2025-01-27T10:59:11-06:00 2024-09-30 251408703 SCHNEIDER DOWNS & CO INC ONE PPG PLACE SUITE 1700 PITTSBURGH PA 15222 990 2023-10-01 251648405 Pittsburgh Botanic Garden PITT 4124444464 799 Pinkerton Run Road Pittsburgh PA 15071 Robert S Mermelstein Chief Financial Officer 4124444464 2025-01-24 1 0 Sarah R Piot P01358891 4122613644 2023 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Keith Kaiser 799 Pinkerton Run Road Pittsburgh PA 15071 2980749 0 X www.PittsburghBotanicGarden.org X 1991 PA Pittsburgh Botanic Garden inspires people to value plants, garden design and the natural world by cultivating plant collections of the Allegheny Plateau and temperate regions, creating display gardens, conducting educational programs and conserving the environment. 38 38 65 90 5123 0 2242697 1405926 238790 366066 1219 47087 822899 884447 3305605 2703526 0 0 0 0 1381901 1911549 0 0 193558 1804653 2065445 3186554 3976994 119051 -1273468 21765190 20219320 1262608 990206 20502582 19229114 X Pittsburgh Botanic Garden inspires people to value plants, garden design and the natural world by cultivating plant collections of the Allegheny Plateau and temperate regions, creating display gardens, conducting educational programs and conserving the environment. 0 0 1725122 360014 Visitor Experience: Through its facilities, gardens and woodlands, and programs, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden strives to increase the number of individuals exposed to the natural beauty of the Allegheny Plateau region. The Garden's mission is grounded in the belief that connecting with plants is fundamentally important to the emotional and physical well-being of all people.Since opening to the public in 2015, nearly 400,000 individuals have visited the garden to explore, learn or celebrate a milestone. In addition to visitation, membership also has grown steadily with over 3,700 households.** See continuation on Schedule O **As an outdoor public garden, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden offers gardens and woodlands for all to connect to plants while exploring the native habitats of the Allegheny Plateau ecoregion. During the summer of 2024, the Garden hosted David Roger's Big Bugs + Pollinators Exhibit. Using these sculptures, the Garden introduced children to the ecological importance of pollinators and beneficial insects and ways to support their habitats through a strong connection to plantsYear-round highlights for visitors include these garden features: Garden of the Five Senses - This garden encourages children of all ages and abilities to touch, hear, smell, taste and see the natural world around them. Filled with hands-on activities for exploration, this is the garden for families to learn and connect with nature. You also will find the Discovery Cart, filled with constantly changing artifacts to spark curiosity in young minds. The Weisbrod Learning Pavilion provides an outdoor space for school field trips and drop-in programs for visitors.Hillside Pollinator Garden - Colorful, all-season blooms invite you and pollinators to visit this gently sloping hillside. The swaths of cultivars of native perennials burst each season to take center stage. Stroll along or take a moment on GB's Overlook to view a pollinator at work. Exhibit Garden - On October 1, 2021, Carbon Cycle: An Earth Art Exhibit opened as the first exhibit featured in the new garden area. Carbon Cycle is an immersive experience for guests as they walk a serpentine path to find the artist Gary Smith's piece made of materials of the site.The Garden's Welcome Center is a 7,500-square-foot facility which greets visitors entering the gardens and woodlands and transports them to a place of exploration, wonder, and learning. The Welcome Center is home to the Welcome Desk, Forage & Finds, Canopy Cafe, Peirce Education Rooms and Courtyard Garden, the Zappala Woodland Room and its Art Gallery, featuring local artists year-round. 1055372 Horticulture: Pittsburgh Botanic Garden inspires people to value plants, garden design and the natural world by cultivating plant collections of the Allegheny Plateau and temperate regions, creating display gardens, conducting educational programs and conserving the environment. ** See continutation on Schedule O **The Garden is a qualified caretaker of 460 acres of southwest Pennsylvania's land and water. Dedicated staff and volunteers create and maintain this space as a habitat for native flora and fauna. In addition to ongoing conservation efforts such as mitigating acid mine drainage and reforestation projects, the Garden provides 65 acres of cultivated gardens and woodlands for the public to connect to plants. Through this innate experience: young minds are engaged, gardeners are inspired, and all visitors find a sense of calm.Central to the story of Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is the poor condition of the site upon which it is being built. Left in a deplorable state following coal extraction throughout the first half of the 20th Century, the land was unfit for most uses and even dangerous in spots. Further damage was caused by flooding of the mines beneath the surface in 2004, which exposed a severe acid mine drainage problem. The land and water are being reclaimed and repaired. Abandoned mine features, invasive species and poor site conditions are being replaced by educational gardens, reconstructed woodlands, and lovely views. The Garden is providing long-term benefits, including carbon capture, superior soil conservation and lasting habitat improvement.A few conservation highlights since beginning its land and water reclamation efforts in 2014: -15,000 native saplings were planted to reforest an abandoned mine site. The Garden collaborated with Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, United States Office of Surface Mining and Plant Five for Life. -The Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative provided expert advice on tree species that thrive on reclaimed soils. -The Garden's efforts are successful with more than 80 percent of the planted trees thriving. Horticulture staff and volunteers continue to tend to and monitor this future forest. -With no chemical treatments or energy inputs, and minimal maintenance, water once considered 'dead' now supports a healthy aquatic ecosystem. The Garden operates three passive, water filter systems which neutralize more than 25 million gallons of acid mine discharge each year, prior to it entering the region's watershed and then the Ohio River. -The first innovative filter system to be installed creates the Garden's Lotus Pond, a focal point of the Japanese Garden. The Garden was recognized for this system as the recipient of the 2014 Pennsylvania Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence. -The Garden's work in mitigating acid mine drainage is recognized by the U.S. Office of Surface Mining as a national model and has since been duplicated elsewhere. 371860 91498 Education: With education a cornerstone of its mission, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is able to use its restoration of former coal mining land as a living laboratory for adults and children to engage in environmental stewardship and develop a conservation mindset.Exposure to nature in a beautiful and safe environment through guidance of mentors helps foster connection with the natural world. In an era of increased time spent indoors, children and young adults need an opportunity to connect with nature for their personal growth and to develop the stewardship behaviors that will contribute to a healthier, more sustainable and just future.** See continuation on Schedule O ** The education programming at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is a mix of formal classes and self-discovery opportunities throughout the gardens and woodlands. Adult classes and workshops are held on a wide range of topics for beginner and experienced gardeners as well as ways to connect to plants in a variety of ways, such as through photography and art programs. Children and families learn together while exploring the gardens and woodlands through self-discovery and the assistance of interpretive signage or a stop by the Discovery Cart. The Garden education team partners with regional school districts to host curriculum-based field trips. Students are exposed to Science Technology Engineering Agriculture/Art and Mathematics (STEAM) in a unique environment that cannot be duplicated in a classroom. 3152354 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 13 0 1 65 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 38 38 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 PA X X Robert Mermelstein 4124444464 799 Pinkerton Run Road Pittsburgh PA 15071 Michael Hatcher Chair 5.00 X X 0 0 0 Terri Fitzpatrick Vice Chair 3.00 X X 0 0 0 Brenna Wist Treasurer 3.00 X X 0 0 0 Susan Al Secretary 3.00 X X 0 0 0 Thomas Beaudoin Director (Entered 6/24) 1.00 X 0 0 0 Jeanne B Berdick Director 3.00 X 0 0 0 Christopher Blass Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Zoe Bunnell Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Robert Burns Director 2.00 X 0 0 0 Bonita A Cersosimo Director 2.00 X 0 0 0 Basil Cox Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Patrick Cozzens Director (Entered 12/23) 1.00 X 0 0 0 Nelson Craige Director 3.00 X 0 0 0 Amanda D'Amico Director 4.00 X 0 0 0 Susan Edwards Director 4.00 X 0 0 0 Beverlynn Elliot Director 4.00 X 0 0 0 Diana Froats Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Carl Grande Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Malcolm Handelsman Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Richard Heyse Director (Exited 3/24) 1.00 X 0 0 0 Stephanie A Hickton Director 4.00 X 0 0 0 William J Kolano Director 2.00 X 0 0 0 John Kraus Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Brian Kuczinski Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 John Mazur Director 3.00 X 0 0 0 Patrick McCoy Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Mark Miko Director 2.00 X 0 0 0 Jill S Porter-Scott Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Stacey Reiback Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Elie Saad Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Stevan Schott Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Caitlin Seiler Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Marianne Shiwarski Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 David Thor Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Saurabh Tripathi Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Shirley Weinstein Director (Entered 6/24) 1.00 X 0 0 0 Kendra White Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Robert Wild Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Nancy Zapalla Director 5.00 X 0 0 0 Keith Kaiser Executive Director 40.00 X 129317 0 11329 Robert Mermelstein Chief Financial Officer 40.00 X 65366 0 27532 194683 0 38861 1 0 0 0 Decterra Inc PO Box 203 Oakdale PA 15071 General Contracting 101785 1 237215 38026 72500 1058185 1405926 Admissions 900099 274568 274568 Education Programs 900099 91498 91498 366066 49630 49630 604770 10584 594186 594186 594186 1020 296 3267 724 -3267 -2543 -2543 127949 38026 87686 40263 40263 401243 175390 225853 85446 5123 135284 Other Income 900099 24145 24145 24145 2703526 451512 5123 840965 230333 111711 74859 43763 1420881 1167638 206463 46780 118588 99029 12376 7183 141747 110397 23523 7827 35624 35624 58408 53015 5393 262470 211490 12079 38901 325740 143420 165792 16528 193126 185875 5640 1611 758589 743130 10077 5382 78081 6252 70354 1475 Events 121027 100603 20424 Garden Costs 115342 115342 Education 67805 67805 Cafe Operations 36647 36647 12586 8902 3684 3976994 3152354 631082 193558 857326 381111 956905 562803 783250 241750 14409 6562 80321 94422 16289 17461 23033073 4145149 19056690 18887924 0 27287 21765190 20219320 475870 342575 463689 497631 323049 150000 1262608 990206 X 18542294 18457959 1960288 771155 20502582 19229114 21765190 20219320 -1273468 0 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 4195480 2112288 2242697 1512467 1405926 11468858 4195480 2112288 2242697 1512467 1405926 11468858 970595 10498263 214613 554297 721284 420435 654400 2565029 11117 0 0 42490 40263 93870 28958 3627 4763 4534 49410 91292 14219049 2227735 0.73830 0.70250 X Part II, Short Year Explanation: In Tax Year 2023, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden switched from calendar year to fiscal year ending September 30. A short year return was filed for fiscal year ending September 30, 2023. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 26000 500 810 27310 26000 26000 1.00000 0.00000 0.00000 0 0 1249732 1249732 12859255 1700460 11158795 8439919 2270456 6169463 256462 155583 100879 227705 18650 209055 18887924 X 2984137 3684 276927 280611 2703526 0 2703526 4257605 3684 276927 280611 3976994 0 3976994 Part V, Line 4: The Garden's endowment consists of cash and future investment funds established primarily to support the organization's mission. As required by generally accepted accounting principles, net assets associated with endowment funds, including funds designated by the Garden to function as endowments, are classified and reported based on the existence or absence of donor-imposed restrictions. The Board makes the final determination as to investment funds to be distributed each year from the Garden's permanently restricted endowment funds, as well as specific uses for such distributions in accordance with donor restrictions, if any. This is done in accordance with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Act 141. The Garden has adopted a total return investment policy for purposes of determining the spending rate. As required by Act 141, the spending rate is limited to a range of 2-7% annually. The spending policy of the fund is to pay amounts approved by the Board. The distribution of funds may be taken from both current income and appreciation. Restricted investment funds must be handled in accordance with donor's instructions. The distribution is paid as determined annually by the Board, with advice from the Finance & Audit Committee. Principal can be used to the extent income falls short of target. The distribution amount is based on the three-year rolling average value of the permanently restricted endowment portfolio and will not exceed 7.0% annually. The Board approves the distributions annually. During the initial three years of the endowment, there will be no distribution to the Garden from the endowment. The first distribution can be made at the end of the initial three-year period. Part X, Line 2: The Garden is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, except on net income derived from unrelated business activities. In addition, the Garden qualifies for the charitable contribution deduction under Section 170(b)(1)(A) and has been classified as an organization other than a private foundation. The Garden has not identified any material uncertain tax positions requiring an accrual or disclosure in the financial statements. The Garden is no longer subject to examinations by taxing authorities in any major tax jurisdiction for the years before December 31, 2021. Part XI, Line 2d - Other Adjustments: Rental Expenses 10,584. Cost of Goods Sold 175,390. Fundraising Expenses 87,686. Loss on disposal of land, buildings, improvements, and equipment 3,267. Part XII, Line 2d - Other Adjustments: Rental Expenses 10,584. Cost of Goods Sold 175,390. Fundraising Expenses 87,686. Loss on disposal of land, buildings, improvements, and equipment 3,267. Blossom 165975 38026 127949 35506 4500 47680 165975 38026 127949 35506 4500 47680 87686 40263 Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11b The draft Form 990 is reviewed in detail by Pittsburgh Botanic Garden's Chief Financial Officer prior to being reviewed by the Audit Committee. After the draft Form 990 has been reviewed by the Committee, the Committee makes the recommendation for the full Board of Directors to approve the Form 990 prior to filing. The full Board of Directors is provided with a copy of the form prior to filing. After approval by the Board of Directors, the Form 990 is electronically filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c A written conflict of interest policy was established in 2011. Board members and employees must complete and sign a conflict of interest form annually. The Board Development Committee tracks the responses to ensure 100% participation and reviews any disclosures for items that would require action. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 15 The salary for the Executive Director is reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors. Other Officer salaries are reviewed by Human Resources. Evaluation of compensation levels for non-profits in the marketplace is used as comparable data when establishing compensation for all officers. The deliberations are documented in the meeting minutes and/or the personnel files. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 The Garden makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements available to any interested parties upon request.