Desert Botanical Garden 2020 Annual Report

Y(OUR) G A R D E N | B E T T E R T O G E T H E R D E S E R T B OTA N I C A L G A R D E N A N N UA L R E P O R T | 2 0 2 0

As I write this, in March 2021, we are approaching the one year anniversary of the Garden’s closing to the public due to the Coronavirus pandemic. It was only the second time in the Garden’s 82-year history that we shut our doors–the first was in 1941, at the onset of World War II. At the time we made the decision to close in spring 2020, our best estimate was that the closure would last a few weeks–maybe a month. Like the rest of the world we thought the virus would soon run its course, go dormant during the hot summer months and maybe make a resurgence in the fall.

A YEAR TO REMEMBER

A year later, we know just how wrong those initial assumptions were. Because it has been such an extraordinary year, this year’s Annual Report is largely dedicated to sharing the “State of the Garden” in 2020. We’ve included a chronological narrative of how the year unfolded, and share with you stories of how our staff kept the Garden’s mission (and plants) alive throughout the year. We have included a copy of our financial statements for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2020 as well. These, too, tell a story of the tremendous support the Garden received from volunteers, members, the Board of Trustees, corporations, foundations and the city and federal governments during the Coronavirus crisis.

From my vantage point today, I think I can see the light at the end of the Coronavirus tunnel. While vaccinations are being administered at an impressive rate, Garden staff and visitors continue to practice strict safety precautions. The public health community tells us that we are now in a race against time. We need to reach universal vaccination levels before new and more virulent strains of the virus take hold. By the time you read this, we’ll probably know who won that race—us or the virus.

I’m betting on us and hope that a year from now, I can share with you the wonderful comeback story of Desert Botanical Garden in the 2021 Annual Report

Ken Schutz

The Dr. William Huizingh Executive Director

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Rare and Endangered

BY THE NUMBERS

Volunteers in the Garden (VIGs)

Individual Volunteers Total Seed Accessions

of Rare/Endangered Species

TOTA L

2 02 0

New Volunteers

AT T E N DA N C E

Individual Teen (TIG) Volunteers

Number of Rare/ Endangered Species

Members

Total Hours Contributed Total Plant Accessions

Virtual Gatherings Total Seed Accessions

Total Masks Handed Out to Guests

Total Inbound Customer Contact Via Phone or Email

VIG Service Milestones 50+ Years

Total Number of Taxa

25+ Years

Total Herbarium Specimens New Accessions Added

10+ Years

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R

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S

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I

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K E R I DW E N CO R N E L I U S

The word that best describes Desert Botanical Garden in 2020 is “resilient,” says Ken Schutz, the Garden’s Dr. William Huizingh executive director. That’s appropriate, since the same word can be used to describe the hardy, arid-adapted plants it celebrates. Saguaros can survive extreme droughts by storing up thousands of pounds of water and sprouting an extensive network of roots. In the same way, the Garden has weathered the pandemic thanks to its reserve of funds and extensive network of supporters, members, and visitors.

Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, staff made the difficult decision to close the Garden. It was only the second time in its history that the Garden shut its doors. The first time was during World War II. “It was a shock,” Schutz says. “But our mantra has been ‘Safety first, bottom line second.’”

March and April—when locals and tourists flock to see the brightly colored blooms—are normally the Garden’s busiest months. So the timing of the closure was alarming. Fortunately, recent installation—Electric Electric Desert—had Desert garnered a

sizable financial surplus in 2019. Additionally, six years ago, the Garden made the wise decision to create a million-dollar emergency fund. “We hoped we’d never have to use it, and we couldn’t imagine what we might use it for,” Schutz says.

Then, of course, the unimaginable happened.

The Garden closed to the public for 16 weeks.

Memberships were extended by three months to make up for the lost time. Volunteers went into hiatus and all staff who could work from home went remote. Those who needed to care for the plants and buildings—rangers, facilities and custodial teams and the desert horticulture and conservation (DHC) team—continued to work under strict health guidelines. The DHC team watered and shaded the Garden’s 50,000 plants through Arizona’s hottest summer on record.

The onsite teams made plans to shelter in place at the Garden if Arizona went into a shutdown scenario. Luckily, that wasn’t necessary. “The word I would use to describe the onsite team is “valiant,” Schutz says After carefully planning how to keep guests and staff safe, the Garden opened first to members

for two weeks and then to the public on July 6.

Reservations were (and continue to be) required to limit the number of people on the trails at any given time. Face masks are mandatory for staff and guests age 2 and older. Restrooms and other high-touch areas receive enhanced cleaning, and hand sanitation stations are sprinkled throughout the trails.

“We didn’t know how many people would come,” Schutz says. “But in July, August and September, we had about 75% of our normal visitors, which was very heartening. We told the public, ‘You can trust us.’ And when they came, they agreed that they could.”

That trust translated into enhanced loyalty among members and newfound enthusiasm among the public. Membership renewal rates remained the same as in the pre-COVID times.

In addition, staff observed that visitors seemed to be younger and more diverse than in previous years. Flashlight Nights on summer Saturdays proved especially popular among families with young children who could escape the confines of their homes and enjoy freedom in nature.

As the weather cooled, nature lovers took in the beauty of the trails. In October, November and December, visitors reached nearly 50% of normal, which was the desired amount of attendance given the reduced capacity. In the spirit of resilience, the Garden’s leadership decided to hold some popular annual events, with adjustments. The fall music and drink series shrunk in size, and tables were socially distanced. The wildly popular three-day fall plant sale transformed into a three-weekend sale–offering the same number of plants while keeping crowds to a minimum. The strategy was a success: More guests attended and purchased more plants than in the previous year. The next challenge was Las Noches de las Luminarias. The Garden decided to continue the beloved wintertime tradition, keeping the 8,000 luminarias but playing recorded music instead of hosting live bands for most of the 21-day event. All in all, the event received about 60% of typical visitation.

Throughout the year, Garden leadership aimed to minimize the pandemic’s impact on staff.

Thanks to the emergency fund, the previous year’s profits, and receipt of a federal Paycheck

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Protection Program (PPP) loan, they were able to keep everyone on the payroll through August.

In September, 11 staff members were separated and three were furloughed. “That was the most painful, difficult experience of my 20 years here” Schutz says.

For safety’s sake volunteer work was drastically reduced. So staff had to put in extra shifts to run the plant sale and Las Noches de las Luminarias.

Due to the success of those events, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in emergency support from the board, members, philanthropic and business community partners and the City of Phoenix, the Garden reached the end of the year in fine fiscal shape.

While the Garden focused on surviving the visitor “drought” of 2020, some longer-term goals were somewhat delayed. For example, in

2019, the Garden launched a five-year Strategic Plan encompassing numerous aims, including increasing plant species collection and scientific research, plus attracting more diverse audiences through fresh and varied experiences.

At the beginning of the pandemic, the Garden’s leadership decided to extend the deadline for achieving the Strategic Plan’s goals by a year, from 2023 to 2024.

But the Strategic Plan didn’t go fully dormant.

With most staff working remotely, some of the valuable but less glamorous aspects of the Plan —research, organization and digital documentation—actually got accelerated. The Garden continued to attract diverse visitors of all ages.

And given that pandemic-induced isolation has enhanced the public’s appreciation for being in nature, hopefully that trend is here to stay.

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In addition, the Garden achieved the Plan’s goal of offering exciting, ever-changing installations.

January 2021 saw the debut of Wind, Water, Earth from internationally renowned artists Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz of Waterlily Pond Studio. The neon-bright, dynamic installations composed of plant materials have quickly became popular photo-ops with visitors.

The Garden will continue to limit capacity and will regularly evaluate precautions based on vaccination success and recommendations from health experts. Meanwhile, plans are in

the works for blockbuster offerings later this year. So, potentially, Schutz says, “We could go from 70% of normal attendance to 200% of attendance. We could come roaring back next fall.” And that, he adds, is the story of the Garden’s resilience in the past year. Thanks to community support and strategic planning, when all of this is behind us, “we don’t have wounds it’s going to take years or decades to recover from. We can go back to being the Garden the way it was immediately.”

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importance of community at each installation.

The exhibition also included the Elephant in the Room installation in Ottosen Gallery, which featured interactive displays related to climate change and biodiversity positioned around Crackin Art’s white elephant.

The Garden’s temporary closure in March 2020 impacted the ability for the exhibit to conclude as scheduled in May. Nearly 6,000 miles away in Milan, our colleagues at Cracking Art were also experiencing the impact of the pandemic.

Working in partnership with their team, Wild Rising was generously extended for 6 months.

When the Garden reopened in June 2020, it was the colorful creatures who greeted us again— their joyful array of colors welcoming visitors back and reminding us of their ever-poignant message, “We rely on each other, one planet for all.” The giant blue snail even had a new accessory—an equally giant face mask.

In fall 2019, more than 1,000 vibrant animal sculptures invaded the Garden as part of the exhibition Wild Rising by Cracking Art. Art With 12 installations spread throughout the Garden trails, visitors were treated to a menagerie of colorful creatures—a mob of meerkats, a waddle of penguins, a pack of wolves and more. The recyclable plastic sculptures highlighted the magnificence of nature and carried messages of stewardship for the environment and the

Throughout the exhibition, more than 423,827 guests visited the Garden. Prompts at five of the installations invited children and families to dive in further and test out their best animal skills, such as the howl of a wolf to communicate with their pack or imagining a bear’s super sense of smell while sniffing out prey.

SPONSORED BY:

It wasn’t uncommon to see kids practicing their waddle along with the cactus-like penguins in the Ottosen Entry Garden! In alignment with the Cracking Art philosophy and mission, the exhibition evoked wonder and an unexpected playfulness that invited visitors to reexamine their impact in the natural world. While we had to say arrivederci to the Italian sculptures in the fall, their joyful impact during a difficult year will not soon be forgotten.

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GARDEN CLUB OF AMERICA

Eloise Payne Luquer Medal

Left: Miss Eloise Payne Luquer Bottom: The Luquer Medal Application Team with Ken Schutz From the left: Carol Schilling, Carolyn O’Malley, Ann Stanton, Ken Schutz, Carol Schmidt, Mona Smith

In February, The Garden Club of America (GCA) awarded the Eloise Payne Luquer Medal to the Garden. This honor is awarded for special achievement in the field of botany, which may include medical research, fine arts or education.

Longwood Gardens received the honor in 2016.

With a long-standing tradition of celebrating extraordinary efforts to protect and beautify the planet, GCA will present the medals at its 107th Annual Meeting in May of 2020 in Asheville, North Carolina. Past award winners include biologist Rachel Carson, preservationist and Walt Disney financier Richard Jenrette, and first ladies Lady Bird Johnson and Laura Bush and the Sierra Club.

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independent play through nature art, music and movement, climbing, messy materials, building and digging.

According to leading scholars, unstructured nature play decreases depression, antisocial behavior and stress, leading to increased physical activity, socialization, self-confidence, selfregulation, problem-solving skills, focus and creativity. Children that spend time in nature at a young age are more likely to connect with it later in life and are more likely to become stewards of the natural world.

Within its five year strategic plan, the Garden is committed to cultivating children and their families as a primary audience through fun, new experiences that inspire connections to nature and the desert.

In March, the Garden opened Cactus Clubhouse —a certified 8,000 square-foot nature classroom made possible by the USDA Forest Service, the

Pharos Foundation and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation.

Only open for 21 days before the full Garden closure, Cactus Clubhouse saw more than 3,100 children and their families. Now having safely reopened, the Garden is committed to providing unstructured, child-led outdoor activities with an emphasis on natural objects. It allows for

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BRANDING AND C O M M U N I C AT I O N S (as of Dec. 31, 2020)

SOCIAL MEDIA Combined Following of

245,232

1.52 Million Engagements

Followers

26.8 Million Impressions

WEBSITE

$3 Million in Revenue Through Website

54,000 Transactions

1.2 Million Sessions

4.3 Million Page Views

YOUR GARDEN AT HOME More Than

45,000

Weekly Subscribers

43

98

Blog Posts

32

E-Newsletters

Activities

12.5%

35%

Average Click Rate

6,243

3,047

New Memberships Sold

Tied to YGAH Content

Tied to YGAH Content

$50,000

Website Visits

Website Transactions

Tied to YGAH Content

Tied to YGAH Content

SAMPLE MEDIA COVERAGE MSN • Thrillist • AARP Magazine • USA Today Travel & Leisure • US News & World Report New York Times • Goop • Primetime NFL Clip Washington Post • Money • Chicago Tribune

KEY PROJECTS

2020 presented an opportunity to implement crisis communication blueprints and pivot to create low to no-cost ways to keep the Garden relevant and resourceful for the community.

When the Garden’s doors closed, new doors opened for the Marketing Communications team to engage in news ways with the local community and beyond.

The Garden’s monthly digital newsletter was relaunched as a weekly flow of content—Your Garden at Home (YGAH) tied to a brand new blog. YGAH is a thematic weekly e-newsletter and blog, born as a digital source of inspiration, education, entertainment, preservation and partnership, between the Garden and its members, guests, volunteers and staff. It continues as a Garden-wide collaborative effort to fulfill the mission and serves as a promise to endure —to adapt and re-calibrate, to share and listen and to keep the spirit–human, animal and plant alike—alive.

Average Open Rate

Memberships Renewed

300,000

The fourth pillar of the strategic plan is branding and communications. Its goals are to uphold the Garden’s brand as a community leader, continue being an agent of change for ongoing conservation efforts and market the Garden as a place to enjoy the beauty of the desert.

Greenthread Saison | February

Collaboration with Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. to concept and design first Garden beer.

Desert Landscape School LMS | April Collaborated internally to design the user interface, edit content and market the launch of the Garden’s first online learning tool.

Y(OUR) G A R D E N | B E T T E R T O G E T H E R

In-House Trail Guide | June Developed content and design to support bilingual in-house trail guides.

T H E WA I T I S OV E R .

Reunite with loved ones in the beauty of the Garden.

While the Garden endured a 16-week closure, the trails finally reopened in July and new ways to engage tourism partners and the media emerged. The Garden continued to be a place the news media could share video and stories to inspire viewers. The Garden hosted more than 40 virtual media tours and Zoom experiences with reporter across the country. The team was still able to host 135 journalists, influencers and bloggers in 2020, which resulted in 2,387 media stories.

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THE COLLECTION

desert plants has been at the “coreConserving of the Garden’s mission since 1939. Acting

at “local to global scales”, the Garden makes demonstrable contributions to preventing the loss of plant biodiversity in the Sonoran Desert and beyond

”

Desert B o t an ical G ard e n S t ra te g i c Pla n 20 19 -20 23

In support of the Garden’s mission, the strategic plan outlines the ambitious goal to build the most complete collections of cactaceae and agavaceae, with 85% of the collection plans achieved by 2024 (timeline extended one year due to pandemic).

“Most complete”, in the context of Garden plant collections, includes representative living plants, herbarium specimens, seeds, DNA samples and images. Information on each element of the collections is accessible to staff, volunteers, researchers, students and the general public via livingcollections.org and SEINet (swbiodiversity.org/seinet).

In 2019, major strides were made toward the goal, with an international collecting expedition to Mexico, and multiple collecting trips within the U.S. The pandemic considerably slowed, but did not completely impede, work toward the

goal in 2020. Staff of research, conservation and collections worked within the constraints of pandemic protocols to add to the Garden’s collections. Plans were also put in place to make greater progress in 2021.

DNA samples, plant tissue stored in silica gel, were taken from within the Garden—16 samples in the Agavaceae and 71 in the Cactaceae were collected. The Garden also received a small grant from Botanic Gardens Conservation International to support a paid intern to focus on DNA sampling, beginning in 2021.

A small number of images (49 Agavaceae, 81 Cactaceae) were added to the living collections database. A volunteer was recruited to focus on uploading significantly more in 2021.

The seed collection grew and shrank slightly with seven new cactus species and two new Agavaceae species added. However, seeds of several species were fully removed from the seed bank to propagate plants. The net result in terms of number of species banked was nil.

The herbarium relies on volunteers to mount specimens in preparation for accessioning into the collection. While herbarium volunteers were only able to work a short time in 2020, staff were able to prepare 122 new Agavaceae specimens and 114 Cactaceae specimens for the collection.

The addition of living plants was most impacted in 2020. No new Agavaceae species were added.

Eleven new cactus species were acquired.

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In 2018, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded a $250,000 three-year Museums Empowered grant to implement inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA) within the Garden. This award allowed staff to focus on diversity in the recruitment process, staff retention initiatives and the “Cultivating Excellence” development program that includes leadership training to build more inclusive and effective teams.

In 2020, the Garden’s Human Resources team conducted an organizational assessment to review inconsistent policies, potential issues with unconscious biases and preconceived notions that may dissuade diverse applicants from applying and being hired. The recruitment process was subsequently revamped to intentionally recruit for diversity, skills, knowledge and experience.

I N C LU S I O N • D I V E R S I T Y • E Q U I T Y • ACC E SS I B I L I T Y

The Garden also partnered with community organizations and diverse job boards to directly reach diverse communities—committing fully to the opportunity to shape the Garden’s future.

As the Garden becomes increasingly diverse, it is critical to focus on talent with a variety of perspectives and personal backgrounds that reflect the diversity present in our community and contribute to a dynamic organization.

As professional development among all Garden levels is essential, the Board of Trustees is actively working to become better reflective of the community. In November, they attended a foundational diversity training which laid the groundwork for understanding diversity and inclusion.

The Diversity Leadership Alliance (DLA) and AZ SHRM’s recognized the Garden’s IDEA work and awarded the Garden the 2020 Inclusive Community Workplace Award.

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@laurasegallphotography @wallydaffyaussies

@allisonslater @pricklypearphotographyllc

Y(OUR) G A R D E N | B E T T E R T O G E T H E R @laurasegallphotography

@keepingupwithkahla

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Celebration 2 0 2 0 The annual Sonoran Circle Celebration held on March 6, honored legacy society members who have graciously remembered the Garden in their estate plan.

Unbeknownst to Garden friends and staff, this was the final Garden hosted event before its temporary closure.

Remarkable!

That’s how the Garden describes its donors’ steadfast generosity after leadership made the difficult decision to cancel Dinner on the Desert (DOD) 2020 due to the Garden’s temporary closure. Without hesitation, generous donors converted event reservations to unrestricted operating support and provided auction support to the 2021 event.

Thanks to this generosity, DOD 2020 garnered more than $450,000 in contributions! The support helped the Garden continue to advance conservation of the Sonoran Desert, tenderly care for our on-site collections and inspire conservationists of tomorrow.

Warmest thanks to the Dinner on the Desert 2020 Committee, brilliantly led by Ann Stanton.

Please view an honor roll of your friends, fellow supporters and the 2020 Committee at bit.ly/3u1wPi6.

In the weeks and months that followed, the Garden received many testimonials that this was the last event where Garden supporters and nature enthusiasts were able to safely gather and celebrate together. This event was held at the home of a Garden friend, most recently at the home of Dr. Jane and Jason Barlow.

It was truly a beautiful evening of appreciation and thanks.

Top Right: Marilyn Wolfe, Joy Bunt, Linda Turley, Beverly Duzik Left: Dr. Jane and Jason Barlow

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PA R T N E R I N I T I AT I V E S

M E T R O P H O E N I X ECO F LO RA The Metro Phoenix EcoFlora project began in February of 2020 through iNaturalist, a webbased platform and app that is used to collect observations from community scientists. Virtual workshops, presentations, a newsletter, social media and collaborations have paved the pathway for recruiting and connecting with the community. Monthly EcoQuests challenge project members to observe a plant or ecological interaction. Observation data is collected and examined, providing an important opportunity for more focused research. Fellow conservation organizations and efforts have featured the project in various collateral and releases. In June, EcoFlora presented a poster for the American Public Gardens Association virtual conference.

Coupling observations made on iNaturalist with existing floristic data from local herbaria, the project has created three species lists: checklist, target and non-recorded. These lists provide information and data about the state of botanical biodiversity in the metro Phoenix area.

Nearly

Project Members

Active Observers

Identifiers

Observations

Species

CAZCA An initiative of the Garden, Central Arizona Conservation Alliance (CAZCA), successfully leads strategic coordination and collaboration for the conservation of parks and desert spaces in Central Arizona.

In 2020, CAZCA implemented key programs supporting the Regional Open Space Strategy for Maricopa County such as the Desert Defenders, a community science program aimed at mapping invasive plant species and Sonoran Seed Collaborative, a program to aid in the development of native plant material in the region.

The CAZCA team also completed the first year of the Sonoran Insiders, a social media ambassador program, ​dedicated to collaborating with local influencers, ​and reach​ed more than 5 million people with responsible recreation messaging.

CAZCA also held its first virtual Conservation Celebration which raised more than $30,000 ​ with the support of kind donors.

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C AC T U S A N D S U CC U L E N T PLANTS SPECIALIST GROUP The Garden has served as host institute for the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Cactus and Succulent Plants Specialist Group since 2015. The aim of the specialist group is to promote the conservation of succulent plants across the globe through a three part cycle—Assess-Plan-Act. In 2020, the group gave significant focus to the conservation assessment of the genera Agave and Yucca. Raul Puente, living collections curator for the Garden and Red List Authority Coordinator for the specialist group, spearheaded the work. With Andrew Salywon, Wendy Hodgson and other experts in the U.S. and other countries, the majority of agave and yucca species have now been assessed and published to the IUCN Red List.

S PA C E S O F O P P O R T U N I T Y Located on 18 acres in south Phoenix, Spaces of Opportunity is a joint venture of Desert Botanical Garden, Roosevelt School District, Unlimited Potential, TigerMountain Foundation and Orchard Community Learning Center. Together these five organizations operate a vibrant urban farm, and a weekend farmers market, for the express purpose of turning a food desert into a food oasis. Now in operation for more than seven years, Spaces of Opportunity is a thriving community resource, and is a testament to the power of collaborations across professional disciplines, geographic regions and the public and private sectors.

Garden members have been generous in their support of Spaces of Opportunity and those who farm the land. There is a dedicated section on dbg.org where tax deductible donations can be made to this important community project. Click “donate” to learn more and support this essential community collaboration.

49 Yucca assessments were published in 2020, 37 of which were co-authored by one or more Garden staff. These publications represent the majority of known Yucca species.

35 Agave assessments were published in 2020, 12 of which were co-authored by one or more Garden staff. These assessments, along with 120 previously completed assessments brings assessment of all species in the genus near completion, with Caribbean species and former Manfreda species remaining to be assessed.

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THE HOTTEST SUMMER W H AT I T M E A N T F O R T H E G A R D E N ’ S P L A N T C O L L E C T I O N S

The summer of 2020 was brutal. Temperatures set all-time records and monsoons failed to materialize. The data tells the story in dramatic fashion—Phoenix had the most 110-degree days, at 50, the previous record being 33 days in 2011.

Between July and August, Phoenix experienced 28 nights during which the temperature never fell below 90 degrees, compared to the period between 1895-1979 when only 9 nights total stayed above 90. The average rainfall across the Phoenix Valley for monsoon 2020 was 0.46 inches (11.6 mm), while the average monsoon rainfall is 2.78 inches (70.6 mm).

Plants in the Garden’s collections are desert adapted, but even these plants can be pushed

past their limits. Because of their physiology, cactus, which make up over half of all plants in the Garden’s collections, literally begin to shut down when night time temperatures remain above 90 degrees (32.2°C). The plants essentially begin to suffocate.

When a plant enters the collection it is tracked via a unique number, and when a plant dies, this is also recorded in the Gardens living collections database. In 2020, 543 Garden plants died during the summer months, considered to extend to October as 100+ degree days were still being recorded. Of these, 34% expired due to high temperature, or a combination of extreme heat, nighttime lows above 90 degrees (32.2°C), and lack of monsoon. Other causes of death included rot, insects, and rodent damage, all of which could have occurred or been exacerbated by the stress level of the plants due to extreme heat.

In the Phoenix area, collapsed saguaros were so significant that media outlets across the valley reached out to the Garden for interviews on the cause. Within the Garden, only eight saguaros died during the summer, with the primary cause being rot associated with the extreme summer heat. Golden barrel cactus were particularly hard hit by summer conditions, with 29 plants dying in the summer months and more dying later in the year with death attributed to the summer stress.

Many agaves succumbed to the heat, exhibiting a phenomenon we termed “melting”— essentially a total and rapid collapse of the plant.

However, despite the heat and dryness, most plants in the Garden survived and continued to thrive, including cactus in the collections for more than 50 years. In the midst of extreme environmental adversity, the Garden lived and bloomed.

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Garden Fund, Emerging Leaders and Patrons Circle members engaged virtually in events like Garden Gallery Showcase, chaired by Trustee Jane Jozoff; Emerging Leaders Mezcal Mixer, chaired by David Martinez III and Luminaria Live, chaired by Trustee Bruce Weber and his wife Kathy.

“

Having a place like the

Garden to recharge and focus on self-care reaffirms how important nature is in bringing communities together. My service on the Monarch Council and as a donor, has allowed me to do my part to conserve the

In 2020, donors and members like you heard our increased need for community support. Your response allowed us to replenish the operating budget, entering 2021 in a strong position.

place I call home. I want to ensure the Garden can be enjoyed by visitors and locals—people who care about the desert and want to enjoy the inclusive

First-Time Donors

space.

Garden Gallery Showcase | July 2020

Average Donation

Donors

”

David Martinez III (below) Monarch Council member

Increased their Annual Gift and Membership

Legacy Gifts Realized

Donors

Supported the Garden During its Temporary Closure

Donors Made Mission Specific Gifts

Contributed as Unrestricted Support

Emerging Leaders Mezcal Mixer | July 2020

Members Renewed

During the Garden’s Temporary Closure

We hope it brings you joy to help our community enjoy the beauty of the desert and care about protecting it for future generations. View the 2020 Honor Roll of Supporters at dbg.org/support/in-appreciation.

Patrons Circle Luminaria Live | December 2020

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@elliethecattleaussie

Starting at the end of July, a bit of normalcy returned to the Garden. Guests strolled the trails on Friday evenings enjoying special programming and welcome drinks at Sonoran Sippin’, pups and their humans were invited to visit Wednesday and Sunday mornings and Saturday evenings were spent exploring the Garden after dark at Flashlight Nights. In the fall, Music in the Garden returned with intimate, socially-distanced concerts by local musicians. During October’s Boo-tanical Nights, members were invited to an exclusive evening of costumes, food trucks, music and pumpkins.

Luminaria looked a little different this year due to COVID-19, but the Garden kept its 43 year tradition alive for more than 30,000 guests during 21 nights in November and December.

Eight thousand luminarias and rows of twinkling lights illuminated the plant collection and trails sans live music performers. Piped in holiday tunes, a silent night for self reflection during the winter solstice, plenty of photo-ops and the beauty of the desert replaced programming from prior years. The event was able to raise $730,000 to help the Garden during a difficult financial season all while keeping guests and staff safe.

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VO LU N T E E R S I N T H E G A R D E N Continue to engage and support the Garden in new ways.

When the Garden reopened, volunteers were the first guests invited back. A virtual continuing education series launched, with topics ranging from Hedgehog Cactus Diversity to the Tribal Nations of Arizona.

As time went on and the unprecedented became normalized, Garden leadership began exploring options for a measured approach to safely bring back volunteers.

The horticulture team was the first to welcome back a group of volunteers to aid in maintaining the living collection. Opportunity to light the Luminaria candles quickly followed suit. Slowly but surely, volunteers have returned to supporting roles. A great deal of gratitude is owed to the volunteers for their ongoing dedication—who against all odds, continue to devote their time, support one other and patiently await a joyful return to a place that brings us all together.

2020 started off with more than 700 volunteers supporting the Garden as path guides, greeters, and instructor aides. They also supported plant care, research and special events and so much more. In March, all volunteer activities came to a halt with the Garden’s closure.

Meanwhile, the education team transitioned operations to continue supporting and engaging with volunteers. The annual recognition event transitioned to a Zoom celebration. The weekly volunteer newsletter expanded to become more interactive, including how volunteers were filling their time by baking bread, reading books and enjoying neighborhood walks.

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Thank you to our 2020-2021 B O A R D

O F

T R U S T E E S

2020-2021 OFFICERS Tammy McLeod | President Amy Flood | President Elect Doug Carter | Vice President Tahnia McKeever | Secretary Scott Burdick | Treasurer

TRUSTEES ROW 2: Kate Baker Jason Barlow John Burnside Shelley Cohn Harold C. Dorenbecher Dirk Ellsworth Barton Faber

ROW 3: Ursula Gangadean Christopher Gately Diana Gregory Lori A. Higuera Barbara Hoffnagle Carrie Louis Hulburd Harriet Ivey

ROW 4: Bill Jacoby Thomas R. Jones Jane Jozoff Carole Kraemer Kim Larkin Jan Lewis Laura A. Lo Bianco

ROW 5: Bruce Macdonough Rea Mayer Paul Morell Paul J. Mountain Adriana Murrietta Dan Perez Linda “Mac” Perlich

ROW 6: Robert S. Reder Edgardo Rivera, MD, FACP Dave Roberts Rick Robinson Stephen H. Roman Joette Schmidt Ginger Spencer

ROW 7: Kathleen Taddie Lorena Van Assche Edward A. Villanueva Bruce Weber Jamey Wetmore Janet E. Wieder Robin Woodworth

TRUSTEES EMERITI Oonagh Boppart Lee Baumann Cohn H. Clifton Douglas Martha Hunter Henderson Carolyn Polson O’Malley Donald R. Ottosen Rosellen C. Papp Nancy Swanson

DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN

ANNUAL REPORT 2020

41

FINANCIAL REPORT We are pleased to share with members, donors and friends the Garden’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2020. Due to COVID-19, the Garden was temporarily closed from late March through June, as required by the State of Arizona, re-opening to the public in early July. Upon reopening, the Garden instituted limits on capacity, by creating timed admissions, limiting the number of guests allowed in the Garden at one time, and requiring face masks and other protocols as advised by the CDC. The Consolidated Statement of Activities shows total revenues for the year exceeded total expenditures by $.7 million. This was driven by positive admission, membership, contribution and special event levels.

Contribution revenue for the 2020 FY includes a Paycheck Protection Program loan of $1.37 million, obtained in April 2020, recorded as a forgivable grant. The Garden expects this loan to be forgiven in 2021. The exhibit, Wild Rising by Cracking Art, Art generated enthusiastic response from guests during its recent run.

The Garden’s expenditures continue to be managed with careful stewardship in mind, while at the same time seizing opportunities for growth and greater mission impact.

The Consolidated Statement of Financial Position shows the Garden’s fiscal position remains solid, with more than $49.3 million in total assets and approximately $6.4 million in total liabilities. Unrestricted cash and Board-designated cash, totaling $7.2 million, is sufficient for normal operations, and to provide funds for repair and maintenance of major building systems as facilities age. The Garden Foundation manages endowment assets conservatively with an annual target of a 4.25 percent distribution from the Foundation to the Garden’s operating budget. The Garden’s total debt of $2.75 million represents less than 6% of the total combined assets of the Garden and Foundation. The Garden’s financial health and success in achieving its mission during the current pandemic would not be possible without your commitment, dedication and generosity. On behalf of the Board, staff and volunteers, we extend our gratitude for all that you do for the Garden.

Ken Schutz The Dr. William Huizingh Executive Director

Margie Burke Chief Financial Officer

Scott Burdick Treasurer

The Garden is committed to full transparency in financial stewardship. Our complete audited financial statements are posted on the website. There you will find the annual IRS Form 990 filings for the Garden and Foundation. Please visit dbg.org to review these documents.

The Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities reports the results of Garden Operations excluding the effect of depreciation expense. Depreciation refers to the systematic allocation of the cost of long-lived assets, including buildings, furniture, fixtures, and equipment, to the periods that benefit from their use.

Recording depreciation has no effect on the liquidity or cash flow of the Garden. It reflects an estimate of the using up of the economic value of tangible assets. In the financial statements it reduces the Change in Net Assets (and, therefore, Total Net Assets) and the carrying basis of Property and Equipment.

Unlike for-profit firms, not-for-profit organizations generally do not provide for the addition or replacement of major long-lived assets out of operations. Historically such entities look to capital contributions for those improvements. Hence, the financial performance for not-for-profits is best evaluated by analyzing operating results excluding the effects of depreciation. Depreciation expense recognized in the Garden’s records for 2020 was $1.56 million.

Auditor’s Opinion Desert Botanical Garden has received an unmodified opinion from their auditors, Mayer Hoffman McCann, P.C., on the audit of their financial statements for the year ended Sept. 30, 2020.

Consolidated Statement of Activities for the year ended Sept. 30, 2020 Revenue

(Before Depreciation)

Revenue Gross Profit on Retail & Beverage Sales $1,202,712 Admissions $3,920,334 Contributions, Grants & Special Events $6,369,146 Investment Income (net) $1,059,272 Memberships $3,240,581 Other Revenue $1,102,783 Total Revenue

$16,894,828

Expenditures Programs $8,739,680 Retail, Marketing & Visitor Services $2,075,512 Administration $2,826,192 Member Services & Fundraising $2,529,560 Total Expenditures Change in Net Assets

7% Gross Profit on Retail & Beverage Sales

23% Admissions

$16,170,944 $723,884

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as of Sept. 30, 2020

38% Contributions, Grants & Special Events

Assets Cash & Investments Pledges & Other Receivables Inventories & Other Current Assets

$7,246,178 $314,129 $737,168

Total Current Assets

Cash & Investments (noncurrent) Pledge Receivables (noncurrent) Property & Equipment (net) Other Assets

$8,297,475 $16,830,250 $144,953 $23,445,428 $607,840

Total Assets

$49,325,946

Liabilities and Net Assets Current Portion of Long-Term Debt $1,601,710 Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities $1,131,089 Deferred Revenue $2,234,714 Annuity Payment Liability $8,550 Total Current Liabilities

19% Memberships

$4,976,063

Deferred Revenue, Less Current Portion $214,940 Long-Term Debt, Less Current Portion $1,148,290 Other Liabilities $57,173 Total Liabilities

6% Investment Income (net)

7% Other Revenue

$6,396,466

Total Net Assets

$42,929,480

Total Liabilities & Net Assets

$49,325,946

DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN

ANNUAL REPORT 2020

43