Morton Arboretum
- Assets
- $321.1m
- Revenue
- $28.9m
- Investments
- $69.1m
- Employees
- 504
- Location
- Lisle, IL
- Founding
- 06/1925
- Data as of
- 12/2020
- EIN
- 36-1505770
Organization Overview
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 12/2021, Morton Arboretum employed 504 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 12/2020, Morton Arboretum generated $28.9m in total revenue. The organization has seen a slow decline revenue. Over the past 6 years, revenues have fallen by an average of (1.6%) each year. All expenses for the organization totaled $35.7m during the year ending 12/2020. You can explore the organizations financials more deeply in the financial statements section below.
Since 2015, Morton Arboretum has awarded 125 individual grants totaling $2,404,860. 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
2020
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 222,000 PLANT SPECIMENS REPRESENTING 4,650 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.
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. THROUGH 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 112,000 ITEMS, CONTAINS PUBLICATIONS ON BOTANY, HORTICULTURE, NATURAL HISTORY, AND ECOLOGY; RARE BOOKS, PERIODICALS, AND CATALOGS; AND BOTANICAL ARTWORKS; INFORMATION IS ALSO ACCESSIBLE ONLINE. THE PLANT CLINIC ANSWERS INQUIRIES ABOUT PLANT SELECTION AND CARE.
SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION: THE CENTER FOR TREE SCIENCE FOCUSES ON AND BUILDS PROFESSIONAL COLLABORATIONS FOR PRACTICAL SCIENTIFIC STUDIES; KEY AREAS INCLUDE TREE HEALTH, TREE IMPROVEMENT, AND WOODLAND CONSERVATION.CO-LOCATED WITH RESEARCH LABS AT THE ARBORETUM IS A HERBARIUM WITH A COLLECTION OF 200,000 DRIED SPECIMENS FOR BOTANICAL RESEARCH. THROUGH GLOBAL TREE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, THE ARBORETUM LEADS PARTNERSHIPS AND ASSISTS EFFORTS TO PREVENT TREE EXTINCTION AND SECURE THREATENED TREE SPECIES. THE CHICAGO REGION TREES INITIATIVE DEVELOPS STRATEGIES FOR URBAN TREE AND FOREST IMPROVEMENT, ADVOCATING FOR TREES IN 274 COMMUNITIES IN SEVEN COUNTIES. ARBNET, FACILITATED BY THE MORTON ARBORETUM, IS AN INTERACTIVE PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY OF ARBORETA WITH PROGRAMS TO FOSTER ADVANCEMENTS AMONG TREE-FOCUSED GARDENS.
VISITOR PROGRAMS: WELCOMED 1,239,863 VISITORS, MAINTAINING THE INSTITUTION AS ONE OF THE MOST VISITED PUBLIC GARDENS IN NORTH AMERICA. SERVED MEMBERSHIP OF 60,994 HOUSEHOLDS. HOSTED VARIOUS SPECIAL EVENTS AND SEASONAL ACTIVITIES AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW AND RETURNING VISITORS AND MEMBERS TO ENGAGE IN MISSION. PROVIDED PATRON SERVICES AND ACCOMMODATIONS THROUGH VISITOR-ORIENTED CENTER, TOURS, THE ARBORETUM STORE, THE GINKGO RESTAURANT, BANQUET, AND CONFERENCE FACILITIES.
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Board, Officers & Key Employees
| Name (title) | Role | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
Gerard T Donnelly PHD President And CEO | Officer | 40 | $571,519 |
James S Fawley Vp-Finance And CFO | Officer | 40 | $246,005 |
Kathleen Spiess Vp-Development | Officer | 40 | $217,662 |
Preston Wong Bautista Vp-Learning And Engagement | Officer | 40 | $191,090 |
Kris Bachtell Vp-Collections And Facilities | Officer | 40 | $185,633 |
Alicia Lavire Vp-Marketing And Communications | Officer | 40 | $184,551 |
Outside Vendors & Contractors
| Vendor Name (Service) | Service Year | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
Jensen's Plumbing & Heating Llc Various Construction Projects | 12/30/21 | $900,244 |
Intelligent Lighting Creations Inc Winter Exhibition And Other | 12/30/21 | $873,340 |
Hodgson & Douglas Llc Various Construction Projects | 12/30/21 | $815,971 |
Kelly Scott & Madison Inc Advertising | 12/30/21 | $640,667 |
Aramark Corporation Internal Restaurant Mgt | 12/30/21 | $667,662 |
Financial Statements
| Statement of Revenue | |
|---|---|
| Federated campaigns | $0 |
| Membership dues | $4,789,675 |
| Fundraising events | $431,007 |
| Related organizations | $0 |
| Government grants | $1,474,271 |
| All other contributions, gifts, grants, and similar amounts not included above | $5,171,804 |
| Noncash contributions included in lines 1a–1f | $156,539 |
| Total Revenue from Contributions, Gifts, Grants & Similar | $11,866,757 |
| Total Program Service Revenue | $5,263,341 |
| Investment income | $3,930,127 |
| Tax Exempt Bond Proceeds | $0 |
| Royalties | $0 |
| Net Rental Income | $165,234 |
| Net Gain/Loss on Asset Sales | $6,440,377 |
| Net Income from Fundraising Events | -$17,685 |
| Net Income from Gaming Activities | $0 |
| Net Income from Sales of Inventory | $1,279,966 |
| Miscellaneous Revenue | $0 |
| Total Revenue | $28,928,117 |
| Statement of Expenses | |
|---|---|
| Grants and other assistance to domestic organizations and domestic governments. | $393,050 |
| Grants and other assistance to domestic individuals. | $25,067 |
| Grants and other assistance to Foreign Orgs/Individuals | $0 |
| Benefits paid to or for members | $0 |
| Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $2,117,526 |
| Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $1,039,774 |
| Compensation to disqualified persons | $0 |
| Other salaries and wages | $14,177,666 |
| Pension plan accruals and contributions | $866,334 |
| Other employee benefits | $1,600,156 |
| Payroll taxes | $1,087,046 |
| Fees for services: Management | $52,444 |
| Fees for services: Legal | $92,439 |
| Fees for services: Accounting | $511,018 |
| Fees for services: Lobbying | $49,000 |
| Fees for services: Fundraising | $62,343 |
| Fees for services: Investment Management | $269,281 |
| Fees for services: Other | $2,362,957 |
| Advertising and promotion | $513,474 |
| Office expenses | $2,215,114 |
| Information technology | $705,632 |
| Royalties | $0 |
| Occupancy | $1,575,056 |
| Travel | $84,406 |
| Payments of travel or entertainment expenses for any federal, state, or local public officials | $0 |
| Conferences, conventions, and meetings | $48,373 |
| Interest | $1,535,940 |
| Payments to affiliates | $0 |
| Depreciation, depletion, and amortization | $3,280,380 |
| Insurance | $516,957 |
| All other expenses | $95,822 |
| Total functional expenses | $35,709,406 |
| Balance Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Cash—non-interest-bearing | $3,017,602 |
| Savings and temporary cash investments | $6,982,626 |
| Pledges and grants receivable | $2,016,167 |
| Accounts receivable, net | $110,449 |
| Loans from Officers, Directors, or Controlling Persons | $0 |
| Loans from Disqualified Persons | $0 |
| Notes and loans receivable | $0 |
| Inventories for sale or use | $480,035 |
| Prepaid expenses and deferred charges | $317,666 |
| Net Land, buildings, and equipment | $47,416,813 |
| Investments—publicly traded securities | $191,647,997 |
| Investments—other securities | $69,140,555 |
| Investments—program-related | $0 |
| Intangible assets | $0 |
| Other assets | $0 |
| Total assets | $321,129,910 |
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $2,745,947 |
| Grants payable | $0 |
| Deferred revenue | $1,973,371 |
| Tax-exempt bond liabilities | $50,039,216 |
| 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 | $4,880,600 |
| Other liabilities | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $59,639,134 |
| Net assets without donor restrictions | $254,372,548 |
| Net assets with donor restrictions | $7,118,228 |
| 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 | $321,129,910 |
Grants Awarded
Over the last fiscal year, Morton Arboretum has awarded $228,356 in support to 10 organizations.
| Grant Recipient | Amount |
|---|---|
Atlanta, GA PURPOSE: CONSERVATION OF LIVING COLLECTIONS | $50,560 |
Wheaton, IL PURPOSE: PRESERVING OAK ECOSYSTEMS | $40,000 |
Burlington, VT PURPOSE: TREE REPLENISHMENT | $36,700 |
San Marino, CA PURPOSE: RESEARCH | $33,810 |
Miami, FL PURPOSE: CONSERVATION OF LIVING COLLECTIONS | $22,573 |
Chicago, IL PURPOSE: PRESERVING OAK ECOSYSTEMS | $10,000 |
Grants Recieved
Over the last fiscal year, we have identified 3 grants that Morton Arboretum has recieved totaling $8,030.
| Awarding Organization | Amount |
|---|---|
Allyn Foundation Incorporated A Delaware Corp Hinsdale, IL PURPOSE: ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS | $4,000 |
Abboud Family Foundation Inc Naperville, IL PURPOSE: CHARITABLE | $3,530 |
Para Family Charitable Foundation Inc Naperville, IL PURPOSE: FOR PROGRAMS | $500 |
Endowment Analysis
| Beg. Balance | $34,192,842 |
| Earnings | $5,787,579 |
| Net Contributions | $2,730,131 |
| Other Expense | $1,253,458 |
| Ending Balance | $41,457,094 |
Peer Organizations
| Organization Name | Assets | Revenue |
|---|---|---|
Chicago Horticultural Society Glencoe, IL | $333,124,052 | $72,376,611 |
Missouri Botanical Garden Board Of Trustees St Louis, MO | $365,170,993 | $58,989,201 |
Morton Arboretum Lisle, IL | $321,129,910 | $28,928,117 |
Powell Gardens Inc Kingsville, MO | $24,088,775 | $5,681,718 |
Green Bay Botanical Garden Inc Green Bay, WI | $16,307,811 | $3,306,952 |
Anderson Gardens Rockford, IL | $13,394,743 | $2,213,455 |
Aline And Edgar Igleheart Foundation Inc Evansville, IN | $77,304,816 | $7,418,048 |
Wellfield Botanic Gardens Inc Elkhart, IN | $16,109,169 | $9,384,636 |
Rotary Botanical Gardens Inc Janesville, WI | $3,144,621 | $1,397,418 |
Quad City Botanical Center Foundation Rock Island, IL | $4,957,225 | $828,470 |
Iowa Arboretum Inc Madrid, IA | $3,776,984 | $807,261 |
Freeport Memorial Gardens Inc Freeport, IL | $1,629,241 | $651,461 |