EIN 25-1492587

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

IRS 501(c) type
501(c)(3)
Num. employees
192
Year formed
1985
Most recent tax filings
2022-09-01
Description
Phipps is a botanical garden in Pittsburgh that inspires and educates visitors on plants, sustainability, and human well-being.
Total revenues
$17,828,272
2022
Total expenses
$14,165,009
2022
Total assets
$77,772,269
2022
Num. employees
192
2022

Program areas at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Covid-19 pandemic update: Phipps continued to move forward with its proven "regenerative" approach to transform formidable challenges into opportunities to recover, strengthen and grow the organization forward. With regenerative systems thinking, Phipps has managed the tension for change when challenges arise to reconcile these forces and create something new and fulfilling for all program partners. The conventional approach to move to compromise when encountering challenges could have resulted in losses, shuttered programs, and staff layoffs. But Phipps desired to jump start its and our community's recovery and avoid any layoffs throughout the pandemic. Continued, see schedule othis led to empowering staff to retool the organization, reach a higher potential and focus on work to make the Phipps stronger and more resilient during the crisis and into the future. In this way, every generation may find joy in the beauty of Phipps, inspiration in its Gardens, personal and community growth in its programs, and essential ways to mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss. Phipps was in a strong financial position prior to the pandemic, which allowed for moves to cut expenses and use reserves to survive the first few months of the pandemic. Two ppp loans totaling $2.2 million were later received and converted to grants, strengthening the organization's cash position. Other recovery grants were secured which has allowed Phipps to finish 2022 in a positive financial position and look to a brightened future. Horticulture: since opening in 1893 as the nation's first large permanent garden-conservatory, and being recognized as the first teaching one in 1901, Phipps has connected people to nature and each other through the beauty and science of plants in life-changing ways. Pittsburgh's garden-conservatory is among a select number of american alliance of museums (aam) accredited public garden museums in the u.s. with its annual cycle of five facility-wide seasonal flower shows and other cutting-edge exhibits, Phipps displays the captivating inner-world of plants to the public who may delve deeper through curated education, research, and community programming. With gardening a pastime of choice in u.s. Households, the landmark garden-conservatory museum welcomes throngs of visitors to its location in a 456-acre urban park historic district adjacent to a burgeoning research, medical and university district, the engine for pittsburgh's ranking as one of america's four innovation cities (brookings institution in 2017).the unique Phipps "learning and innovation ecosystem" encompasses 14 glasshouse and 8 outdoor garden-room exhibitories, and 3 education-facility buildings. The Phipps ecosystem has become distinguished for: introducing ground-breaking research; launching leading-edge education programs; erecting pioneering regenerative landscapes and buildings; and offering new cultural opportunities to the region and beyond. To demonstrate the essential and beneficial connection between human and environmental health, Phipps advances its mission by mounting ingenious plant-based exhibits, education, research, and outreach programming in trail-blazing green buildings and landscapes to inspire wonder and appreciation of nature.
Education: america's first public teaching Conservatory, Phipps constructs pioneering, sustainable garden rooms and buildings to combine the latest environmental knowledge, innovation and technology with award-winning operations and programming. The Phipps maker-style approach to lifelong learning dates to the garden'Gardens's earliest days as a teaching Conservatory. In maker education, learners imagine, design, and create hands-on projects that deepen and share knowledge. Today, the organization catalyzes the work of public, private, and government partners with regenerative thinking to address pressing issues in ecology, horticulture, green buildings and energy, and healthy living.continued, see schedule o.through a vibrant palette of on- and off- site, and virtual educational, research, and outreach programming, Phipps offers more than 150 classes, symposia and lectures each calendar quarter; and, Conservatory educational programs - such as kids' boot camps and the learning-by-playing fairchild challenge - and has engaged thousands of children and youth in hundreds of science and environmental literacy initiatives.an educational demonstration site, Phipps leads by example in addressing many human and environmental health issues, from building some of the greenest buildings in the world to serving healthy foods in its cafe. For example, three of Phipps' buildings are zero-energy, and all electricity used is renewable (solar-power produced on site or purchased) and all carbon produced in heating its buildings is offset. To leverage the community-impact of Gardens, museums and zoos, Phipps created the climate toolkit (climatetoolkit.org) to help these organizations share, mentor, learn and demonstrate ways to mitigate climate change.phipps' botany in action fellows program for phd candidates fosters a new generation of scientists committed to superior plant-based research and public educational engagement. To date, bia has underwritten the scientific field research and public communication training of 70 doctoral students representing 32 universities and working in 28 countries. Dynamic partnerships are ongoing with university faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students. In 2017, Phipps secured major funding to launch the nation's first research institute for biophilia and science engagement; it provides training for scientists doing biophilic research through internships, fellowships, certifications and training in science communication and outreach.
Guest services: operations are adjusting from the pandemic with visitation that is stabilizing and approaching pre-pandemic levels as we use a time ticketing approach to spread visitation throughout the day. This has resulted in a safer and much better visitor experience for our guests. Through prudent planning and countermeasures, Conservatory leadership has been able to grapple with the negative short-term financial implications; to address an evolving future, leadership remains engaged in vigorous scenario forecasting to move forward in the long term. Continued, see schedule o. At Phipps, guests encounter life-changing environmental ways of living in the tranquil nexus of ornamental horticulture and art, science, and the humanities. Woven into the region's civic identity as a premier cultural tourist attraction and acclaimed as one of the nation's finest garden-conservatory experiences, Phipps is a global garden that enriches the community by: 1) creating and cultivating beauty, advancing life's quality; 2) sharpening sustainable gardening and landscaping skills and science; 3) addressing poor nutrition in urban food deserts through a neighborhood network of household raised-bed vegetable Gardens and one-on-one mentoring support for healthier lifestyle choices; 4) growing community steam-h (stem, art, humanities and health) education through dynamic on- and off-site programming; and, 5) demonstrating how to live, work, and learn in healthy built and natural environments. A living museum, Phipps is a popular restorative destination for residents and a recognized first-day tourist attraction. Guests enter an award-winning garden-conservatory in which soaring glass pavilions whisk one away to other worlds and cultures: from tropical biodiversity hotspots to bone-dry desert, from elegant formal Gardens to blooming country lanes with flowers from england, france, japan, cuba and other countries. Guests move through curated display areas bejeweled with sculptures by renowned Botanical glass artists amidst exhibits and seasonal flower showcases. One may see smiling children in rows with hands raised high over their heads in imitation of the tropical forest Conservatory's tree canopy; inside this Conservatory hailed for its design breakthroughs, guests are immersed in a triennially featured rainforest's web of life. Leaving the tropical forest, one moves outdoors into the future - one in which the built and natural environments meet harmoniously as nowhere else, in a living campus. On this stimulating 3-acre site, three of the greenest buildings in the world - that illuminate the inextricable connections between human and environmental health - are united by an award-winning landscape and popular frog lagoon. Touring Phipps, guests share in exciting interactive exhibits, glimpse into the inner world of plants, and gain knowledge of how to meet the future's regenerative challenges. When selecting pittsburgh among the best of the world places and communities, national geographic named Phipps as the epitome of the region's transformation of its storied strengths to embrace a future of consequence.
Included in other program services are depreciation, costs for maintaining the facilities, indirect labor and overhead and other miscellaneous expenses.

Who funds Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Grants from foundations and other nonprofits
GrantmakerDescriptionAmount
Hillman Family FoundationsCovid-19: Arts and Culture Recovery Support$350,000
The Heinz EndowmentsTo Connect With Youth Through Creative and Multidisciplinary Programs$50,000
The Heinz EndowmentsTo Connect With Youth Through Creative and Multidisciplinary Programs$50,000
...and 39 more grants received totalling $757,625

Personnel at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

NameTitleCompensation
Gregory R. DufourPresident and Chief Executive Officer$160,466
Richard PiacentiniPresident and Chief Executive Officer / Executive Director$489,318
Katie LynchChief Financial Officer$123,164
Jan KortzDirector of Human Resources and Operations
Janice KortzDirector , Human Resources and Operations$154,943
...and 20 more key personnel

Financials for Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

RevenuesFYE 09/2022
Total grants, contributions, etc.$10,211,485
Program services$4,873,792
Investment income and dividends$235,401
Tax-exempt bond proceeds$0
Royalty revenue$0
Net rental income$206,483
Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets$771,569
Net income from fundraising events$-8,671
Net income from gaming activities$0
Net income from sales of inventory$1,257,176
Miscellaneous revenues$281,037
Total revenues$17,828,272

Form 990s for Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Fiscal year endingDate received by IRSFormPDF link
2021-092022-07-07990View PDF
2020-092021-09-03990View PDF
2019-092021-01-21990View PDF
2018-092020-01-10990View PDF
2017-092018-10-16990View PDF
...and 10 more Form 990s

Organizations like Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

OrganizationLocationRevenue
Atlanta Botanical GardenAtlanta, GA$44,604,397
The Morton ArboretumLisle, IL$64,971,405
San Antonio Botanical Garden SocietySan Antonio, TX$11,520,313
Brooklyn Botanic Garden CorporationBrooklyn, NY$28,581,525
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (FTBG)Coral Gables, FL$9,510,955
The Marie Selby Botanical GardensSarasota, FL$19,275,923
Ganna Walska LotuslandSanta Barbara, CA$7,014,521
Queens Botanical Garden SocietyFlushing, NY$7,274,237
Desert Botanical GardenPhoenix, AZ$39,207,596
Lewis Ginter Botanical GardenRichmond, VA$10,839,125
Data update history
June 14, 2023
Used new vendors
Identified 1 new vendor, including
May 13, 2023
Updated personnel
Identified 16 new personnel
May 9, 2023
Used new vendors
Identified 4 new vendors, including , , , and
May 7, 2023
Received grants
Identified 1 new grant, including a grant for $1,600 from Irving and Aaronel Deroy Gruber Foundation
August 4, 2022
Received grants
Identified 9 new grant, including a grant for $600,000 from Katherine Mabis Mckenna Foundation
Nonprofit Types
Horticultural organizationsMuseumsCharities
Issues
Environment
Characteristics
MembershipsFundraising eventsState / local levelReceives government fundingEndowed supportCommunity engagement / volunteeringGala fundraisersTax deductible donations
General information
Address
1 Schenley Park
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Metro area
Pittsburgh, PA
County
Allegheny County, PA
Website URL
phipps.conservatory.org/ 
Phone
(412) 622-6915
Facebook page
phippsconservatory 
Twitter profile
@phippsnews 
IRS details
EIN
25-1492587
Fiscal year end
September
Taxreturn type
Form 990
Year formed
1985
Eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions (Pub 78)
Yes
Categorization
NTEE code, primary
C41: Botanical Gardens, Arboreta, and Botanical Organizations
NAICS code, primary
7121: Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions
Parent/child status
Independent
Free account sign-up

Want updates when Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens has new information, or want to find more organizations like Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens?

Create free Cause IQ account