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Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax OMB No PUBLIC DISCLOSURE COPY Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax OMB No. 1545-0047 Form 990 Under section 501(c), 527, or 4947(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code (except private foundations) 2016 Department of the Treasury | Do not enter social security numbers on this form as it may be made public. Open to Public Internal Revenue Service | Information about Form 990 and its instructions is at www.irs.gov/form990. Inspection A For the 2016 calendar year, or tax year beginning JUL 1, 2016 and ending JUN 30, 2017 B Check if C Name of organization D Employer identification number applicable: Address change QUEENS BOTANICAL GARDEN SOCIETY, INC. Name change Doing business as 11-1635083 Initial return Number and street (or P.O. box if mail is not delivered to street address) Room/suite E Telephone number Final return/ 43-50 MAIN STREET 718-886-3800 termin- ated City or town, state or province, country, and ZIP or foreign postal code G Gross receipts $ 5,687,010. Amended return FLUSHING, NY 11355 H(a) Is this a group return Applica- tion F Name and address of principal officer: SUSAN LACERTE for subordinates? ~~ Yes X No pending SAME AS C ABOVE H(b) Are all subordinates included? Yes No I Tax-exempt status: X 501(c)(3) 501(c) ( )§ (insert no.) 4947(a)(1) or 527 If "No," attach a list. (see instructions) J Website: | WWW.QUEENSBOTANICAL.ORG H(c) Group exemption number | K Form of organization: X Corporation Trust Association Other | L Year of formation: 1946 M State of legal domicile: NY Part I Summary 1 Briefly describe the organization's mission or most significant activities: THE ORGANIZATION IS AN EDUCATIONAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCE FOR 2 Check this box | if the organization discontinued its operations or disposed of more than 25% of its net assets. 3 Number of voting members of the governing body (Part VI, line 1a) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 14 4 Number of independent voting members of the governing body (Part VI, line 1b) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4 14 5 Total number of individuals employed in calendar year 2016 (Part V, line 2a) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5 95 6 Total number of volunteers (estimate if necessary) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6 2158 7 a Total unrelated business revenue from Part VIII, column (C), line 12 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7a 149,481. Activities & Governance b Net unrelated business taxable income from Form 990-T, line 34 7b 47,582. Prior Year Current Year 8 Contributions and grants (Part VIII, line 1h) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4,611,507. 4,313,165. 9 Program service revenue (Part VIII, line 2g) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 750,658. 848,614. 10 Investment income (Part VIII, column (A), lines 3, 4, and 7d) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 13,849. 13,213. Revenue 11 Other revenue (Part VIII, column (A), lines 5, 6d, 8c, 9c, 10c, and 11e) ~~~~~~~~ 219,335. 281,510. 12 Total revenue - add lines 8 through 11 (must equal Part VIII, column (A), line 12) 5,595,349. 5,456,502. 13 Grants and similar amounts paid (Part IX, column (A), lines 1-3) ~~~~~~~~~~~ 0. 0. 14 Benefits paid to or for members (Part IX, column (A), line 4) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 0. 0. 15 Salaries, other compensation, employee benefits (Part IX, column (A), lines 5-10) ~~~ 3,011,761. 3,367,071. 16a Professional fundraising fees (Part IX, column (A), line 11e) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 24,000. 14,437. b Total fundraising expenses (Part IX, column (D), line 25) | 342,867. Expenses 17 Other expenses (Part IX, column (A), lines 11a-11d, 11f-24e) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2,065,425. 2,218,670. 18 Total expenses. Add lines 13-17 (must equal Part IX, column (A), line 25) ~~~~~~~ 5,101,186. 5,600,178. 19 Revenue less expenses. Subtract line 18 from line 12 494,163. -143,676. Beginning of Current Year End of Year 20 Total assets (Part X, line 16) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 25,645,192. 25,545,795. 21 Total liabilities (Part X, line 26) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1,895,822. 2,015,702. Net Assets or 22 Net assets or fund balances. Subtract line 21 from line 20 23,749,370. 23,530,093. Fund Balances Part II Signature Block Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this return, including accompanying schedules and statements, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, it is true, correct, and complete. Declaration of preparer (other than officer) is based on all information of which preparer has any knowledge. Sign = Signature of officer Date Here SUSAN LACERTE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR = Type or print name and title Print/Type preparer's name Preparer's signature Date Check PTIN if Paid GARRETT M. HIGGINS GARRETT M. HIGGINS 03/13/18 self-employed P00543209 Preparer Firm's name 9 PKF O'CONNOR DAVIES, LLP Firm's EIN 9 27-1728945 Use Only Firm's address 9 665 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10022 Phone no.212-286-2600 May the IRS discuss this return with the preparer shown above? (see instructions) X Yes No 632001 11-11-16 LHA For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the separate instructions. Form 990 (2016) SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ORGANIZATION MISSION STATEMENT CONTINUATION Form 990 (2016) QUEENS BOTANICAL GARDEN SOCIETY, INC. 11-1635083 Page 2 Part III Statement of Program Service Accomplishments Check if Schedule O contains a response or note to any line in this Part III X 1 Briefly describe the organization's mission: QUEENS BOTANICAL GARDEN IS AN URBAN OASIS WHERE PEOPLE, PLANTS AND CULTURES ARE CELEBRATED THROUGH INSPIRING GARDENS, INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND DEMONSTRATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. 2 Did the organization undertake any significant program services during the year which were not listed on the prior Form 990 or 990-EZ? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yes X No If "Yes," describe these new services on Schedule O. 3 Did the organization cease conducting, or make significant changes in how it conducts, any program services? ~~~~~~ Yes X No If "Yes," describe these changes on Schedule O. 4 Describe the organization's program service accomplishments for each of its three largest program services, as measured by expenses. Section 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations are required to report the amount of grants and allocations to others, the total expenses, and revenue, if any, for each program service reported. 4a (Code: ) (Expenses $ 2,262,525. including grants of $ ) (Revenue $ 486,210. ) EDUCATION - PROVIDES PROGRAMS, WORKSHOPS AND SPECIAL EVENTS THAT ADVANCE A DUAL MISSION OF SUSTAINABILITY AND CULTURAL EXPRESSION. IN FY17, QBG EDUCATORS WORKED WITH OVER 35,000 SCHOOL CHILDREN AND 3,000 TEACHERS THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION WORKSHOPS, TOURS AND TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMS. EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOCUS ON STEAM LEARNING (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, MATH) TO TEACH URBAN CHILDREN ABOUT PLANTS, ECOSYSTEMS, TREES, AND BEES. QBG IS HOME TO ONE OF THE LARGEST COMPOSTING EDUCATION SITES IN THE CITY, AND FOCUSES ON OUTREACH TO VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOODS IN QUEENS. QBG ALSO WORKS WITH FAMILIES AND CONDUCTS DOZENS OF FAMILY-FRIENDLY PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, RANGING FROM ONE-TIME CLASSES TO MULTI-WEEK SESSIONS DURING OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIMES. 4b (Code: ) (Expenses $ 1,647,686. including grants of $ ) (Revenue $ ) GROUNDS CARE AND SECURITY - RESPONSIBLE FOR THE UPKEEP AND SECURITY OF THIS 39-ACRE PUBLIC GARDEN AND LIVING MUSEUM, COMPRISING 18 ACRES OF FORMAL GARDENS AND 21 ACRES OF ARBORETUM. MAINTAINS MORE THAN 20 ORNAMENTAL AND EDUCATIONAL GARDENS INCLUDING: AN HERB GARDEN, WOODLAND GARDEN, ROSE GARDEN, WEDDING GARDEN, OTHER PERENNIAL GARDENS AND SEASONAL DISPLAYS. ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES ARE IN PRACTICE THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY: WATER PERMEABLE PAVERS ARE IN PLACE THROUGHOUT THE GARDEN; BIOSWALES ABSORB EXCESS RAIN WATER, HELPING TO EASE THE BURDEN ON NYC'S SEWER SYSTEM; GEOTHERMAL WELLS HEAT AND COOL THE LEED PLATINUM CERTIFIED VISITOR & ADMINISTRATION BUILDING; NATIVE PLANTINGS, INCLUDING THE GREEN ROOF, FEED LOCAL FAUNA AND MIGRATORY BIRDS. COMPOSTING TOILETS AND GRAY WATER SYSTEM RESULT IN USING 82% LESS 4c (Code: ) (Expenses $ 751,442. including grants of $ ) (Revenue $ 384,062. ) VISITOR SERVICES & PUBLIC PROGRAMS - PROMOTES A POSITIVE VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND WELCOMED MORE THAN 176,881 VISITORS LAST YEAR. (QBG SERVED 224,986, WHICH INCLUDES 48,105 PEOPLE REACHED THROUGH OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS.) VISITOR SERVICES PROVIDES A VARIETY OF AMENITIES IN THE VISITOR & ADMINISTRATION BUILDING INCLUDING THE GIFT SHOP, TOUCH SCREEN INFORMATION STATIONS AND QBG MEMBERSHIP HOSPITALITY. VISITOR SERVICES STAFF COORDINATE NEARLY 200 PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EVENTS FOR VISITORS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR; PUBLIC PROGRAMS HIGHLIGHT THE CHANGES IN NATURE THROUGHOUT THE SEASONS, PLANT COLLECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE GARDEN, BEES AND HONEY, CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF PLANTS, VISUAL ARTS, PERFORMING ARTS AND GREEN/SUSTAINABLE LIVING. LARGE-SCALE, SEASONAL EVENTS INCLUDE ARBOR FEST, HARVEST FEST, HALLOWEEN IN THE GARDEN AND 4d Other program services (Describe in Schedule O.) (Expenses $ 135,675. including grants of $ ) (Revenue $ ) 4e Total program service expenses | 4,797,328. Form 990 (2016) 632002 11-11-16 SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION(S) Form 990 (2016) QUEENS BOTANICAL GARDEN SOCIETY, INC. 11-1635083 Page 3 Part IV Checklist of Required Schedules Yes No 1 Is the organization described in section 501(c)(3) or 4947(a)(1) (other than a private foundation)? If "Yes," complete Schedule A ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1 X 2 Is the organization required to complete Schedule B, Schedule of Contributors? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2 X 3 Did the organization engage in direct or indirect political campaign activities on behalf of or in opposition to candidates for public office? If "Yes," complete
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