Naples Botanical Garden seeks new CEO after leader leaves for Denver

Donna McGinnis, who has been CEO of Naples Botanical Garden since 2017, is leaving the Collier County organization to take the same role at Denver Botanic Gardens. 

Naples Botanical Garden officials, in a statement, say the nonprofit’s board “is evaluating the optimal path forward to ensure the Garden continues to benefit from best-in-class leadership and will begin a formal search for a candidate shortly.” McGinnis begins her new role in Colorado Jan. 16, according to the statement.

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“We appreciate Donna’s service and commitment to the Garden,” Naples Botanical Garden Chair Cathy Funderburg says in the release. “We will miss Donna’s capable leadership, but I am confident that the Garden will continue its development as both a world-class cultural institution and a leader in environmental education.”

McGinnis joined the Naples organization eight years ago after a stint as a senior vice president at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis. During McGinnis’ tenure in Naples, the organization “more than doubled its budget, visitation, membership and staff,” according to a LinkedIn post from the Denver Botanic Gardens on her new role. 

In Denver, McGinnis will succeed Brian Vogt, the CEO of that organization for 18 years, who died this past March. “Denver Botanic Gardens has a remarkable reputation and impact, not just in Colorado, but across North America’s public garden sector,” McGinnis says in the organization’s post. 

Naples Botanical Garden, founded in 1993, had $73.98 million in assets in fiscal 2024, according to public tax filings. It had $27.35 million in revenue and $17.45 million in expenses for the year, the filings show. The facility is on about 170 acres three miles from downtown Naples.