Reeves - Reed Arboretum

What it reported doing in 2024

Horticulturereeves-reed arboretum is a 13.5 acre estate. It was selected to be put on the national register of historic places in 1993 and on the nj register of historic places in 1993 as well. Today the estate is a suburban arboretum, public garden, and environmental education center.the main house (wisner house) was constructed in 1889. It was designed by the architectural firm of babb cook and willard and is an example of the colonial revival style house. This style house is representative of the architecture that was predominant in the northeast during this period.the formal gardens are representative of the 1920s era of landscape architecture. A formal rose garden, azalea and rhododendron, perennial borders and rock gardens comprise the formal areas. Some of the areas are handicap accessible, and in 2017 and 2020; the arboretum completed phase one and two of a multi-phased accessibility project. Beyond the formal gardens, many educational garden areas have been developed to teach the public about plants that are used horticulturally, as well as native species that have been reintroduced into the garden. The collections are appropriately identified and signage is utilized to educate the public. There is a 672 square foot greenhouse that houses collections of orchids, cacti, carnivorous plants, and succulents. It is also used as a classroom. There is also a 300 square foot hoop house that is used for propagation and the overwintering of tropical plants used in the display gardens.for 10 months of the year the glacial bowl to the south of the main house is a certified native wildlife habitat that has been planted to attract song birds, bees and butterflies. Wildflowers and ferns have been planted to demonstrate the sustainability of native landscaping. We manage 6 acres of native hardwood forest as an educational tool to teach the many school age children who come to the arboretum.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 74.5%; rating input score 75
• Program expense ratio: 81.1%; rating input score 81
• Fundraising efficiency: $7.25 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• 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; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 4 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 57
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Fail
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 10.3%; rating input score 62; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.4; rating input score 78; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 65; 65th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6.7% per year; rating input score 100; 50th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6.9% per year; rating input score 100; 54th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 7.4% per year; rating input score 100; 49th percentile among comparable filings