Senator Monique Limon celebrating Nonprofit of the Year with Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

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California State Senate Leaders Announces Nonprofit of the Year in District 21

What you need to know: On May 20, the California State Legislature will celebrate the 11th annual California Nonprofits Day. As part of the celebration, each lawmaker selects one organization to honor at the Capitol for its contributions to communities across the state. 
 

SACRAMENTO – Today, Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón announced the Nonprofit of the Year representing Senate District 21. The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is being recognized for 100 years of dedication to protecting and conserving native plants and biodiversity in California. The Garden has served as a leader in research, restoration strategies, and public education that improves the quality of life for all Californians.
 

I am proud that our district is home to one of the most historic botanic gardens in the nation.  The work carried out at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is critical to the future of native California plants. I wish them all the best as they strive for another 100 years.
 

Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón
 

The Garden has worked hard to protect and restore native plants across California. The Conservation Seed Bank currently holds over two million seeds, including 288 rare plant species. It also kicked off the Landscape Transformation Project, which aims to convert open spaces in Santa Barbara into habitat havens. These projects showcase some of the best work of the Garden.
 

We are deeply honored to be recognized by Senate President pro Tempore Limón as a California Nonprofit of the Year. For more than a century, the Garden’s mission has been to conserve native plants and inspire stewardship of California’s extraordinary biodiversity, which is essential to sustaining life and building resilience in the face of climate change. As we celebrate the Garden's centennial, we also recognize that this work has always been made possible by our community—past and present—and we are excited to continue shaping the next 100 years together with the partners, supporters, and advocates who share a commitment to the future health of California’s native landscapes.
 

Steve Windhager, Ph.D., Executive Director of Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

 

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden will be honored at the Capitol on May 20, 2026 as part of the annual California Nonprofits Day. For more information, click here.