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THE GARDEN CONSERVANCY INC
GARRISON, NY · EIN 133570145 · Form 990 · FY2025 · NTEE C400 · Environment · Medium ($1M-$10M) · gardenconservancy.org
revenue
$7.7M
expenses
$5.9M
net assets
$44.4M
employees
23
volunteers
750
program ratio
72%
mission · from form 990

TO PRESERVE, SHARE, AND CELEBRATE AMERICA'S GARDENS AND DIVERSE GARDENING TRADITIONS.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Garden Conservancy is a national nonprofit dedicated to preserving, sharing, and celebrating America's gardens and diverse gardening traditions. It supports public and private gardens through preservation initiatives, educational programs, and grant funding. The organization operates across the United States, with a focus on safeguarding horticultural heritage and increasing public access to gardens.

named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Digging Deeper
Site-specific talks and events that provide intimate, in-depth explorations of gardens and gardening practices
Garden Futures Grants
Grant program supporting small public gardens and nonprofits, including the Page Dickey Grant for American Gardens which provides $10,000 in unrestricted funds
Garden Masters Series
Connoisseur-level educational events at significant landscapes offering in-depth study opportunities in horticulture and garden design
Open Days
Signature program that opens private gardens across the country to the public, with over 4,500 gardens in more than 40 states participating since inception
Preservation Program
Works with garden owners and communities to preserve outstanding American gardens, having assisted over 100 gardens since 1989
Virtual Programs
Online webinars and lectures on gardening topics, launched in 2020 and continuing annually
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Horticultural Education and Community Gardening 3 activities
    • Host advocacy and convening events on gardens’ societal role
      Hosts high-level convenings such as the 2023 Garden Futures Summit in New York City, a two-day symposium that brought together gardening leaders to explore how gardens enhance individual and community well-being.
    • Host educational garden programs and events
      Organizes and hosts a range of educational initiatives including the annual Gardens for a Changing World webinar series, Garden Masters programs at significant landscapes, Digging Deeper intimate site visits, and symposia such as a guided day-long event on art and design in Providence, RI, all aimed at connecting the public with horticultural experts and garden philosophy.
    • Operate Open Days program for public garden visitation
      Runs a national Open Days program that enables public access to hundreds of private gardens across the country, hosting events such as guided tours, site-specific experiences, and large-scale visits like those at Sleepy Cat Farm, which attract over 900 visitors per day. Since 1995, the program has involved over 4,000 gardens and welcomed more than 1.4 million visitors.
  • Historic Garden Preservation and Support 2 activities
    • Conduct garden preservation and restoration work
      Engages in direct preservation of American gardens through historic rehabilitation, conservation easements, and technical support, having helped preserve over 100 outstanding gardens since 1989.
    • Provide technical assistance for garden design and management
      Offers expertise in garden design, management, and restoration to support the preservation of exceptional gardens and the development of emerging public gardens.
  • Agricultural Grantmaking and Funding Programs 1 activity
    • Award endowed prizes for excellence in American gardening
      Provides the Jean and John Greene Prize for Excellence in American Gardening, awarding $45,000 to recipients to support garden preservation, and the Page Dickey Grant for American Gardens, an annual $10,000 endowed grant awarded to a distinguished small public garden.
  • Flexible Grants to Grassroots Organizations 1 activity
    • Fund community garden programming and preservation through grants
      Awards grants to small public gardens and nonprofit organizations to support community impact via garden-based programming, environmental stewardship, service to diverse populations, and preservation of garden history. Grant programs include Garden Futures Grants, general operating support grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000, and special focus grants such as the Nibbled Leaf Grant for Ecological Gardening.
  • Community-Based Urban Agriculture 1 activity
    • Launch community gardening pilot projects and donate produce
      Implements local gardening initiatives such as installing raised garden beds—10 were installed by end of 2023—and donating fresh produce to nursing homes and community centers; preparing to expand through pilot projects under the Community Bloom Collective to bring gardening directly to residents in underutilized spaces.
  • Artist and Curatorial Publications 1 activity
    • Publish research and documentary content on gardens
      Produces documentary films and publishes books that explore the cultural, historical, and social significance of gardens, including Open Days 25: A Quarter Century of America's Gardeners and Their Gardens (2020) and Garden Preservation: Preserving, Sharing, and Celebrating America's Cultural Legacy (2021), as well as films examining connections between gardens, communities, and collective memory.
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$7.71M
Contributions & grants$3.33M43%
Program service revenue$1.45M19%
Investment income$2.13M28%
Other revenue$807K
expenses
Total expenses$5.87M
Program expenses72%
Admin / overhead22%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$2.54M
Grants paid out$161K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$44.91M
Cash$3.83M
Investments$40.82M
Liabilities$498K
Net assets$44.41M
Liquid reserves91.3 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +37.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

paid leadership · 6
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
JAMES BRAYTON HALL PRESIDENT & CEO 40 $317K
DONNA MORTENSEN CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 40 $223K
BRIDGET CONNORS DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT 40 $154K
PAMELA GOVERNALE DIRECTOR OF PRESERVATION 40 $138K
CLIFF WEATHERS DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS 40 $136K
HORATIO JOYCE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS & EDUCATION 40 $135K
board members · 19
  • ALAN ZEIGLER — DIRECTOR
  • ALEASE FISHER — DIRECTOR
  • ALLISON K BOURKE — DIRECTOR
  • BENJAMIN F LENHARDT JR — DIRECTOR
  • BRUCE ADDISON — DIRECTOR
  • CAMILLE BUTRUS — DIRECTOR
  • CATHY BARANCIK GRAHAM — DIRECTOR
  • CHARLOTTE MOSS — DIRECTOR (UNTIL 09/25)
  • CHRISTABELL VARTANIAN — DIRECTOR
  • CHRISTOPHER SPITZMILLER — DIRECTOR
  • CHUCK ROYCE — DIRECTOR
  • ELIZABETH EVERDELL — DIRECTOR (UNTIL 11/25)
  • ELIZABETH LOCKE — DIRECTOR
  • FREDERICK A LANDMAN — DIRECTOR
  • J BARCLAY COLLINS — DIRECTOR
  • JEAN-PAUL MONTUPET — TREASURER (UNTIL 08/25)
  • JORGE A SANCHEZ — DIRECTOR
  • JOSEPH MAREK — DIRECTOR
  • KATE CORDSEN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 10

Who they work with

  • 2026 Grant Program Advisory Committee Partner — Advisory committee that assists in reviewing applications and making final grant decisions for the 2026 Garden Futures Grants.
  • Fred Landman Partner — Longtime supporter and board member who owns Sleepy Cat Farm and is facilitating the Garden Conservancy’s future relocation to the property.
  • High Line Partner — Cosponsors programs, including a lecture on the development of the High Line's newest gardens.
  • Lord Cultural Resources Partner — Co-presented the Gardens for a Changing World webinar series starting in 2020.
  • National Trust for Historic Preservation Partner — Manages Filoli, a recipient of the Greene Prize, in partnership with The Garden Conservancy’s recognition and support.
  • Providence Partner — Location host for a public garden and design event led by the organization's president.
  • Ruth Bancroft Partner — Garden owner whose dry garden inspired the founding of the Garden Conservancy.
  • Sleepy Cat Farm Partner — Collaborates on public programming and plans for the property to become the permanent headquarters of the Garden Conservancy over a 10+ year transition.
  • The Garden Conservancy Partner — Funds Legacy Heritage through the Page Dickey Grant for American Gardens.
  • Untermyer Gardens Conservancy Partner — Partner organization that collaborates with The Garden Conservancy in the stewardship and restoration of Untermyer Park and Gardens.
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Collaborative Preservation Model
    methodology: collaborative_preservation
    By partnering with garden owners, gardeners, and experts, the organization preserves significant gardens because shared stewardship ensures long-term sustainability and leverages specialized knowledge in garden design, management, and restoration.
  • Cultural Resource Framework for Garden Preservation
    methodology: cultural_resource_model_for_gardens
    By treating gardens as vital cultural resources, the organization advances their preservation and public access because this framing elevates gardens to the status of heritage assets worthy of protection and community engagement.
  • Equitable and Diverse Capacity Building
    methodology: equitable_grantmaking
    By prioritizing grants to small organizations and funding innovative, diverse gardening initiatives, the organization strengthens under-resourced groups because equitable resource distribution fosters inclusion and expands the reach and relevance of gardening practices across communities.
  • Experiential Education Through Public Access
    methodology: experiential_education
    By enabling public access to private and exemplary gardens through tours, visits, and site-specific experiences, the organization fosters education and inspiration in gardening because direct, immersive engagement deepens appreciation and drives preservation behavior.