Arboretum Foundation Annual Report 2019–2020 Mission Statement Board of Directors The Arboretum Foundation promotes, protects, and enhances the Washington Jason Morse Sherrey Luetjen Paul ‘Skip’ Vonckx Trina Wherry Jenny Wyatt Park Arboretum for current and future President Vice President Vice President Vice President Vice President generations by strengthening and building a Jeanne Peterson Missy Ward diverse and engaged community of donors, Secretary Treasurer volunteers, and advocates. Diane Adachi Chris Harry Noriko Palmer Joan Affleck-Smith Carol Hoerster Peter Rees Vision Statement Steve Alley Larry Hubbell Mike Riley The Arboretum is a highly treasured, widely Shaun Corry Kat Korab Jan Kirkwood Waszak used community asset and a horticultural, Josh Dickson Jeff Lehman environmental, recreational, and cultural Ex-Officio Members resource for the region. Jesús Aguirre About the Foundation Superintendent, Seattle Parks and Recreation Fred Hoyt Founded in 1935, the non-profit Arboretum Director, UW Botanic Gardens Foundation raises funds and manages Jane Stonecipher membership and volunteer programs to Executive Director, Arboretum Foundation promote, protect, and enhance the Washington Park Arboretum. The Foundation provides essential support Staff for Arboretum operations and activities, Jane Stonecipher Jessa Gardner Caroline Maxwell including arboriculture, maintenance, Executive Director Japanese Garden Programs Development Associate Manager education, and collection restoration. Lee Benner Ron Schmaltz In 2016, the Foundation also assumed Development Director Alyssa Henry Garden Stewards Coord. the primary support role for the Seattle Volunteer Programs Manager Matthew Coomer Matt Schropp-Lance Japanese Garden. Operations Coordinator Chie Iida Bookkeeper & Gift Shop Visit Us Online Niall Dunne Japanese Garden Events Coordinator Coordinator www.arboretumfoundation.org Communications Manager Yukari Yamano Tess Forté Kristen Johnson Japanese Garden Special www.seattlejapanesegarden.org Events & Corp. Sponsorship Mgr. Volunteer & Events Assistant Projects Coord. Now More Than Ever Since 1934, through boom years and busts, the Arboretum has been a haven for our community. During the current public health crisis, the Arboretum has again been a destination for those seeking solace, inspiration, and the restorative impact of nature. Yet we know that the coming months—and possibly years—will bring new financial and logistical challenges, making the work of the Arboretum Foundation to protect this special place more valuable than ever. This past year, we saw remarkable progress in building a foundation for a greener future. Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz inspired our audience during a record-setting “Flower Power” Opening Night Party at the 2020 Northwest Flower and Garden Festival (see page 6). Our Jason Morse gold-medal-winning display garden—“Gateway to a Greener Earth”—featured endangered plants and highlighted the importance of biodiversity to a healthy planet. President, It was another successful year in the Seattle Japanese Garden, which saw the completion of Board of Directors important maintenance on the North Pond, in partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation. A wide and diverse audience enjoyed our free, high-quality cultural programming, and we expanded the ever-popular Moon Viewing event to two nights (see page 12). The year 2020 marks two special anniversaries that have been woven into our programs and messaging: the 50th observance of Earth Day, and the 60th (Kanreki) Anniversary Season in the Japanese Garden. Like many others, we have needed to reimagine what these celebrations look like—kudos to the staff and our volunteers for their creativity and flexibility. Looking ahead, one can imagine dead-ends or retreats from big ideas. However, with your ongoing Jane Stonecipher support, we may only need to take detours—different paths to reach our destination. We are already in active conversation with our Arboretum partners at the City and UW to build greater resilience in our governance structure (see page 8). Executive Director We thank you, our dedicated supporters, now more than ever. 3 Financial Statement Balance Sheet Revenue & Expenses FY 2019 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2018 Assets Revenue Cash in Bank $ 355,176 $ 395,894 Support & Memberships - Unrestricted Investment Account Funds: Membership & Donors $ 1,189,425 $ 511,291 General 2,288,345 1,654,713 Events & Gift Shop, net of costs 402,003 349,727 Endowment 2,742,900 2,132,162 Private Grants 267,400 181,750 Promises to Give from Donors 174,230 4,359 Other Revenues & In-Kind donations 311,887 261,193 Other Current Assets 104,924 98,177 Total $ 2,170,715 $ 1,303,961 Property, net of depreciation 0 0 Total Assets $ 5,665,575 $ 4,285,305 Operating Expenses: Program services $ 263,463 $ 423,289 Liabilities and Net Assets Grants to UWBG 663,932 337,650 Accounts Payable Fundraising 261,548 230,618 & Accrued Liabilities $ 86,305 $ 87,760 Management & General 221,310 206,178 Grants Payable 13,655 42,966 Total Operating Expenses 1,410,253 1,197,735 Net Assets Net Gain (Loss) on Investments 168,873 209,662 Unrestricted/Board Restricted 2,730,424 1,907,189 Change in Net Assets - Operating Activities $ 929,335 $ 315,888 Temporarily Restricted 1,389,671 831,370 Permanently Restricted 1,445,520 1,416,020 Total Net Assets 5,565,615 4,154,579 Permanently & Temporarily Restricted Endowment Donations Revenue $ 29,500 $ 31,000 Total Liabilities and Net Assets $ 5,665,575 $ 4,285,305 Capital Projects Revenue 883,500 296,250 913,000 327,250 Special Grants to Others Project and Fundraising Expenses 431,299 371,704 Change in Net Assets - Non-Operating 481,701 (44,545) Total Change in Net Assets $ 1,411,036 $ 271,434 4 Euonymus alatus Snapshots 2019–2020 Day of Caring Fall Plant Sale Shopper 2019 “Flower Power” Opening Night Party Seattle Japanese Garden Gifts and Greens Galore Maple Festival Drummers “Gateway to a Greener Earth” Garden 5 Events and Contributions This past year, Arboretum Foundation members and donors stood tall for trees—and for a greener future—by generously supporting our events, fundraising appeals, and programs. They enabled us to set many new records and advance our mission to preserve and enhance the Arboretum. More than 550 shoppers attended our volunteer-run Fall Plant Sale in early September, 2019. They helped us raise $8,500 in support of tree care, garden maintenance, and environmental education at the Arboretum—a new record for this event! Gifts and Greens Galore in early December was also our best holiday sale to date, raising more than $18,000 in support of the Arboretum. A special thanks to our amazing event volunteers who did everything from crafting beautiful wreaths to hanging decorative swags on the rafters of Wisteria Hall. More than 400 guests attended our 32nd annual Opening Night Party and Auction at the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival in late February, 2020. They helped us raise over $370,000 for the Arboretum—breaking last year’s record by about $50,000! Our theme was “Flower Power,” honoring the vibrant, creative movements of the Flower Power era that ushered in the first Earth Day in 1970. Dancers and singers in “flower children” garb entertained guests, while our featured speaker, WA State Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, inspired the crowd with an eloquent speech calling for the defense and preservation of our natural resources. Party guests enjoyed a preview of the Garden Festival’s beautiful displays, including the Arboretum’s “Gateway to a Greener Earth,” an Earth Day 2020-themed garden representing the diversity of plants from around the world found in the park. Endangered specimen trees and shrubs in the display highlighted the important contributions to conservation made by the Flower Children: Singers and dancers performing “Age Arboretum. The garden won a judges’ Gold Medal, plus the awards for Best of Aquarius” at Opening Night. Use of Horticulture and Color. 6 The Arborist Challenge We had a tremendous response to our fall 2019 appeal, which raised $82,306 The Arborist Program is vital to for the Arboretum. This was by far the Foundation’s most successful end-of- the health and beauty of the trees year campaign to date! and shrubs in the Arboretum. The UW Botanic Gardens’ two full-time Building and program closures at the Arboretum in response to the arborists continually monitor our 230 COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of our Spring Plant Sale and the acres, removing safety hazards, and postponement of the annual Earth Day event, both scheduled for April 2020. tackling pests and diseases. They also During the initial months of our State’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, the perform strategic pruning to enhance Arboretum grounds remained open and became a vital source of respite for our valued collection plants. In many city residents. Our members and donors gave generously in support of summer 2019, Arboretum Foundation urban nature during our GiveBIG 2020 spring appeal in May, helping us raise members Alice and Blair Cunningham more than $60,000 in support of the Arboretum. One of the testimonials we launched a three-year challenge to received read, “As for so many people, the Arboretum is a sanctuary for me.” raise funds for the arborists. Joined by 13 others, they raised $70,000! The Supporting our Arboretum Partners challenge goal for this coming fiscal This chart breaks down the FY20 Support for Arboretum Partners: $620,764 year is $75,000! Thanks to Alice and Arboretum Foundation’s Horticulture Blair, and all our challenge donors. funding to UW Botanic Capital Projects Programs Gardens and Seattle Parks 29% 50% and Recreation in fiscal year 2020 to date. Since 2001, the Foundation Green Infrastructure has given more than $10 4% million to our partners for Arboretum operations and Education Programs Tree Doctors: Arboretum arborists Clif Edwards special projects. 17% and Drew Foster on the job. 7 Master Plan Projects In August 2019, the Foundation was awarded a grant of $22,200 from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) for the addition of an environmentally friendly composting toilet near the Pacific Connections Garden.