When her husband accepted a job at California Polytechnic State University in Environmental Engineering, Eve got a second degree in Ornamental Horticulture. In her senior year she landed a summer job with Los Padres National Forest as the horticulturist for the Vandenberg Urban Forest project. The emphasis on drought tolerant landscaping and the role of Mediterranean plants sparked Eve’s interest in sharing this knowledge with others.
Eve Vigil started the garden her senior year at Cal Poly as her senior project when discovering the need for a display garden illustrating Xeriscaping. At the time, California was in the throes of a severe, multi-year drought. The challenge facing Eve was to develop a list of plants that were both “beautiful” and “drought tolerant”. Xeriscape became the model that Eve explored to replace the plants that require extensive irrigation and water.
Number of employees
Source: IRS Form 990
FRIENDS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO BOTANICAL GARDEN
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
There are no highest paid employees recorded for this organization.
FRIENDS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO BOTANICAL GARDEN
Board of directorsas of 02/02/2023
Board of directors data
Eve Vigil
President, Founder
Term: 2020 - 2022
Eva Vigil
Retired
Ke-Ping Tsao, M.D.
Physician
Gaby Levine
Retired
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? No -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? No -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Professional fundraisers
Fiscal year endingSOURCE: IRS Form 990 Schedule G
Solicitation activities
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