Stephanie Linder (she/her) is the Chief Executive Officer of the Gardens of Golden Gate Park, which include the Conservatory of Flowers, Japanese Tea Garden, and San Francisco Botanical Garden. The organization’s mission is to connect people to plants, the planet, and each other. In total, the Gardens of Golden Gate Park serve 1.2 million visitors annually, making them among the top ten most visited public gardens in the United States.
Stephanie became the Executive Director of the San Francisco Botanical Garden in 2018. Bringing a deep commitment to public-private partnerships, she led the successful merger of the San Francisco Botanical Garden with the Conservatory of Flowers and Japanese Tea Garden—thus forming the Gardens of Golden Gate Park. Acknowledging the organization’s extraordinary service to the community during the pandemic, the San Francisco Chronicle called it the city’s “pandemic MVP.” Stephanie has more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, including leadership and advancement roles at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, San Francisco Parks Alliance, Sierra Club, and the Trust for Public Land. She is an alumna and former Board Chair of Emerge California, a candidate training program for women seeking elected office. She now serves on the board of Jack London Park Partners.
According to Stephanie, “One of the most important features of a great city is its parks. I believe that easy access to beautiful green outdoor space is critical to community and individual health and wellbeing.” Stephanie’s sabbatical will allow her to “catch my breath and recharge” as the Gardens of Golden Gate Park embarks on a major comprehensive fundraising campaign to expand its impact at the local, regional, and national levels.