Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Created to extend the reach and impact of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the nonprofit Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens (formerly the Birmingham Botanical Society) has for nearly 60 years worked side by side with the City of Birmingham Park and Recreation Board to fulfill the promise of a botanical garden by providing impactful educational programs and outreach, promoting the stewardship and enhancement of the Gardens, marketing and communicating about them, and raising funds to support these efforts.

A mission-driven membership organization, the Friends consists of Board members, community and City leaders, individual and family members, volunteers, donors, corporate donors, foundations, Friends and Park and Recreation staff, and allied and partner organizations, all bound together by our dedication to the Gardens’ success. Our Friendship is rooted in a passion: to protect, nurture, and share the wonders of these beloved Gardens. We are committed to serving the Gardens, serving the community; serving our visitors; and inspiring a passion for plants, gardens, and the environment.

While funding from the City of Birmingham covers many of the Gardens' core, day-to-day operating expenses, member and donor support enables the Friends to play a critical role in supplementing the Gardens' operational needs and contributing to much-needed projects and improvements. The Friends is also uniquely positioned to offer a wide range of programs including educating thousands of schoolchildren annually about the science of plants, growing and harvesting thousands of pounds of vegetables to feed area residents in need, safeguarding rare and endangered native plants, and working to promote the Gardens as a destination of local and regional significance.