Cleveland Botanical Garden

What it reported doing in 2023

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 att

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 70.5%; rating input score 70
• Fundraising efficiency: $2.6 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 7; 7th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -31.6%; rating input score 4; 4th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.54; rating input score 78; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.56; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 6.5%; rating input score 43; 43rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -1.7% per year; rating input score 0; 11th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -0.2% per year; rating input score 0; 12th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -4.1% per year; rating input score 0; 5th percentile among comparable filings