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Nonprofiteer
← CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN.

Totals

Total revenue
$6,264,788
Total expenses
$8,243,078
Contributions and grants received
$2,082,742
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$2,943,992
Investment income
$833,566
Other revenue
$404,488
Total assets, end of year
$29,187,110
Total liabilities, end of year
$16,355,635
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$12,831,475
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$5,808,476
Management and general expenses
$1,634,531
Fundraising expenses
$800,071
Program service expenses (Part III)
$5,808,476

Program services were 70.5% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1b · Membership dues

    $837,719

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $149,843

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $1,095,180

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $5,063

  • 2a · Program service revenue: ADMISSION AND PARKING

    total $2,406,446 · related or exempt $2,406,446

  • 2b · Program service revenue: FACILITY RENTAL INCOME

    total $365,034 · related or exempt $346,782 · unrelated business $18,252

  • 2c · Program service revenue: PROGRAM FEES

    total $115,382 · related or exempt $115,382

  • 2d · Program service revenue: FOOD SERVICE & MISC.

    total $57,130 · excluded $57,130

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $589,326 · excluded $589,326

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $240,722 · other assets $3,518

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $0 · other assets $0

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $240,722 · other assets $3,518

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $244,240 · excluded $244,240

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $172,290

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $52,490

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $119,800 · excluded $119,800

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $494,951

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $210,263

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $284,688 · related or exempt $277,249 · unrelated business $7,439

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $339,096 · program services $195,100 · management and general $100,474 · fundraising $43,522

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $2,531,772 · program services $1,456,660 · management and general $750,165 · fundraising $324,947

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $129,787 · program services $74,673 · management and general $38,456 · fundraising $16,658

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $202,373 · program services $116,436 · management and general $59,963 · fundraising $25,974

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $236,857 · program services $136,276 · management and general $70,181 · fundraising $30,400

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $38,647 · management and general $38,647

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $31,750 · management and general $31,750

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $40,950 · program services $40,950

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $317,282 · program services $248,718 · management and general $583 · fundraising $67,981

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $242,404 · program services $214,745 · management and general $17,923 · fundraising $9,736

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $106,134 · program services $58,130 · management and general $22,705 · fundraising $25,299

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $143,062 · program services $68,122 · management and general $34,318 · fundraising $40,622

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $529,776 · program services $314,297 · management and general $207,485 · fundraising $7,994

  • 17 · Travel

    total $154,076 · program services $99,200 · management and general $45,474 · fundraising $9,402

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $1,915,396 · program services $1,703,160 · management and general $149,334 · fundraising $62,902

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $114,592 · program services $102,205 · management and general $4,726 · fundraising $7,661

  • 24a · Other expenses: BLDG.&EQUIP.MAINTENANCE

    total $377,866 · program services $374,417 · management and general $271 · fundraising $3,178

  • 24b · Other expenses: EDUC.&MEMBERSHIP

    total $369,663 · program services $223,833 · management and general $58,551 · fundraising $87,279

  • 24c · Other expenses: LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE

    total $234,144 · program services $233,101 · fundraising $1,043

  • 24d · Other expenses: BANK FEES

    total $131,530 · program services $104,166 · management and general $2,473 · fundraising $24,891

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $55,921 · program services $44,287 · management and general $1,052 · fundraising $10,582

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year -$3,280,584 · end of year -$3,621,307

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $90,335 · end of year $82,592

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $195,636 · end of year $150,875

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $195,968 · end of year $215,704

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $55,119,034

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $38,701,446

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $17,381,749 · end of year $16,417,588

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $14,156,035 · end of year $15,730,837

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $281,749 · end of year $210,821

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $541,142 · end of year $599,491

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $129,420 · end of year $212,537

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $15,039,130 · end of year $15,543,607

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year -$18,978 · end of year -$1,903,998

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $13,330,174 · end of year $14,735,473

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

THE CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN CONNECTS PEOPLE WITH THE WONDER, BEAUTY, AND VALUE OF TREES AND PLANTS, TO INSPIRE ACTION FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.

  • SEE SCHEDULE OTHE CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN IS LOCATED ON 10 ACRES IN THE UNIVERSITY CIRCLE NEIGHBORHOOD OF CLEVELAND. THE GARDEN COMPRISES TWO INDOOR GLASSHOUSE BIOMES AND OUTDOOR GARDENS INCLUDING THE HERSHEY CHILDREN'S GARDEN, WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE CHILDREN IN THE NATURAL WORLD AROUND THEM. THE CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN IS INTEGRATED WITH THE HOLDEN ARBORETUM AS HOLDEN FORESTS & GARDENS ("HF&G"). THE HOLDEN ARBORETUM IS LOCATED 25 MILES FROM THE GARDEN, IN KIRTLAND, OH. TOGETHER, THE INSTITUTIONS ARE ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS AND REPRESENT ONE OF THE LARGEST PUBLIC GARDENS IN THE COUNTRY. THE MISSION OF THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS IS TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH THE WONDER, BEAUTY, AND VALUE OF TREES AND PLANTS, TO INSPIRE ACTION FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES. THE CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN FULFILS THIS MISSION THROUGH CORE PROGRAMMING THAT FOCUSES ON HORTICULTURE AND CURATION, EDUCATION, EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH. FISCAL YEAR 2024 ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 (FY24), WAS ED MOYDELL'S FIRST YEAR AS NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO, AFTER JOINING THE ORGANIZATION ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2023. IN FY24, HF&G AFFIRMED ITS MISSION AND VISION AND DEVELOPED A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN TO GUIDE THE ORGANIZATION'S WORK FOR 2025 THROUGH 2029. PILLARS OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN ARE LANDSCAPES, INSPIRATION, KNOWLEDGE, COMMUNITY, AND EXCELLENCE. ADDITIONALLY, HF&G AFFIRMED ITS COMPREHENSIVE SITE PLAN, COMPRISING KEY PROJECTS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT BOTH CAMPUSES ARE WELCOMING, YEAR-ROUND DESTINATIONS FOR ALL GUESTS THAT MODEL AND CATALYZE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. HF&G ALSO CONTINUED ITS CORE MISSION-FOCUSED PROGRAMS. HORTICULTURE & COLLECTIONS: THE HORTICULTURE & COLLECTIONS STAFF CULTIVATES, MAINTAINS, AND CARES FOR 5,500 PLANTS IN THE LIVING COLLECTION AT THE CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN, ALONG WITH OVER 100 LIVE ANIMALS INCLUDING BIRDS, REPTILES, AMPHIBIANS, AND MAMMALS, AND THOUSANDS MORE INSECTS, THAT MAKE THEIR HOMES IN THE MADAGASCAR AND COSTA RICA GLASSHOUSES. THE TEAM MAINTAINS THE 10 ACRES OF DEVELOPED AND CULTIVATED GARDENS, ENSURING THAT GUESTS ENJOY A SENSE OF WONDER AND BEAUTY EVERY TIME THEY VISIT. WHILE THE HORTICULTURE STAFF ADVANCED A PHASED REDESIGN AND RENOVATION OF SIGNATURE GARDENS AT THE BOTANICAL GARDEN IN FY24, THEY ALSO COLLABORATE CLOSELY WITH THE EXHIBITS & EXPERIENCES STAFF TO DELIVER SPECIAL EXHIBITS AND ANNUAL PRODUCTIONS SUCH AS THE GUEST FAVORITE ORCHIDS" EXHIBIT AND THE NEW WINTER SHOW THAT DEBUTED IN FY24, FROST. THE COLLECTIONS CURATION STAFF CONTINUED ITS TWO-YEAR PROJECT, FUNDED BY THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM & LIBRARY SERVICES, TO MAP AND DIGITIZE DECADES OF DATA, MAKING PLANT RECORDS AND INFORMATION MORE ACCESSIBLE TO STAFF, INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS, AND THE PUBLIC. THE HORTICULTURE AND COLLECTIONS TEAM ALSO WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE EDUCATION STAFF TO SUPPORT BOTH FORMAL AND INFORMAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES. EDUCATION: THE CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN PROVIDES A SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AGES, FROM YOUTH AND CLASSROOM-BASED PROGRAMS TO ADULT AND CONTINUING EDUCATION. CLASSROOM- AND CAMPUS-BASED PROGRAMS AT THE GARDEN INCLUDE CLE4SCI, WHICH SERVES THIRD GRADE CLASSROOMS IN THE CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE POWER OF PLANTS (POP), AN ASSEMBLY-STYLE PROGRAM FOR UP TO 250 STUDENTS THAT INCLUDES A PRESENTATION AND UP TO FOUR HOURS OF 4 HOURS OF SMALL-GROUP, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES. IN FY24 OVER 10,900 STUDENTS TOOK PART IN SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS SUCH AS THESE. IN ADDITION TO FORMAL AND INFORMAL ELEMENTARY-SCHOOL CURRICULA, THE EDUCATION TEAM ALSO MANAGES THE GARDEN'S SIGNATURE NATURE-BASED LEARNING SITE, THE HERSHEY CHILDREN'S GARDEN, AND THE INDOOR, ALL-SEASON HARRINGTON PERENNIAL PLAYSPACE. OVER 13,600 FAMILY MEMBERS TOOK PART IN BUTTERFLY RELEASES, POND DIPPING, NATURE CRAFTING AND PLANTING ACTIVITIES WHILE AT THE CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN. HF&G'S EDUCATION PROGRAM ALSO OFFERS ADULT CLASSES AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND PROVIDES RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS. AT THE BOTANICAL GARDEN, 96 CAMPERS ATTENDED 6 SUMMER CAMPS IN FY24 AND AT THE OPPOSITE END OF THE SPECTRUM 601 ADULTS TOOK CLASSES RANGING FROM BOTANICAL PAINTING AND DRAWING TO ORCHID CARE TO USING NATURAL PLANT DYES. EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS: IN FY24, THE GARDEN SERVED OVER 183,000 TOTAL VISITORS, ENGAGING THEM IN THE WONDER AND BEAUTY OF PLANTS AND SHARING THEIR GREAT VALUE TO OUR COMMUNITIES. THE GARDEN CONTINUED ANNUAL, VISITOR-FAVORITE PRODUCTIONS INCLUDING ORCHIDS FOREVER AND UNVEILED THE ALL-NEW WINTER EXHIBITION, FROST. DURING THE SPRING, THE GARDEN HOSTED LIFE IN ONE CUBIC FOOT, A TRAVELING SCIENCE EXHIBITION FROM THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE IN WASHINGTON D.C. FOCUSING ON BIODIVERSITY AND HIGHLIGHTING THE RESEARCH DONE BY HOLDEN SCIENTISTS. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, 47 INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS, 42 OF WHOM ARE LOCAL OHIOANS, EXHIBITED THEIR WORK IN FOUR SEPARATE GALLERY SPACES THROUGHOUT THE GARDEN. THE GARDEN HOSTED 16 SPECIAL TICKETED EVENTS THAT WELCOMED NEARLY 3,700 GUESTS, AS WELL AS SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS AND INFORMAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT DRIVE GENERAL ADMISSION, HELPING TO SUSTAIN THE ORGANIZATION'S OPERATING BUDGET, WHILE ALSO DRAWING IN VISITORS AND PIQUING INTEREST IN THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURE AND THE OUTDOOR WORLD. COMMUNITY OUTREACH: IN FY24, HF&G CONTINUED TO POSITION ITSELF AS A COMMUNITY LEADER IN URBAN GREENING AND FORESTRY, ADVANCING ITS PEOPLE FOR TREES CAMPAIGN TO PLANT 15,000 TREES IN NORTHEAST OHIO BY 2025. THE COMMUNITY'S ENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSE CONTINUED, NEARLY REACHING THE GOAL BY THE END OF YEAR FOUR. IN ADDITION TO THE PEOPLE FOR TREES CAMPAIGN, HF&G CONTINUED TO SUPPORT THE CLEVELAND TREE COALITION THROUGH MEMBERSHIP ON ITS EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE AND ACTIVE WORKING COMMITTEES. THE CLEVELAND TREE COALITION IS CHARGED WITH IMPLEMENTING THE 2015 CLEVELAND TREE PLAN TO RESTORE THE DECREASING TREE CANOPY IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY. THE TREE CORPS PROGRAM, A PAID ARBORICULTURE WORKFORCE TRAINING EXPERIENCE, SUPPORTED SIX COHORT MEMBERS AND CONTRIBUTED TO SEEDS COLLECTED AND TREES PLANTED AND MAINTAINED BY THE CONSERVATION AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY STAFF. BEGINNING IN FY23, HF&G USED A FEDERAL EARMARK AWARD FOR URBAN FORESTRY TO PROVIDE TREES IN CUYAHOGA, LAKE, AND GEAUGA COUNTIES. THE GREEN CORPS PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ALSO CONTINUED TO GROW, FOCUSED ON MENTORING, INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE, AND INTRODUCTION TO HORTICULTURAL CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. HF&G HOSTED 17 INTERNS IN FY24 WHO COMPLETED 2,887 HOURS OF WORK WITH 20 MENTORS WHILE SUPPORTING 7 DEPARTMENT'S WORK IN ADDITION TO CREATING VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS INCLUDING ADDITIONAL TOUCHPOINTS FOR GUESTS AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES. WORKING WITH THE CITY OF CLEVELAND, HF&G ALSO OFFERED OVER 46 ONSITE PROGRAMS AT THREE DIFFERENT CITY OF CLEVELAND NEIGHBORHOOD RECREATION CENTERS TO HELP FOSTER AN INTEREST IN PLANTS AND APPRECIATE THE ROLE THEY PLAY IN BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES. IN ADDITION TO SERVING ON CLEVELAND TREE COALITION COMMITTEES, HF&G STAFF SERVED ON THE CLEAN OHIO NATURAL RESOURCES ASSISTANCE COUNCIL; HOLDEN PARKS TRUST BOARD; DOAN BROOK WATERSHED PARTNERSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS; AND UNIVERSITY CIRCLE INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

    Expenses $5,808,476 · Revenue $3,145,859

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • CONSTANCE NORWEB ABBEY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 2 related

  • ROBIN SCHACHAT

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 2 related

  • THOMAS D ANDERSON

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 2 related

  • EDWARD MOYDELL

    PRESIDENT&CEO

    Total calculated
    $229,632
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $225,715
    Other
    $3,917
    Hours/week
    30 + 30 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $0 + $165,715 related
    Bonus
    $0 + $60,000 related
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0 + $3,917 related
    Filer's total
    $0 + $229,632 related

  • KATHLEEN HEFLIN

    CFO & TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $277,614
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $256,535
    Other
    $21,079
    Hours/week
    30 + 30 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $0 + $240,535 related
    Bonus
    $0 + $16,000 related
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0 + $15,221 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0 + $5,858 related
    Filer's total
    $0 + $277,614 related

  • MARGARET BUTZOW

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $99,634
    From this org
    $88,901
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $10,733
    Hours/week
    20 + 20 related

  • KEVIN SCHRECENGOST

    INTERIM TREASURER & VP OF FIN.

    Total calculated
    $5,115
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $5,115
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    30 + 30 related

  • JOEL ALPERN

    EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $239,462
    From this org
    $210,196
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $29,266
    Hours/week
    20 + 20 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $195,196
    Bonus
    $15,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $13,178
    Nontaxable benefits
    $16,088
    Filer's total
    $239,462

  • DEBORAH MILLER

    VP, DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $168,551
    From this org
    $153,581
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,970
    Hours/week
    20 + 20 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $146,081
    Bonus
    $7,500
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $9,423
    Nontaxable benefits
    $5,547
    Filer's total
    $168,551

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
11 August 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202512259349300206

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