Morton Arboretum is located in Lisle, IL. The organization was established in 1925. According to its NTEE Classification (C41) the organization is classified as: Botanical Gardens & Arboreta, under the broad grouping of Environment and related organizations. As of 12/2023, Morton Arboretum employed 564 individuals. This organization is an independent organization and not affiliated with a larger national or regional group of organizations. Morton Arboretum is a 501(c)(3) and as such, is described as a "Charitable or Religous organization or a private foundation" by the IRS.
For the year ending 12/2023, Morton Arboretum generated $45.1m in total revenue. This represents relatively stable growth, over the past 9 years the organization has increased revenue by an average of 4.0% each year. All expenses for the organization totaled $52.2m during the year ending 12/2023. While expenses have increased by 5.2% per year over the past 9 years. They've been increasing with an increasing level of total revenue. You can explore the organizations financials more deeply in the financial statements section below.
Since 2015, Morton Arboretum has awarded 192 individual grants totaling $3,842,100. If you would like to learn more about the grant giving history of this organization, scroll down to the grant profile section of this page.
Form
990
Mission & Program ActivityExcerpts From the 990 Filing
TAX YEAR
2023
Describe the Organization's Mission:
Part 3 - Line 1
COLLECT, STUDY, DISPLAY AND GROW TREES; TO ENCOURAGE THE PLANTING AND CONSERVATION OF TREES.
Describe the Organization's Program Activity:
Part 3 - Line 4a
PLANTS AND COLLECTIONS: THE ARBORETUM GROWS AND DISPLAYS A RICH DIVERSITY OF TREES, SHRUBS, AND OTHER PLANTS THAT ARE EVALUATED FOR THEIR SUITABILITY FOR THE MIDWESTERN UNITED STATES. THESE LIVING COLLECTIONS INCLUDE 106,714 SPECIMENS REPRESENTING 4,067 DIFFERENT KINDS OF PLANTS. ARRANGED BY GEOGRAPHIC, TAXONOMIC, AND OTHER SPECIAL GROUPINGS, THE COLLECTIONS ARE ENHANCED BY RESTORED NATURAL AREAS OF NATIVE PLANTS AND ECOSYSTEMS. THE ARBORETUM'S WORK IN DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PLANTS RESULTS IN USEFUL AND ATTRACTIVE TREES AND SHRUBS THAT ARE INTRODUCED IN THE MARKETPLACE.
VISITOR PROGRAMS: WELCOMED 1,092,088 VISITORS, MAINTAINING THE INSTITUTION AS ONE OF THE MOST VISITED PUBLIC GARDENS IN NORTH AMERICA. SERVED MEMBERSHIP OF 56,321 HOUSEHOLDS. OPEN EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR FOR DRIVING/BICYCLING OR GUIDED TRAM TOURS. SPECIALTY GARDENS INCLUDE THE GRAND GARDEN, 4-ACRE CHILDREN'S GARDEN, 1-ACRE MAZE. THE VISITOR CENTER HOUSES INTERPRETIVE DISPLAYS, THE ARBORETUM STORE, AND THE GINGKO RESTAURANT. SPECIAL EVENTS AND THEMATIC EXHIBITIONS ARE OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. CONFERENCE AND BANQUET FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL.
LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT: PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND OPPORTUNITIES ARE RELEVANT TO PUBLIC NEEDS AND INTERESTS IN LEARNING ABOUT PLANTS AND NATURE IN WAYS THAT PROVIDE MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES AND IMPROVE THE WORLD. BASED IN THE THORNHILL EDUCATION CENTER, CLASSES AND OTHER OFFERINGS ON SITE, ONLINE, AND THROUGH OUTREACH PROGRAMS SERVE ADULTS, YOUTH AND FAMILY AUDIENCES, SCHOOLS, AND SCOUTS. ALSO AVAILABLE ARE TEACHER-TRAINING RESOURCES AND A COOPERATIVE BOTANY DEGREE PROGRAM WITH REGIONAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. THE STERLING MORTON LIBRARY, WITH 117,000 ITEMS, CONTAINS PUBLICATIONS ON BOTANY, HORTICULTURE, NATURAL HISTORY, AND ECOLOGY; BOTANICAL ARTWORKS; RARE BOOKS, PERIODICALS, AND CATALOGS; INFORMATION IS ALSO ACCESSIBLE ONLINE. THE PLANT CLINIC ANSWERS INQUIRIES ABOUT PLANT SELECTION AND CARE.
SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION: THE CENTER FOR TREE SCIENCE GENERATES AND COMMUNICATES THE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE NECESSARY TO UNDERSTAND AND SUSTAIN TREES AND THEIR ECOSYSTEMS, IN ALL THEIR DIVERSITY, IN BUILT ENVIRONMENTS, NATURAL LANDSCAPES, AND LIVING COLLECTIONS. THE ARBORETUM HOUSES RESEARCH LABS AND A HERBARIUM WITH A COLLECTION OF 216,500 DRIED SPECIMENS FOR BOTANICAL RESEARCH. THROUGH THE GLOBAL TREE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, THE ARBORETUM LEADS PARTNERSHIPS AND ASSISTS EFFORTS TO PREVENT TREE EXTINCTION AND SECURE THREATENED TREE SPECIES, WITH A FOCUS ON OAKS. THE CHICAGO REGION TREES INITIATIVE DEVELOPS STRATEGIES FOR URBAN TREE AND FOREST IMPROVEMENT, ADVOCATING FOR TREES IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE CHICAGO REGION AND THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. ARBNET, FACILITATED BY THE MORTON ARBORETUM, IS AN INTERACTIVE PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY OF ARBORETA AND AN ARBORETUM ACCREDITATION PROGRAM THAT FOSTERS ADVANCEMENTS AMONG TREE-FOCUSED GARDENS.
Name (title) | Role | Hours | Compensation |
---|---|---|---|
Robert J Schillerstrom Chair | OfficerTrustee | 8 | $0 |
Anna Caroline Ball Vice Chair | OfficerTrustee | 8 | $0 |
E James Dondlinger Treasurer | OfficerTrustee | 8 | $0 |
Mark C Gossett Secretary | OfficerTrustee | 8 | $0 |
Robert A Bartlett Jr Trustee | Trustee | 8 | $0 |
Pat A Basu Trustee | Trustee | 8 | $0 |
Vendor Name (Service) | Service Year | Compensation |
---|---|---|
Aramark Corporation Food Service Contractor | 12/30/23 | $975,922 |
Intelligent Lighting Creations Inc Exhibition Contractor | 12/30/23 | $1,032,919 |
Wendell Builders Construction Contractor | 12/30/23 | $830,061 |
Ww Timbers Construction Contractor | 12/30/23 | $722,877 |
Featherstone Inc Construction Manager | 12/30/23 | $828,680 |
Statement of Revenue | |
---|---|
Federated campaigns | $0 |
Membership dues | $6,453,043 |
Fundraising events | $611,476 |
Related organizations | $0 |
Government grants | $2,879,920 |
All other contributions, gifts, grants, and similar amounts not included above | $8,206,157 |
Noncash contributions included in lines 1a–1f | $263,842 |
Total Revenue from Contributions, Gifts, Grants & Similar | $18,150,596 |
Total Program Service Revenue | $10,675,996 |
Investment income | $3,763,279 |
Tax Exempt Bond Proceeds | $0 |
Royalties | $0 |
Net Rental Income | $1,490,476 |
Net Gain/Loss on Asset Sales | $4,028,187 |
Net Income from Fundraising Events | -$111,248 |
Net Income from Gaming Activities | $0 |
Net Income from Sales of Inventory | $7,151,996 |
Miscellaneous Revenue | $0 |
Total Revenue | $45,149,282 |
Statement of Expenses | |
---|---|
Grants and other assistance to domestic organizations and domestic governments. | $667,109 |
Grants and other assistance to domestic individuals. | $68,271 |
Grants and other assistance to Foreign Orgs/Individuals | $247,057 |
Benefits paid to or for members | $0 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $2,640,145 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $1,403,554 |
Compensation to disqualified persons | $0 |
Other salaries and wages | $18,340,186 |
Pension plan accruals and contributions | $1,094,372 |
Other employee benefits | $2,228,904 |
Payroll taxes | $1,487,551 |
Fees for services: Management | $434,926 |
Fees for services: Legal | $108,563 |
Fees for services: Accounting | $862,135 |
Fees for services: Lobbying | $152,436 |
Fees for services: Fundraising | $146,144 |
Fees for services: Investment Management | $378,221 |
Fees for services: Other | $4,390,392 |
Advertising and promotion | $669,876 |
Office expenses | $4,233,633 |
Information technology | $1,104,221 |
Royalties | $0 |
Occupancy | $2,110,192 |
Travel | $474,170 |
Payments of travel or entertainment expenses for any federal, state, or local public officials | $0 |
Conferences, conventions, and meetings | $256,704 |
Interest | $1,565,974 |
Payments to affiliates | $0 |
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization | $3,825,956 |
Insurance | $757,195 |
All other expenses | $178,080 |
Total functional expenses | $52,201,196 |
Balance Sheet | |
---|---|
Cash—non-interest-bearing | $3,446,819 |
Savings and temporary cash investments | $3,179,714 |
Pledges and grants receivable | $1,981,631 |
Accounts receivable, net | $293,725 |
Loans from Officers, Directors, or Controlling Persons | $0 |
Loans from Disqualified Persons | $0 |
Notes and loans receivable | $0 |
Inventories for sale or use | $458,443 |
Prepaid expenses and deferred charges | $1,041,980 |
Net Land, buildings, and equipment | $62,209,049 |
Investments—publicly traded securities | $169,205,720 |
Investments—other securities | $113,093,868 |
Investments—program-related | $0 |
Intangible assets | $0 |
Other assets | $0 |
Total assets | $354,910,949 |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $2,419,344 |
Grants payable | $0 |
Deferred revenue | $3,825,122 |
Tax-exempt bond liabilities | $50,129,589 |
Escrow or custodial account liability | $0 |
Loans and other payables to any current Officer, Director, or Controlling Person | $0 |
Secured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
Unsecured mortgages and notes payable | $1,000,000 |
Other liabilities | $0 |
Total liabilities | $57,374,055 |
Net assets without donor restrictions | $284,601,079 |
Net assets with donor restrictions | $12,935,815 |
Capital stock or trust principal, or current funds | $0 |
Paid-in or capital surplus, or land, building, or equipment fund | $0 |
Retained earnings, endowment, accumulated income, or other funds | $0 |
Total liabilities and net assets/fund balances | $354,910,949 |
Over the last fiscal year, Morton Arboretum has awarded $667,110 in support to 32 organizations.
Grant Recipient | Amount |
---|---|
ST AGATHA PARISH PURPOSE: EXPANDING RESILIENCE IN THE URBAN FOREST IN THE CHICAGO REGION | $10,000 |
CITY FOREST CREDITS PURPOSE: IMPROVED CONSERVATION FOR FOREST PRESERVES THROUGH CARBON CREDITS | $21,000 |
STONE TEMPLE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH PURPOSE: EXPANDING RESILIENCE IN THE URBAN FOREST IN THE CHICAGO REGION | $10,000 |
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT AND STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE PURPOSE: EXPANDING RESILIENCE IN THE URBAN FOREST IN THE CHICAGO REGION | $14,138 |
YOUNG MEN'S EDUCATIONAL NETWORK PURPOSE: EXPANDING RESILIENCE IN THE URBAN FOREST IN THE CHICAGO REGION | $10,000 |
ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDEN PURPOSE: COORDINATING CONSORTIA TO CONSERVE LIVING PLANT COLLECTIONS | $72,383 |