PHIPPS CONSERVATORY AND BOTANICAL GARDENS INC

As filed

Subsection

03

NTEE code

C410

Classification

1200

Street

1 SCHENLEY PARK

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

• OVERVIEW/HORTICULTURE: IN 2025, PHIPPS REMAINED AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE PUBLIC GARDEN MOVEMENT AS ONE OF THE NATION'S SELECT CERTIFIED BOTANIC MUSEUMS, ADVANCING ITS REGENERATIVE OPERATING MODEL TO REINFORCE A MORE RESILIENT INSTITUTION. FOLLOWING ITS PRIOR RECEIPT OF THE IMLS NATIONAL MEDAL FOR MUSEUMS, THE FIELD'S HIGHEST HONOR FOR COMMUNITY IMPACT, AND THE EPA GREEN POWER LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN RENEWABLE ENERGY INNOVATION, PHIPPS CONTINUED ITS NATIONAL ASCENT WHEN NEWSWEEK NAMED IT THE NATION'S BEST BOTANICAL GARDEN. FROM WORLD - CLASS EXHIBITS AND SCIENCE EDUCATION TO BOLD SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES, PHIPPS DELIVERED INSPIRING EXPERIENCES AND MEASURABLE PROGRAMS THAT ENRICH LIVES AND RESTORE THE NATURAL WORLD. SEE CONTINUATION ON SCHEDULE O.AS A PREMIER CULTURAL DESTINATION, PHIPPS DRIVES REGIONAL TOURISM, STRENGTHENS PITTSBURGH'S CIVIC IDENTITY, AND CONTRIBUTES MEANINGFULLY TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY.HORTICULTURE: SINCE OPENING IN 1893 AS THE NATION'S FIRST LARGE-SCALE PERMANENT GARDEN CONSERVATORY - AND BEING RECOGNIZED AS THE FIRST TEACHING ONE IN 1901 - PHIPPS HAS REMAINED A LEADER IN CONNECTING PEOPLE TO NATURE THROUGH THE BEAUTY AND SCIENCE OF PLANTS. TODAY, AS ONE OF THE FEW PUBLIC GARDENS ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS, PHIPPS CONTINUES TO SET THE STANDARD FOR HORTICULTURAL EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION.WITH FIVE MAJOR SEASONAL FLOWER SHOWS AND A DYNAMIC CALENDAR OF ROTATING EXHIBITIONS, PHIPPS BRINGS THE WORLD OF PLANTS TO LIFE IN INNOVATIVE AND EDUCATIONAL WAYS, WELCOMING GUESTS FROM ACROSS THE REGION AND BEYOND TO EXPLORE HOW PLANTS CONTRIBUTE TO HEALTHIER LIVES AND COMMUNITIES. LOCATED IN THE HEART OF PITTSBURGH'S HISTORIC URBAN PARK DISTRICT AND ADJACENT TO LEADING UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, PHIPPS SERVES AS A SIGNIFICANT CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE, CONTRIBUTING TO TOURISM, LIFELONG LEARNING, AND REGIONAL VITALITY WITHIN ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST FORWARD-LOOKING CITIES.PHIPPS' INTEGRATED LEARNING AND INNOVATION CAMPUS INCLUDES 14 INDOOR GLASSHOUSE ROOMS, EIGHT OUTDOOR GARDEN ROOMS, AND THREE HIGH-PERFORMANCE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH BUILDINGS. THESE LIVING LABORATORIES DEMONSTRATE SUSTAINABLE DESIGN, REGENERATIVE LANDSCAPES, AND ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES WHILE PROVIDING ACCESSIBLE, PLANT-BASED EDUCATION TO DIVERSE AUDIENCES. THROUGH IMMERSIVE EXHIBITS, RESEARCH INITIATIVES, AND PUBLIC PROGRAMMING, PHIPPS FOSTERS CURIOSITY, STRENGTHENS ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY, AND PROMOTES RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF NATURAL RESOURCES - REINFORCING THE ESSENTIAL CONNECTION BETWEEN HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL WELLBEING AND ADVANCING A GREENER, MORE RESILIENT FUTURE FOR THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES.

  Expenses $2,826,145

• GUEST SERVICES: IN 2025, PHIPPS CONSERVATORY WELCOMED MORE THAN 420,000 ONSITE GUESTS FROM 46 COUNTRIES AND 1.6 MILLION VIRTUAL VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE NATION AND GLOBE INTO AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE NATURE, SCIENCE, ART, AND SUSTAINABILITY INTERSECT IN MEANINGFUL AND EDUCATIONAL WAYS. THROUGH PRUDENT PLANNING AND DISCIPLINED SCENARIO FORECASTING, PHIPPS NAVIGATED SHORT-TERM ECONOMIC PRESSURES WHILE MAINTAINING OPERATIONAL STABILITY AND POSITIONING THE ORGANIZATION FOR SUSTAINED GROWTH AND CONTINUED INNOVATION.SEE CONTINUATION ON SCHEDULE O.AS ONE OF THE REGION'S LEADING CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS AND A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED GARDEN MUSEUM, PHIPPS PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR VISITORS TO CONNECT WITH THE NATURAL WORLD AND LEARN PRACTICAL AND INNOVATIVE APPPROACHES TO HEALTHIER, MORE SUSTAINABLE LIVING. EXHIBITS, SEASONAL FLOWER SHOWS, IMMERSIVE TROPICAL FOREST ENVIRONMENTS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING ENCOURAGE GUESTS OF ALL AGES TO EXPLORE BIODIVERSITY, SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.GUESTS JOURNEY THROUGH SOARING GLASS PAVILIONS, EXPLORE DIVERSE BIOMES AND GLOBAL GARDEN TRADITIONS, AND ENCOUNTER INTERACTIVE DISPLAYS THAT REVEAL THE ASTONISHING COMPLEXITY OF THE ROLE OF PLANTS IN THE WEB OF LIFE. IN THE NEW TROPICAL FOREST PANAMA EXHIBIT, CHILDREN RAISE THEIR ARMS TO MIMIC TOWERING TREES; IN THE SERENE OUTDOOR GARDEN ROOMS, FAMILIES STROLL THROUGH LANDSCAPES DESIGNED FOR BOTH REFLECTION, REFRESHMENT, REGENERATION, AND INSTRUCTION.THE JOURNEY CONTINUES OUTDOORS ACROSS OUR 3.6-ACRE LIVING CAMPUS, HOME TO THREE OF THE WORLD'S PIONEERING HIGH-PERFORMANCE GREEN BUILDINGS. HERE, VISITORS SEE FIRSTHAND HOW HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ARE INTERCONNECTED, AND HOW THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT CAN HARMONIZE WITH NATURE TO MODEL A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. THIS IS MORE THAN A GARDEN DISPLAY - IT'S A LIVING, BREATHING CLASSROOM, A RESTORATIVE DESTINATION, AND A FIRST-DAY TOURIST ATTRACTION. IT'S WHERE PITTSBURGH RESIDENTS AND GLOBAL TRAVELERS ALIKE FIND BEAUTY, INSPIRATION, AND PRACTICAL TOOLS TO LIVE IN GREATER HARMONY WITH THE PLANET.WHEN NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC NAMED PITTSBURGH ONE OF THE WORLD'S BEST DESTINATIONS, IT POINTED TO PHIPPS AS EMBLEMATIC OF THE CITY'S TRANSFORMATION - A PLACE WHERE HERITAGE MEETS INNOVATION AND WHERE THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE LIVING IS BEING SHAPED, EVERY DAY.

  Expenses $2,677,475 · Revenue $6,314,217

• EDUCATION: AS AMERICA'S FIRST PUBLIC TEACHING CONSERVATORY, PHIPPS HAS BEEN AN INNOVATOR, COMMUNITY-ANCHOR, AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR SINCE 1893 - COMBINING THE BEAUTY OF GARDENS WITH THE POWER OF PLANT-BASED SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES TO SHAPE A BETTER FUTURE. TODAY, PHIPPS CONTINUES TO LEAD WITH BOLD VISION AND PURPOSE, OFFERING HANDS-ON, INQUIRY-BASED PROGRAMS THAT EMPOWER LEARNERS OF ALL AGES TO EXPLORE, CREATE, AND ACT.OUR APPROACH TO EDUCATION IS ROOTED IN A REGENERATIVE APPROACH AND MAKER MINDSET - WHERE IMAGINATION, EXPERIMENTATION, AND DISCOVERY DRIVE MEANINGFUL LEARNING. SEE CONTINUATION ON SCHEDULE O.EACH CALENDAR QUARTER, PHIPPS OFFERS MORE THAN 150 DYNAMIC CLASSES, SYMPOSIA, AND LECTURES, REACHING THOUSANDS OF PARTICIPANTS THROUGH ON-SITE, VIRTUAL, AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMMING. FROM SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS TO NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED INITIATIVES LIKE THE FAIRCHILD CHALLENGE, AND THE ONE HEALTH ONE PLANET AND THE NATURE OF PLACE SYMPOSIA, PHIPPS CULTIVATES SCIENTIFIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR THE NATURAL WORLD.AS A LIVING LABORATORY, PHIPPS DEMONSTRATES SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES THROUGH EVERY FACET OF ITS OPERATIONS - PROVIDING AN IMMERSIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN ACTION. GUESTS LEARN FROM THREE OF THE WORLD'S GREENEST BUILDINGS, DINE ON HEALTHY MEALS MADE WITH FRESH INGREDIENTS, AND DISCOVER HOW ZERO-ENERGY DESIGN, ON-SITE SOLAR POWER, AND FULL CARBON OFFSETTING CAN BE ACHIEVED IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.PHIPPS ALSO PLAYS A GLOBAL LEADERSHIP ROLE. OUR CLIMATE TOOLKIT NETWORK (CLIMATETOOLKIT.ORG) CONNECTS HUNDREDS OF MUSEUMS, GARDENS, ZOOS, AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS WORLDWIDE TO SHARE ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS AND ACCELERATE IMPACT. WE ARE ADVANCING A MOVEMENT IN WHICH CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS BECOME POWERFUL DRIVERS OF BIODIVERSITY, COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, AND SUSTAINABLE ACTION.THROUGH THE BOTANY IN ACTION FELLOWSHIP, PHIPPS SUPPORTS OUTSTANDING PH.D. STUDENTS CONDUCTING PLANT-BASED RESEARCH AROUND THE WORLD WHILE TRAINING THEM IN PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, BIA HAS SUPPORTED 85 DOCTORAL-LEVEL STUDENTS REPRESENTING 42 UNIVERSITIES AND WORKING IN 29 COUNTRIES, PRODUCING CUTTING-EDGE SCIENCE WHILE DEEPENING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND SCIENCE COMMUNICATION SKILLS.NINE YEARS AGO, PHIPPS LAUNCHED THE NATION'S FIRST INSTITUTE FOR BIOPHILIA AND SCIENCE COMMUNICATION, A BOLD INITIATIVE THAT PROVIDES TRAINING, INTERNSHIPS, AND CERTIFICATIONS TO HELP SCIENTISTS AND STUDENTS STUDY AND SHARE HOW CONNECTIONS WITH NATURE ENHANCE HUMAN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.EDUCATION AT PHIPPS EQUIPS FUTURE LEADERS, SCIENTISTS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION, AND PUBLIC HEALTH - ADVANCING A MORE RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.

  Expenses $1,288,000 · Grants $42,000 · Revenue $629,504

• INCLUDED IN OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES ARE DEPRECIATION, COSTS FOR MAINTAINING THE FACILITIES, INDIRECT LABOR AND OVERHEAD AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES.

  Expenses $9,092,207

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

• ERICA COCHRAN-HAMEEN

  IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  5

• MATTHEW MEHALIK

  CHAIR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  5

• BILL SLIVKA

  TREASURER

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  5

• PATTY DEMARCO PHD

  VICE CHAIR

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  5

• VERY KREKANOVA PHD

  SECRETARY

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  5

• NATHAN BOXX

  TRUSTEE (EXIT 10/24)

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• DOROTHY BOYER

  TRUSTEE

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• FRED BROWN

  TRUSTEE

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• WALTER BURLACK

  TRUSTEE (ENTER 10/24)

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• JEANNE L DEMOSS DO

  TRUSTEE

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• SHERRY DUCARME

  TRUSTEE (EXITED 10/24)

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• BEVERLYNN ELLIOT

  TRUSTEE

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• CHAD FITZGERALD

  TRUSTEE

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• MARITA GARRETT

  TRUSTEE

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• MIKE HERALD

  TRUSTEE

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• JUI JOSHI

  TRUSTEE

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• CAROLE L KAMIN

  TRUSTEE

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• JOANNE KILGOUR

  TRUSTEE

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• JOSEPH LAGANA

  TRUSTEE

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• SCOTT LAMMIE

  TRUSTEE (EXITED 10/24)

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• MAUREEN LICHTVELD MD MPH

  TRUSTEE (ENTER 10/24)

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• VIVIAN LOFTNESS

  TRUSTEE

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• RYAN MARTIN

  TRUSTEE (ENTER 10/24)

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• TAMI MINNIER

  TRUSTEE (ENTER 10/24)

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

• CAROLINE MITCHELL

  TRUSTEE

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  2

The first 25 listed. 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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

• 2024

  Revenue

  $16,088,921

  Expenses

  $18,068,207

  Contributions

  $7,814,529

  Grants paid

  $42,000

• 2023

  Revenue

  $17,526,412

  Expenses

  $17,263,424

  Contributions

  $8,844,532

  Grants paid

  $42,000

• 2022

  Revenue

  $16,783,302

  Expenses

  $15,706,118

  Contributions

  $9,074,027

  Grants paid

  $35,000

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

• 2023 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2022 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2021 · 990

  Revenue

  $17,828,272

  Expenses

  $14,165,009

  Assets (EOY)

  $77,772,269

• 2021 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2020 · 990

  Revenue

  $14,561,463

  Expenses

  $11,840,232

  Assets (EOY)

  $77,535,021

• 2020 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2019 · 990

  Revenue

  $15,262,290

  Expenses

  $13,412,082

  Assets (EOY)

  $75,804,543

• 2018 · 990

  Revenue

  $15,389,162

  Expenses

  $13,443,166

  Assets (EOY)

  $71,741,445

• 2017 · 990

  Revenue

  $15,788,562

  Expenses

  $12,741,212

  Assets (EOY)

  $70,384,319

• 2016 · 990

  Revenue

  $18,391,929

  Expenses

  $12,253,992

  Assets (EOY)

  $65,396,532

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

• THE PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION

  $186,531

  2024 · BOTANICAL, HORTICULTURAL, AND LANDSCAPE SERVICES

• THE PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION

  $64,429

  2023 · BOTANICAL, HORTICULTURAL, LANDSCAPE

• DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING

  $59,250

  2022 · ENVIRONMENTAL AND ANIMALS

• THE PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION

  $59,249

  2022 · BOTANICAL GARDENS AND SERVICES

• DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING

  $52,550

  2024 · ENVIRONMENTAL AND ANIMALS

• DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING

  $37,300

  2023 · ENVIRONMENTAL AND ANIMALS

• THE GARDEN CLUB OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY

  $17,000

  2025 · Environmental Ed

• THE GARDEN CLUB OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY

  $16,100

  2024 · Education

• AMERICAN PUBLIC GARDENS ASSOCIATION

  $13,100

  2023 · SUPPORT URBAN AGRICULTURE, COMMUNITY GARDENING, AND OTHER FOOD GROWING PROGRAMS

• FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

  $12,723

  2023 · For grant recipient's exempt purposes

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Taxable family

From Schedule R Parts I, III and IV: entities that legally are the filer, and taxable partnerships, corporations and trusts it is related to. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money.

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