The Morton Arboretum: Nonprofit Profile, Financials & Form 990 (EIN 36-1505770)

Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020	$28.9M
FY2021	$65.0M
FY2022	$53.7M
FY2023	$45.1M
FY2024	$57.8M

Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020	$35.7M
FY2021	$40.9M
FY2022	$47.8M
FY2023	$52.2M
FY2024	$58.3M

Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020	$261.5M
FY2021	$316.5M
FY2022	$280.8M
FY2023	$297.5M
FY2024	$310.2M

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jun 1925.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

83 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

83%

Program services 83% · $48.1M Management & general 11% · $6.2M Fundraising 7% · $4.0M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

42 people listed on the 990; $3.6M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation

Koski Jill

President and CEO

$565,997Pt VII · Sec A

Spiess Kathleen

Vp-Development

$247,048Pt VII · Sec A

Lavire Alicia

Vp-Marketing and Guest Experience

$242,459Pt VII · Sec A

Donnelly Gerard

Special Advisor

$234,998Pt VII · Sec A

Bautista Preston Wong

Vp-Learning and Engagement

$222,344Pt VII · Sec A

Bachtell Kris

Vp-Collections and Horticulture

$215,561Pt VII · Sec A

Fawley James

Vp-Finance and CFO (thru 4/2024)

$209,326Pt VII · Sec A

Bailey Narissa

VP - People and Culture

$199,264Pt VII · Sec A

Koski Jill’s $566K as President and CEO is at the 94th percentile of top reported officer pay among 324 $10–100M environment nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

Name	FY2024	FY2023	FY2022	FY2021	FY2020
Donnelly Gerard	$234,998	$440,286	$927,282	—	—
Gerard T Donnelly PHD	—	—	—	$571,519	$688,221
Koski Jill	$565,997	$501,766	$138,898	—	—
Fawley James	$209,326	$270,816	$276,142	—	—
James S Fawley	—	—	—	$246,005	$247,551
Spiess Kathleen	$247,048	$237,472	$236,594	—	—
Lavire Alicia	$242,459	$213,529	$205,682	—	—
Peske Nancy	—	$231,274	$139,531	—	—

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See The Morton Arboretum executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Grows, studies, and displays trees while leading global scientific research and conservation partnerships to protect threatened tree species and prevent extinctions.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $32.1M · in their own filed words · FY2024

01

Plants 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.

$19.2Mprogram expense

02

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.

$8.7Mprogram expense

03

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…

$4.2Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid

Grants received · FY2025

Greenstate Credit UnionFY2025$25K

Bersted FoundationFY2025$10K

T Rowe Price Program for Charitable Giving INCFY2025$5K

Allyn Foundation Incorporated a Delaware CorpFY2025$5K

Total grants receivedfrom 4 funders$45K

See all 4 funders →

Grants paid · 153 grants · $3.4M · 2020–2024

City of ChicagoFY2024$75,000

Roselle Park DistrictFY2024$73,443

Chicago Horticultural SocietyIL · FY2024$70,494

Forest Preserve District of Cook CountyFY2024$55,000

OpenlandsIL · FY2024$51,414

Village of WestchesterFY2024$40,000

Hawthorn WoodsFY2024$40,000

City of NapervilleFY2024$30,000

Belvidere Township Park DistrictFY2024$27,933

Village of BeckemeyerFY2024$27,331

Village of Western SpringsFY2024$25,000

Village of OswegoFY2024$25,000

Village of MokenaFY2024$25,000

Village of Glendale HeightsFY2024$25,000

Village of DeerfieldFY2024$25,000

Village of BannockburnFY2024$25,000

Village of PalatineFY2024$25,000

Village of Lake BluffFY2024$25,000

See all 153 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

Download 990

from philanthropy.org

1The main four

Money inPt VIII

$57.8M

Ln 12

Gifts and grantsLn 1h$19.8M

Investment incomeLn 3$17.4M

Fees for servicesLn 2g$10.6M

Money outPt IX

$58.3M

Ln 25

Programscol B$48.1M

Managementcol C$6.2M

Fundraisingcol D$4.0M

Owns and owesPt X

$310.2M

net assets · Ln 32

Cash and savingsLn 1–2$14.3M

Total assetsLn 16$367.6M

LiabilitiesLn 26$57.4M

PeoplePt VI, VII

42

listed · VII A

PaidVII A18

Voting boardVI 1a22

IndependentVI 1b22

2In more detail

Revenue in detailPt VIII

Gifts and grantsLn 1h$19.8M

Government grantsLn 1e$4.1M

Noncash giftsLn 1g$487K

Fundraising eventsLn 1c$633K

Fees for servicesLn 2g$10.6M

Investment incomeLn 3$17.4M

Other incomeLn 4–11$10.1M

Gains on assetsLn 7$13.9M

Total revenueLn 12$57.8M

Assets in detailPt X, end of year

CashLn 1$347K

SavingsLn 2$13.9M

Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$14.3M

InvestmentsLn 11–13$290.0M

Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$59.8M

Total assetsLn 16$367.6M

LiabilitiesLn 26$57.4M

Net assetsLn 32$310.2M

OperationsPt I, VI

EmployeesI 5504

VolunteersI 6896

Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember

Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes

Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes

Records policyVI 14Yes

3Year over year

Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B

Line	Start FY24	End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2	$6.6M	$14.3M
InvestmentsLn 11–13	$282.3M	$290.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c	$62.2M	$59.8M
Total assetsLn 16	$354.9M	$367.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26	$57.4M	$57.4M
Net assetsLn 32	$297.5M	$310.2M

4Every line

Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line

Line	Total	Programs	Management	Fundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1	$1.1M	$1.1M
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3	$324K	$324K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5	$3.3M	$1.2M	$1.6M	$493K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7	$19.5M	$16.2M	$1.7M	$1.6M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8	$1.2M	$969K	$101K	$98K
Other employee benefitsLn 9	$2.3M	$1.9M	$202K	$197K
Payroll taxesLn 10	$1.7M	$1.4M	$147K	$143K
Management feesLn 11a	$539K	$539K
Legal feesLn 11b	$93K	$400	$93K
Accounting feesLn 11c	$924K	$475K	$200K	$248K
Lobbying feesLn 11d	$181K		$181K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e	$158K			$158K
Investment management feesLn 11f	$814K	$814K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g	$6.1M	$5.6M	$327K	$258K
Advertising and promotionLn 12	$669K	$661K	$7K	$42
Office expensesLn 13	$603K	$169K	$7K	$426K
Information technologyLn 14	$1.1M		$1.1M
OccupancyLn 16	$2.4M	$2.4M	$1K	$3K
TravelLn 17	$502K	$374K	$110K	$18K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19	$360K	$112K	$94K	$154K
InterestLn 20	$1.6M	$1.6M
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22	$3.3M	$3.3M
InsuranceLn 23	$830K	$825K		$6K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24	$7.9M	$7.8M	$16K	$98K
All other expensesLn 24e	$612K	$351K	$222K	$39K
Total functional expensesLn 25	$58.3M	$48.1M	$6.2M	$4.0M

Filing history

Year	Money in	Money out	In minus out	Net assets	Download
FY2024 Latest Viewing	$57.8M	$58.3M	−$493K	$310.2M	990 PDF
FY2023	$45.1M	$52.2M	−$7.1M	$297.5M	990 PDF
FY2022	$53.7M	$47.8M	$5.9M	$280.8M	990 PDF
FY2021	$65.0M	$40.9M	$24.0M	$316.5M	990 PDF
FY2020	$28.9M	$35.7M	−$6.8M	$261.5M	990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash

See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)

Part I · Summary $57,793,716 revenue, 12 lines filed

I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $18,150,596$19,759,730

I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $10,675,996$10,584,870

I-10 Investment incomePrior year $7,791,466$17,359,675

I-11 Other revenuePrior year $8,531,224$10,089,441

I-12 Total revenuePrior year $45,149,282$57,793,716

I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $982,437$1,465,749

I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0

I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $25,791,158$28,091,465

I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $146,144$158,060

I-17 Other expensesPrior year $25,281,457$28,571,346

I-18 Total expensesPrior year $52,201,196$58,286,620

I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$7,051,914−$492,904

Part VI · Governance 22 of 22 board members independent, no flags

VI-1a Voting members of the governing body22

VI-1b Independent voting members22

VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo

VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes

VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes

VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes

VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes

Part VIII · Statement of revenue $57,793,716 across 12 lines filed

Lines not itemized here account for $8,490,971 of total revenue; see the IRS return.

VIII-1b Membership dues$6,447,434

VIII-1c Fundraising events$632,928

VIII-1e Government grants$4,114,035

VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$8,565,333

VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$486,952

VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$19,759,730

VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $10,584,870$10,584,870

VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $382,847 · Excluded from tax $3,050,784$3,433,631

VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $1,721,640$1,721,640

VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $13,926,044$13,926,044

VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$123,170−$123,170

VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $20,797,481 · Unrelated business $382,847 · Excluded from tax $16,853,658$57,793,716

Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $58,286,620 across 25 lines filed

IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $1,141,395$1,141,395

IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $324,354$324,354

IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $1,202,322 · Management $1,643,975 · Fundraising $492,576$3,338,873

IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $16,209,643 · Management $1,689,024 · Fundraising $1,644,085$19,542,752

IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $969,424 · Management $101,013 · Fundraising $98,325$1,168,762

IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,941,619 · Management $202,314 · Fundraising $196,931$2,340,864

IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $1,410,234 · Management $146,945 · Fundraising $143,035$1,700,214

IX-11a Management feesPrograms $539,475$539,475

IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $400 · Management $92,570$92,970

IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $475,409 · Management $200,138 · Fundraising $248,232$923,779

IX-11d Lobbying feesManagement $181,193$181,193

IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $158,060$158,060

IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $813,639$813,639

IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $5,555,019 · Management $327,059 · Fundraising $257,918$6,139,996

IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $661,055 · Management $7,464 · Fundraising $42$668,561

IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $169,213 · Management $7,248 · Fundraising $426,471$602,932

IX-14 Information technologyManagement $1,147,299$1,147,299

IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $2,392,627 · Management $1,152 · Fundraising $2,554$2,396,333

IX-17 TravelPrograms $374,331 · Management $109,592 · Fundraising $18,387$502,310

IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $112,117 · Management $93,960 · Fundraising $153,698$359,775

IX-20 InterestPrograms $1,564,474$1,564,474

IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $3,331,409$3,331,409

IX-23 InsurancePrograms $824,577 · Fundraising $5,732$830,309

IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $7,750,729 · Management $16,435 · Fundraising $98,184$7,865,348

IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $350,772 · Management $221,613 · Fundraising $39,159$611,544

IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $48,114,237 · Management $6,188,994 · Fundraising $3,983,389$58,286,620

Part X · Balance sheet $367,601,821 assets, 19 lines filed

X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $3,446,819$346,709

X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $3,179,714$13,940,010

X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,981,631$1,972,764

X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $293,725$316,015

X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $458,443$463,920

X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $1,041,980$748,875

X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $62,209,049$59,822,044

X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $169,205,720$167,722,973

X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $113,093,868$122,268,511

X-16 Total assetsStart of year $354,910,949$367,601,821

X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,419,344$2,835,572

X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $3,825,122$3,448,379

X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $50,129,589$50,159,713

X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $1,000,000$936,000

X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $57,374,055$57,379,664

X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $284,601,079$272,151,087

X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $12,935,815$38,071,070

X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $297,536,894$310,222,157

X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $354,910,949$367,601,821

Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $310,222,157 net assets at year end

XI-1 Total revenue$57,793,716

XI-2 Total expenses$58,286,620

XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$492,904

XI-4 Net assets at start of year$297,536,894

XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$13,178,165

XI-9 Other changes in net assets$2

XI-10 Net assets at end of year$310,222,157

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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