The Morton Arboretum
The Morton Arboretum reported $57.8 million in revenue and $58.3 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $82.55 went to program services, $10.62 to management and general costs and $6.83 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 34.2% of the total. Government grants made up 7.1%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $631,541 (PRESIDENT AND CEO). 39 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 103% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $58MFor context, the median across 371 covered environment charities: $85.82 programs, $10.80 management, $3.38 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $58MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.5% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 10.6% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.8% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.20 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 34.2% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 7.1% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 18.3% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $631,541 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.08% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 39 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 63.9 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 22 of 22 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expensePlants 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 106,714 specimens representing 4,067 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. Based in 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 117,000 items, contains publications on botany…
Science and conservation: the center for tree science generates and communicates the scientific knowledge and technical expertise necessary to understand and sustain trees and their ecosystems, in all their diversity, in built environments, natural landscapes, and living collections. The arboretum houses research labs and a herbarium with a collection of 216,500 dried specimens for botanical research. Through the global tree conservation programs, the arboretum leads partnerships and assists efforts to prevent tree extinction and secure threatened tree species, with a focus on oaks. The…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT AND CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $565,997 | $0 | $65,544 | $631,541 |
| SPECIAL ADVISOR Key employee, 30.00 hrs/week | $234,998 | $0 | $54,068 | $289,066 |
| VP-MARKETING AND GUEST EXPERIENCE Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $242,459 | $0 | $40,557 | $283,016 |
| VP-DEVELOPMENT Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $247,048 | $0 | $31,715 | $278,763 |
| VP-COLLECTIONS AND HORTICULTURE Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $215,561 | $0 | $58,043 | $273,604 |
| VP-LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $222,344 | $0 | $31,773 | $254,117 |
| VP - PEOPLE AND CULTURE Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $199,264 | $0 | $38,608 | $237,872 |
| VP-FINANCE AND CFO (THRU 4/2024) Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $209,326 | $0 | $10,529 | $219,855 |
39 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Morton Arboretum (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.3M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b22 · 22 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5561
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,157
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| INTELLIGENT LIGHTING CREATIONS INC Exhibition contractor | $1,172,470 |
| ARAMARK CORPORATION Food service contractor | $1,111,408 |
| BASIS GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES INC Advertising contractor | $649,238 |
| IMPERIAL SERVICE SYSTEMS INC Janatorial service contractor | $557,800 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 31 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
55 private foundations reported grants to The Morton Arboretum totaling $2.4M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from The Morton Arboretum's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Morton Arboretum, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 The Morton Arboretum spent in 2024, $82.55 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Fondo Mexicano para la Conservacion de la Naturaleza ACMexico, · revenue $57M · programs 92.0% · 2024
- The Trustees of ReservationsBoston, MA · revenue $58M · programs 78.3% · FY2025
- Massachusetts Audubon SocietyLincoln, MA · revenue $56M · programs 82.5% · FY2025
- Hudson Highlands Fjord TrailBeacon, NY · revenue $60M · programs 85.5% · FY2025
- Golden Gate National Parks ConservancySan Francisco, CA · revenue $55M · programs 72.0% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of The Morton Arboretum's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, The Morton Arboretum reported that 82.5% of its $58.3 million in expenses went to program services, 10.6% to management and general and 6.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Morton Arboretum pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Morton Arboretum reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $631,541, for the role of PRESIDENT AND CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Morton Arboretum get its money?
Of $57.8 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 34.2% came from contributions and grants (including 7.1% from government grants) and 18.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Morton Arboretum a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 36-1505770 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202523089349302557 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202443109349303054 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202313059349301696 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202213159349302206 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202143129349301829 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202033169349300133 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 36-1505770: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.