MESSAGE FROM OUR LEADERS
Dear TBG Community,
As champions and partners of Toronto Botanical Garden, our goal is to be clear and transparent when we have successes and also as we navigate challenges 2023 was a year where we balanced operational sustainability and growth while navigating the financial challenges facing the wider nonprofit community
Our key messages: 2023 was a banner year of operational successes for the Garden. Among other things we reinvested in our gardens, launched new partnerships and had record-breaking results with our summer camp offerings.
However, like many non-profits we faced serious financial challenges coming out of the pandemic. We suffered a substantial operating loss that exceeded our financial reserves and strained our capacity. We have made progress in addressing our financial position, but we still have work to do.
Our priority in 2024 is to ensure that the Garden raises the funding it needs to be on a solid footing for 2025 and beyond, so that it has the financial resources and staff it needs for future growth and success. We need to have stable sources of funding for our operations and programs, sufficient reserves to absorb unexpected developments and resources to fund the growth into Edwards Gardens
We will be calling on everyone who loves the Garden to help us achieve these goals
Read on as we share the highlights, the challenges, and the dedicated efforts of the TBG leadership and community to cross this bridge.
2023 was a banner year in operational successes.
Our Learning Programs rebounded from the pandemic closure, bringing back summer camps for the first time since 2019, with record breaking numbers of campers and revenue. In addition to robust programs for our youngest generation of learners and nature explorers we also delivered a broad range of programs for our community of adult learners. Over the year we delivered programming to more than 17,000 participants, enriching and inspiring our community through plant and nature-based experiences
Stephanie Jutila EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
With the launch of the Garden’s 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, we focused on investing in growth, and invited our community to be part of this growth. One of the most visible ways this can be seen is the variety of new ideas that were tested, new partnerships launched and the expansion of TBG’s impact
We worked to deliver programs across Edwards Gardens and TBG, including the Edwards Summer Music Series, while also hosting our first Nuit Blanche Toronto, the city’s annual all-night celebration of contemporary art.
We also engaged in new partnerships such as Tafelmusik and Amadeus Choir to bring our overlapping audiences to the Garden. Our partnership with the Bata Shoe Museum brought together our two missions to co-produce programming for the In Bloom: Flowers & Footwear exhibit curated by the Bata Shoe Museum
Beyond programming, a core focus in the first year of our Strategic Plan was foundational investments in the Garden, data, people and processes. Through the support of our donors and our community we were able to add to the bench strength of our team and continue to refresh our horticultural program and the visitor centre.
With more than 350,000 visits annually, TBG is curious to learn more about our visitors. To this end, an inspired donor made a strategic investment which enabled TBG to procure baseline visitor data and brand research This data will help guide our future growth and unlock a new category of sustainable funding with corporate sponsorships
Members and visitors alike share the deep sense of connection to TBG as a place and to our mission When asked, both our casual visitors and our engaged audience affirm that they come to TBG to connect with nature, that the Garden helps to contribute to a more sustainable world and make connections across our community.
The community’s support of TBG is increasing.
Two key markers of the community’s support are our number of household memberships and reaching new thresholds of donations. In 2023 our number of members reached record highs, with more than 2,800 member households. And the trend continues to reach new heights throughout the first half of 2024. Beyond membership, our community supported the Garden with a total of 736 donations, a 40 per cent increase over the number of donations in 2022. And our steadfast volunteers clocked the equivalent of six full-time employees
Through all of these operational successes TBG’s core revenue lines of Rentals, Retail, Education, Membership, Audience Engagement and Parking had significant growth over the prior year.
In the midst of all of these successes Toronto Botanical Garden also faced challenges that are widely impacting our non-profit community.
The challenges came in two core categories 1) reduction of grant funding over prior years due to granting priorities changing, grantors’ extreme focus on funding new projects, lack of funding that supports core operations, and oversubscription to grant funds. 2) the timeline to go to market to pursue corporate sponsorship was longer than projected.
For TBG these challenges translated to lower than anticipated revenues, particularly with reduced government grants and higher expenses than forecast due to a reduced number of grants supporting our core operations (compared to prior years) As a result, the Garden incurred a deficiency of revenue over expenses of $627,876 in 2023.
While no one in the Garden’s community of supporters and champions wants us to be in this position, we were not alone. Many non-profits have been wrestling with financial issues as grant revenues and other financial supports have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, while demand for services continues to increase
Because of the financial issues we experienced last year our audited financial statements for 2023 include a note that there is a question about the Garden’s ability to continue as a going concern. This note signals that our financial loss is larger than the financial reserves available to offset the loss
Despite last year’s difficulties, we are confident in the Garden’s future Management and the board took immediate steps this winter to reduce expenses and increase revenues. These steps included proactively seeking funding for core offerings, increasing parking and rental rates, reduced building hours, all staff participating in reduced hours and pay for the 1st quarter, some staff positions were restructured, and pausing some programs until which time funding could be confirmed. Collectively the Garden staff, the board, and some key donors have contributed to investing in TBG’s strategy and core operations And through it all the City has been very supportive
We have made great progress in stabilizing our finances over the past several months, but we still have work to do. Our priority this year is to ensure that the Garden raises the funding it needs to be on a solid footing for 2025 and beyond.
Together we will continue to build a strong future for the Garden
The board and management are focused on setting the Garden up so that it has the financial resources and staff it needs for future growth and success. We need to
have stable sources of funding for our operations and programs, sufficient reserves to absorb unexpected developments, and resources to fund the growth into Edwards Gardens We will be launching an exciting capital campaign to fund the expansion of the Garden and refresh our existing gardens and buildings
To build this strong future we are focused on building the Garden’s capacity and funding growth. We will do this through a balance of increased revenues, along with transformational support. In the past year we have refreshed our membership, parking, and venue rental rates to be competitive in the marketplace, while delivering core earned revenue to support our mission.
While we continue to grow our earned revenue, we have increased our focus on our contributed revenue To do this we have introduced Charitable Level Memberships and Monthly Giving Programs. We are also launching Giving Circles, a donor stewardship initiative to engage our donors as investors in our core work. In addition to individual and foundational giving, Toronto Botanical Garden is proactively seeking corporate sponsors to fund our inaugural offerings of Learning, Stewardship and Community with multi-year investments. And we are seeking legacy gifts that will be investments in our future financial resiliency
We are very encouraged by the response we have received to date as we engage our community of donors to invest in the Garden’s growth and strategy. We are
actively expanding these conversations in order to raise essential funds to support the Garden of today, while also strategically investing in the Garden’s growth
Through all these efforts our priority is for TBG to continue as a vital community resource providing an inspiring plant place, an engaging learning environment and a dynamic community hub for Toronto and our region.
We need the continued support of donors and stakeholders to build for the future. We invite you to continue this conversation with us, seeking ways that together we can build a bright and vibrant future as a garden for all!
Sincerely,
Stephanie Jutila Executive Director
Gordon Ashworth BOARD CHAIR
INSPIRED PLANT PLACE
In 2023, the Garden received some muchneeded attention and upgrades. Our Horticulture Team replaced multiple ailing trees around the Parking Lot following the recommendations of our site-wide Tree Survey. They also proactively reinvested in the herbaceous layers of the garden. Director of Horticulture, Roger Gettig selected strong, hearty, trees found in the Carolina forests. These new specimens will adapt better to our changing climate and can weather our winters Our spring display featured thousands of tulips in a rainbow of colours The summer showcased a mixed planting of vegetables, herbs, and flowers in our containers and beds It was a combination that delighted both visitors and pollinators alike. We added over 200 native plants to our Pollinator Garden. In 2023, the Horticulture team planted more than 2,000 trees, shrubs, and flowers to restore and further develop the Garden.
TBG is home to many plant and horticulture societies and hosts numerous plant shows, judging, and sales. Plant shows and sales were back at TBG kicking off with the incredibly popular Southern Ontario Orchid Society Show in February 2023. We hosted over a dozen Plant Society Sales and Shows along with 60+ meetings of various plant societies like the North American Native Plant Society, Ontario Rock Garden & Hardy Plant Society, Geranium, Pelargonium & Fuchsia Society of Ontario and more. In April, TBG hosted our annual Hellebore Sale, which included 15 beautiful varieties for sale and 220+ pre-sale orders. These early spring bloomers are always a draw! The annual three-day TBG Plant Sale on Mother’s Day weekend in May saw over 1,000 visitors
Get the Jump on Spring and Seedy Saturday, our annual horticultural open house was relaunched on Saturday, March 25, through cross-departmental collaboration. This oneday garden extravaganza filled the building with seed and garden-related vendors along with local horticultural societies, garden clubs, and environmental organizations, Free Talks and Demonstrations, Free Gardening Advice Clinic by the Toronto Master Gardeners, TBG Bloom Cafe and Coffee Bar for onsite noshing and refreshments, the Garden Shop was brimming with essentials for gardeners of all ages and there was a Free Seed Exchange.
We ended 2023 with our highest number of members in over 10 years. We made a few changes to the program including the levels, benefits, and prices. This was an overdue refresh and was the result of a member survey, a comparison to other membership programs, and a cost analysis of the benefits. We introduced new levels of more inclusive, streamlined benefits, and parking codes for people who rideshare. TBG membership is bringing more plant people together
ENGAGING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
The Learning Department empowered young stewards of the environment to learn and play outdoors. Over 11,542 students participated in environmentally focused programs at TBG, including Living Winter, camps, family programming, and school trips.
After a four-year break, Toronto Botanical Garden brought back the Urban Ravine Symposium: Unravelling the Question of “How” for 212 registered attendees!
Speakers Carolynne Crawley, Jacqueline L Scott, and Danijela Puric-Miadenovic guided participants through a day of learning about how to connect and protect the ravine system. We discussed the importance of creating an accessible and welcoming green space so that all communities in the Greater Toronto Area can feel comfortable accessing essential natural spaces. Thanks to Enbridge for providing funding for TBG to provide free tickets for equity-deserving groups.
Toronto Botanical Garden hosted a variety of adult learning events to meet the wide variety of our visitors’ interests. From floral design workshops to member lectures and art-based workshops, we led 2,350 adults in over 6,400 learner hours.
One of our cornerstone programs is Li Winter, a full-day hands-on learning exp that empowers children to learn about an connect with their local environment a ecosystems Thanks to the collaborativ of the Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation, the Henry White Kinnear Foundation, and Gore Mutual Insuran 2023, 2,045 students from 36 high-prior schools across Toronto participated in t program 100 per cent of teachers respo that the program met or exceeded curr expectations and 100 per cent of teache responded they are interested in attending again next year.
“The Living Winter program was equivalent to a month of in-class learning on the subject material The students had an amazing time, and better yet, the engaging hands-on experience helped children to retain the information.”
Mairead, Teacher
St Barbara Catholic School
The Weston Family Library is the place to be to find out about all things plants. Our collection has over 10,000 books for you to learn from 1,862 books were checked out in 2023. The library also added a drop-in family programming to encourage visitors to utilize this valuable resource.
DYNAMIC COMMUNITY HUB
In January we launched a new partnership with Tafemusik, North America’s leading baroque orchestra located in Toronto. This new Sunday afternoon concert series, Tafelmusik at the Garden, hosted four concerts which were met with great enthusiasm and attracted new audiences to the garden who love the intimate setting of the Garden, listening and learning about the music and the era. Over 1,000 tickets were sold for the concert series
In April we launched a new partnership with Appletree Markets who specialize in building community through creative experiences and exceptional service. Through this partnership our Thursday afternoon farmers market was rebooted after a 5-year hiatus with fresh energy, live music and connected programming. The market was held from May 11 through October 5 (22 weeks) with an Earth Day EcoMarket kick-off on Saturday, April 22.
In May we expanded and tested new programming in Edwards Gardens by initiating a new partnership with the Amadeus Choir of Toronto who premiered a new major work about Indigenous water sovereignty from Cree cellist and composer Cris Derksen, preceded by an immersive outdoor Songwalk experience. Choir members were scattered throughout the Garden while concert-goers strolled through the Garden experiencing pockets of song. The Songwalk culminated with the full choir and band performing the world premiere of the new work on the outdoor stage in the Edwards Gardens Courtyard.
In June we hosted our annual tour of private gardens, Through the Garden Gate: Riverdale. Our longstanding garden tour established in 1988 is Toronto’s largest tour of private gardens organized by a dedicated volunteer garden tour committee in partnership with the Toronto Master Gardeners and supported by staff. The garden tour moves to a different neighbourhood each year with 2023 visiting 16 beautiful residential gardens in one of Toronto’s vibrant east-end neighbourhood of Riverdale. 11
This was the first year of a music sponsorship by Sheri Cohen which covered musicians in two gardens. The garden tour enjoyed a successful return to this area with robust ticket sales, positive guest feedback, and gross revenue meeting budget expectations.
In July we initiated a new partnership with Bata Shoe Museum on their exhibition In Bloom: Flowers and Footwear. We also hosted our first summer of BLOOM: Dance + Circus in the Garden in partnership with Artists’ Play Dance + Circus Studio This immersive dance + circus + garden experience featured Toronto’s top aerialists where audiences were led to a series of secret, intimate indoor and outdoor performance locations. Over 600 tickets were sold over an 8-performance run attracting new audiences of all ages
During the summer we hosted eight FREE outdoor concerts as part of our beloved annual Edwards Summer Music Series on Thursday nights in July and August. Since its inception, this beloved annual summer concert series has been generously funded by the Edwards Charitable Foundation. We had another very successful season with strong weekly attendance of enthusiastic concert-goers, with overall participation exceeding 4,000 guests. To amplify the message of connecting with nature we partnered with passionate eco ambassador, environmentalist and award-winning Canadian broadcaster Anwar Knight to host the series. Mother nature also blessed us with clear evening skies on all but two occasions when the music moved indoors
In September we hosted our first Nuit Blanche Toronto at the Garden attracting a remarkable turnout of over 3,000 visitors, including a new and younger demographic The two installations, “IAM” by Radha Chaddah and “SunEaters” by Grace Grothaus, were well received by visitors. The Garden Shop and TBG Bloom Cafe extended their hours to midnight to engage and nourish first-time visitors and nighttime art-seekers.
On November 24 we launched the inaugural Winter Blooms, a new, threeweekend winter festival which is partially funded by an Experience Ontario Grant. The Holiday Market spanned over two weekends, welcoming almost 3,000 visitors and included 100+ local vendors, a member's VIP lounge, food trucks, TBG Bloom pop-up Cafe, outdoor firepit, educational winter programming and the new Giant Terrarium This 5 metres (17 ft) Geodome was plantscaped by our horticulture team including a moss wall, hanging Kokedama balls, terrariums and tropical plants. The Terrarium was open to the public daily to relax with a warm cup of coffee, or to enjoy a curated selection of learning opportunities. Canadian, awardwinning embroidery artist Amanda McCavour reimagined the soaring secondfloor mezzanine as a field of floating flowers with an art installation, Suspended Landscape, Ode to a Prairie, encouraging visitors to come inside to enjoy the building amenities during the winter months. Wonders of Winterland: Dance + Circus immersive performance including an indoor snowball fight.
“Toronto Botanical Garden is a vital green space that allows our diverse community to connect with nature - and all the benefits it has to offerright here in the city My family and I have spent many special moments together at TBG, including at the wonderful flower shows which my late mother-in-law participated in; and when our children were young, they loved to explore the paths and all the beautiful plants and flowers. TBG is a wonderful steward and plays an important role in fostering sustainability and providing opportunities to learn about the natural world. I am committed to working together to support their expansion and renewal, and to ensure the Garden remains a dynamic community hub and an integral part of our community for generations to come.”
Toronto Botanical Garden by the Numbers
2,836
Member Households, the largest number we’ve had in over a decade.
Stephanie Bowman, MPP Don Valley West
736
Donations, a 40% increase over number of donors in 2022!
21,000+
Bulbs planted in 2023
Educational Programs Offered 325
4,986
Individual Plants represented in Garden
17,000+
Participants in educational programming for children, families, and adults for all experience levels.
11,861
Total Volunteer hours (Equivalent of 6 Fulltime Employees)
“A garden for all and a community within, Toronto Botanical Garden is near and dear to the residents of Don Valley West. The TBG has always emphasized fostering lifelong relationships with the natural spaces around us, which is key to creating healthy, thriving communities in Toronto With its leadership in community engagement, the TBG has become a place for the generations of today and tomorrow to appreciate the natural beauty of our city. As the City Councilor for Ward 15 –Don Valley West, I am proud to represent the Toronto Botanical Garden at City Hall.”
In memory of Jaye Robinson who sent these kind words a few weeks before she passed away on May 16, 2024. Jaye was a strong advocate for TBG and it was an honour to work with her for so many years.
“Toronto Botanical Garden connects Toronto residents with the natural world, connects visitors to the wonders of the Don Valley, connects neighbours with neighbours and welcomes those of every age and cultural background to explore the wonders of its formal gardens and its wilderness walkways
Deep solace can be found as we walk on its accessible trails or sit by its gentle streams. Intense joy can be experienced in its bright cultivated gardens as well as in its deep shaded forests. Visit the TBG to learn, grow, relax, enjoy and appreciate the gifts of nature found close to home ”
14
Concerts at the Garden
3,000
Winter Blooms
Attendees
300,000+
Annual Visits
35,000+
cial Media Followers
“Toronto Botanical Garden stands as a beacon of our city's commitment to nurturing the bond between people and nature As we continue our partnership journey together, the City of Toronto is proud to collaborate with the TBG and embark on a path to create a vibrant ecosystem of growth, education, and connectivity, enriching the lives of all who call Toronto home.”
Howie Dayton, General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation
“The Toronto Botanical Garden offers an oasis as a welcome complement to the urban experience in Toronto, part of the diversity of experiences that appeal to a wide range of travelers The TBG is a valuable natural connection for both visitors and residents today, and with the realization of its ambitious renewal vision it will be even more so ”
Andrew Weir, CEO & President, Destination Toronto
20,000+ of donated food to North York Food Bank 120lbs
Newsletter Subscribers
20,000 participants through our community engagement with arts and culture programming including free and paid concerts, pop up markets, circus performances, outdoor art installations and more
SUCCESSFUL GRANT PERFORMANCE
In 2023, we were awarded $285,290 in grant funding to support operations and special projects. Grants are an essential funding stream that supports access programs, program innovation and our vision to be a Garden for All.
Sponsorship and Research
Funding from an anonymous donor and Friend of the Garden fostered a new relationship between Toronto Botanical Garden and A&C Inc A&C is actively working with TBG to unearth opportunities for brand sponsors to engage and connect with our community The donor also made it possible for a third party to conduct a visitor research survey to help TBG better understand our audience.
Investing in the Garden
Our partners have shared ambitions in connecting more people to plants. Together, we are building a better future for our community through public green spaces.
Multi-Year Funding for the Weston Family Library
Generous support from the Dalglish Family Foundation is instrumental in funding day-today operations and supported the hire of a full-time librarian.
Government Partnerships
6
With government support, TBG can innovate and take meaningful and adaptive action to support both the environment and our community.
MUNICIPAL SUPPORT
City of Toronto
The City of Toronto donates $25,000 each year to support ongoing operational expenses and assists TBG in maintaining sidewalks, paths, and winter snow removal Together, we are collaborating with the city to construct a new weatherproof shelter for the Teaching Garden, funded by a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
PROVINCIAL SUPPORT
Experience Ontario
Thanks to Experience Ontario’s generous funding support, Toronto Botanical Garden expanded upon the Holiday Market to create Winter Blooms. In partnership, we elevated tourism during the winter season, creating a meaningful and engaging experience for visitors from all over the Greater Toronto Area.
Ontario Trillium Foundation
Ontario Trillium Foundation is helping TBG address a community need by purchasing a weather shelter for our Teaching Garden to expand functional outdoor space used by families and schools.
FEDERAL SUPPORT
Canada Summer Jobs and Young Canada Works
Thanks to Canada Summer Jobs and Young Canada Works we can provide valuable opportunities for young individuals to gain hands-on experience at a public garden. In return, seasonal staff greatly contribute to our organizational growth and advancing the mission of connecting more people to plants.
Edwards Charitable Foundation
TBG’s much anticipated Edwards Summer Music Series returned for another year, offering eight free outdoor concerts in the Garden, thanks to a contribution from Edwards Charitable Foundation
Enbridge
Thanks to Enbridge’s financial support, we hosted an inclusive Urban Ravine Symposium (the first one since 2019!) that provided free and subsidized tickets to community members, removing barriers to access.
Gore Mutual Insurance Company
With support from Gore Mutual, Toronto Botanical Garden provided over 2,000 students and classes with a bus subsidy to access free outdoor programming that connects children to nature, helping them become stewards of the land
The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation
The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation empowered over 2,000 children to learn about and connect with their local environment and ecosystems through the Living Winter program
Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust
Thanks to the funding we received from the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust, we were able to obtain a utility vehicle to more efficiently maintain our gardens throughout the year
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS
In 2023, the community came out to support the garden in so many ways We had an incredible 40 per cent increase in donors over last year. On behalf of Toronto Botanical Garden, we wish to express our sincere gratitude! Contributions from our donors, members, volunteers, partners, foundations, corporations, and commemorative memorial plantings help us create a welcoming plant place, dynamic community hub, and engaging learning environment. Thank you!
GARDEN VISIONARIES
Toronto Botanical Garden gratefully acknowledges our Garden Visionaries whose ongoing support is pivotal to achieving TBG’s mission. Your dedication is invaluable to our community, enabling us to embark on a journey to be a diverse community that recognizes the life-giving role of nature; a garden for all. Thank you for being the catalysts of growth
Mary and Mark Cullen
Lindsay Dale-Harris and Rupert FieldMarsham*
Kathy and George Dembroski
Susan and Geoffrey Dyer
Susan Loube and Bill Acton
Joan and Jerry Lozinski
Frances and Timothy Price
Penny and Robert Richards
The Edwards Charitable Foundation
The Dalglish Family Foundation
The W Garfield Weston Foundation
*Deceased
2023 DONORS
We acknowledge the invaluable contribution of the following individuals, members, charitable foundations, plant societies and corporate partners whose gifts enable TBG to remain a relevant and vibrant cultural centre for all to enjoy:
GRANTS AND PARTNERS
Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto
Bata Shoe Museum
Canada Summer Jobs
Canadian Museums Association
Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation
City of Toronto
Edwards Charitable Foundation
Experience Ontario
The Garden Club of Toronto
George Brown College
Gore Mutual Insurance Company
Milne House Garden Club
Ontario Trillium Foundation
The Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust
Tafelmusik
Toronto Region Conservation Authority
York University
$100,000 - $249,999
Anonymous (1)
$50,000 - $99,999
The Braive and Smith Families
Experience Ontario
Edwards Charitable Foundation
Ontario Trillium Foundation
$25,000 - $49,999
Nicole Buchinger
Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation
$10,000 - $24,999
Kathy and George Dembroski
Joy Gray-Donald
Nancy and Jon Love
Joan and Jerry Lozinski
Gore Mutual Insurance Company
The Garden Club of Toronto
The Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust
The Willowool Foundation
$5,000 - $9,999
Anonymous (1)
Anne and Tony Arrell
Dianne Azzarello and Stephen Wilton
Susan Grundy
Joyce Johnson
Philip Lee
Patricia Martin
Anna Merotto
Dean Summerville
The Estate of Joan Williams
Joan and Bob Wright
Canada Summer Jobs
Canadian Museums Association
Enbridge Inc.
the greater - Strategy Consulting Inc
North Toronto Horticultural Society
$1,000 - $2,499
Anonymous (1)
Jane and Timothy Bates
$1,000 - $2,499
Anonymous (1)
Jane and Timothy Bates
Linda Boyko and Jens Carl
Adeline Cheng and Ryan
Grundy
Sheri Cohen
Ben Cullen
Janet and Doug Davis
Maxine and Tony DiGiovanni
Mary and Jim Fisher
Margareth and Don Gault
Derryn Gill
Myint and Jay Gillespie
Drs. Irene and Gerald Gish
Doug Grundy
Eleanor and Peter Heinz
Connie Hunter
Isaac Ip
David Johnson
Keri Johnston and Darin
Renton
Stephanie Jutila and Tom
Seltz
Jean Kitchen
Cathy Kozma and Michael
Weissenborn
Marjorie and Donald Lenz
Verna Lester and Harry
Jongerden
Susan Lipchak
Mary and Peter Lutek
Lorna Marsden
Lorraine Hunter Matsumoto
Neil Murphy
Mary and Deane Nesbitt
John O'Neill
Lynne Patterson
Mary Jean Potter
Frances and Timothy Price
Katherine Quan
Robin Rankin
Gwendolyn Rattle
Ellen Reid
Penny and Rob Richards
Charles Smith
Frederika Winchell-Jubb
Janice Winton
Greater Toronto Bulb & Horticultural Society
Milne House Garden Club
Southern Ontario Orchid Society
Scarborough Garden & Horticultural Society
$500 - $999
Anonymous (5)
Barbara Anie
Tom and Linda Atkinson
Anne Bawden
Nancy Bowslaugh
Peter Braive
Lisa Van Camp
Caprice and Kinson Chow
Judi Conacher
Bryan Davis
Drs. Susan and Michael Dolbey
Susan and James Eckenwalder
Lisa Ellis
Barbara A English
Rose Feikes
Susan Gustavison
Lyn Hickey
Jody Hitchcock and Peter
Phillips
Louis Ho
Donalda Kelk
Peter J Lewis
Janette MacDonald
Jean M McCluskey
Dawn McEachern and Malcolm Geast
Judy and Mark McLean
Caroline McRobie
David Melnik
Mary Mosser
Lee Robbins and Leslie Groer
Ibi Smith
Tim Watson
UP TO $499
Anonymous (12)
Anonymous (26)
Michelle Collis and Alan Abrams
Susan Ackerman
Heather Adelson
Debbie Allan
Gwen Amelard
Katy and Ian Anderson
Wendy Angelo
Lucy and Tom Arkell
Ken and Sarah Arliss
Craig Armstrong
Gordon and Dianne Ashworth
Helen Aston
Linda Averill
Steve Azmier
Brad and Katherine Badeau
Donna Stevens and David Baines
Carol Bairstow
Marisa Barber
Winifred Barclay
Tisch Reaney and Wayne Barker
Karen A Barnett
Virginia Barton
Phyllis Bassett
Helen Battersby
Barbara and Robin Beamish
Brian Beattie
Gail Bebee
Lawrence and Sandra Beech
Susannah Belton
Dmitry Beniaminov
Diana Bennett
Clare Bermingham
Bonnie Beverley
Raksha Manaktala Bhayana
Blair Bishop
Melanie Parker and Ron Bishop
Ruth Bittorf
Deborah and Jonathan Black
Sandi Bliguin
Jodi Boltuc
Bruce C. Bone
Teresa Borysewicz
Jennifer Bowman
Carol Boychuk
Elise Brais
Charles Braive
Gloria Broks
Susan A. Brown
Suzanne and Michael Brown
Victor and Ann Bruzon
Erin Burgess
Maureen Burgess
Leanne M. Burkholder
Gina Burton
Michèle Bussières
Angela Butikofer
Lorraine Butler
Xu-Biao Jiang and Yan Cai
Veronica Callinan
Vern Campbell
Denise and Ken Cargill
Helder Marcos and Karen Carrillo
Mike and Val Cassaday
Roberta Cathcart
Michele Chandler
Manraj Chauhan
Doris Chee
Patricia Chinell
Deena Chochinov
Geoffrey Chown
Lilli Chu
Ellen Clark
Peter Clark
Cynthia Clarkson
Granite Club
Catherine Cobden
Noah and Heather Cole
Jeannine Lunney and Howard
Cole
Muriel Comay
Penelope Connor
Rob Cook
Virginia Cooper
Bianca Da Costa
Ed Cott
Geeske Cruickshank
Elizabeth Anne and Robert Cumming
Richard P Davidson
Judith Davidson-Palmer
Phyllis Davis
Nadine De Palma
Pat de Valence
Christine Deihl
Nancy and Ron Dengler
Les DeSouza
Nicholas Dietrich
Rosemary and Mark
Dimuantes
Suzanne E. Drinkwater
Deb Cross and John Duncan
Mary Dupuis
Susan and Geoffrey Dyer
Ann Elliott
Carolyn and Peter Enke
Brenda and Cameron Eprile
Bonnie Evans
Cathy and Warren Faber
The Casey-Van Andel Family
Robert Fisher
Ellen Flanders
Lorraine Flanigan
Sheryl Kennedy and Bill Fleury
Elizabeth A Foot
Carolyn Ford
Barbara Foster
Lourensa Fourie
Marie Fourmy
Ethel and Harold Freeman
Miriam Freibauer
Jacqueline Freudenthal
Laura Fujino
Karen Gardner
Nicole Gardner
Sandra Geddes
Laurence Ginsberg
Ruth Gladstone
John Hall and Michele Glover
Ashley Goertz
Lori Goldberg
Josephine Gonzales
Diane Gooderham
Harry Goodwin
Diane Gore
Michael and Nancy Graham
Janet Haynes Graham
Valerie Grant
Trudy Grantham
Marianne Greene
Janet and David Greyson
Joseph Grignano
Bayla Gross
Patricia Guthrie
Alexander Cartmell and Stella
Habib
Abdullah Hamidi
Ruth Hannigan
Greg Leverton and Lawrence
Harris
Jan and Dave Heaven
Hanna Heger
Jane Henderson
Ann Hersch
Lucia Herwig
Cindy Hill
Marion Hill
Jacqueline Ho
Sally Holton
Kristy Hook
Joanne Jackson and Norman Housley
Judi and Nick Hughes
Wilson Hui
Maureen Hulbert
Kim Humphreys
James Hunter
Wendy Hutchinson
Kyle Hutzler
Janet Harrison and Charles Iscove
Wobine and Aru Ishwaran
Jane M James
Heather Jamieson
Sara Jina
Mumtaz Jiwan
Madeleine Joffe
Elaine Johnson
Karin Jordan
Jeanne Banka and Bill Kamula
Janet Karn
Susan Kemp
Alison Kenn
Georgianne and Fred Kennedy
Janet Kennish
Ellen Kessler
Marlee Pinsker and Ellen Kessler
Krista Kiilaspea
Marilyn King
Elizabeth King
David Kirschner
Brenda Kisic
Raymond Ko
Cassandra Koenen
Annika Kohler
Jenny L. Rhodenizer and Michael Kostoff
Anne Kotyk
Michael Kramer
Catherine Kuchynski
Sheila and Kuttimol Kurian
Fundraising Lab
Judith Lavin
Lydia Lee
Anna Leggatt
Richard Tattersall and
Alessandra Leopardi
Desmond and Anne Levin
Peter and Sheena Levitt
Junyao Li
Rita Liddell
Margot Linken
Manolito Liwanag
Karen Lloyd
Iva Lloyd
Gloria and Albert Lockyer
Lynette Logue
Gillian and Oliver Long
Torry Lowenbach
Siri Luckow
Lisa MacKay
Ian MacRae
Patricia Main
Paul and Diana Marchand
Patricia Martin
Deborah Maw
Sheila McAllister
Barbara Woodcock
McCaffrey
Terry McCrorie
Nancy and John McFadyen
Leslie McIntosh
Patty and David McKnight
William McLaren
Mundy McLaughlin
Susan and Mark McLennan
Joan McLuskie
Victoria and Mike McMullen
Catherine Meade
Sandra and Jim Melvin
Stephanie Meredith
Mary Lee Meyer-Balconi
Arti Meyers
Rachel Migicovsky
Angela Miles
Marilyn Millington
Janet Mills
Jan Mitchell
Noreen Mitchell
Nikki Moffat
Lyndsay Moffatt
Kenneth Mok
Barbara Morris
Dominique Nanoff
Nancy Nanos
Joanne Neglia
Zeenia Nehar
Deborah Nesbitt
Louisa Newbury
Lise and Jim Newmam
Stella W S Ng
Linda Nichols
Susan Nicholson
Lori Noble
Suzanne and James Noonan
Ellen Novack
Diane Olmstead
Marj Olsson
Olga O'Neill
Tanya Onieogou
Mira Oreck
Mary Ouchterlony
Caitlyn Owens
Catherine Park
Carolyn Pathy
Joan Patterson
Catherine and Bruce Peer
Monica Penthor
Annick Peron
Eric Petersen
Julia Phelan
Barbara Fairbanks and Gordon Piercey
Janet Piper
Laura Pisko
Sylvia R Pivko
Ruth Plumpton
Ionela and Octavian Popescu
Amara Possian
Alla and Igor Preobrazhensky
Valerie Preston
Marilyn Price
Kim Price
Luba Quadrini
Konrad Radacz
Irina Radulescu
Lynn Raitt
Robin and Jeremy Rakowsky
Catherine Rand
Karin Rannala
Joy Reddy
Elizabeth A Reid
Erin Higgins and Fraser
Roberts
Rose Roberts
Shirley Ross
Kailah Rubin
Victoria Russell
Tristin Chipman and Emily
Saliers
Deb Saltmarche
Karyn Sandlos
Aldona Satterthwaite
Mardi Saunders
Marguerite Savidant
Anthony Schein
Dawn Scott
Barbara Scott
Haig Seferian
Sreela Sengupta
Eleanor Shannon
William and Pamela
Shellington
Mary Campbell and Shawn Sheppard
Martin Ship
Sherry Shrives 25
Mi Mui Shum
Patricia Sidhom
Tien Sile
Susan Simonton
Maureen Simpson
Carol Ann Slipetz
Sue and Ron Smith
Susan and Patrick Smith
Ingrid Smith
Jeffrey Smith
Myra Sourkes
Marianna Spatafora
Margaret Spence
Markus and Janice StadelmannElder
Lisa Stahlschmidt
Leslie and Harvey Starkman
Andrew Stewart
Barbara Stewart
Marlene Stewart
Elizabeth A Stewart
Elizabeth and Jonathan Stokes
Debbie J. Stone
Patricia Stone
Vera Straka
Louise Sutton
Natalie Harder and Adam Szaflarski
Ana Sztabinski
Susan T.
Beverley Takaoka
Katy Takaoka
Rosita Tam
Debbie Tam
Thelma Tamaki
Margaret Rousseau and William Tatley
Dr Frances and Dr Joseph Telch
Roxana Teodorescu
Deborah Beatty The
Karen Thomas
Katherine Thomas
Sheila Thomson
Gay Thomson
Svetlana Tiounina
Roz Titley
Martin Traub-Werner
Ann P W Tse
Cerine Tso
Andrea Tu
Elaine Zinkhan and Stuart Turnbull
Lucian Childs and Alex Turner
Martha Turner
Myra Tysoe
Connie and Jack Uetrecht
Mary Uetrecht
Carol Unicume
Susan Urie
Toshio Ushiroguchi-Pigott
Patricia Vaughan
Nimet Visram
Michael van Vlymen
Robert and Marion Waddell
Dr. Lisa Wagner
Ann Wallace
Patricia Wallis
Barbara Wang
Ann C. Weiss
Feliks Welfeld
Jennifer Welsh
Marilyn Wiebe
Myra Wiener
Sharon Willan
Joan Winearls
Wendy Woodworth
Marta Donnelly and Jim Wooler
Jim Wooller
Karen Worrall
Lucy Van Wyk
Vivian Yarwood
Grace and Helen Yip
Suzanne Young
Shirley Zaky
Dr. Joan Beattie and Fred Zufferey
IN-KIND DONORS
Ball FloraPlant/Selecta One
North America
Brookdale Treeland Nurseries
LTD
Beaver Valley Stone LTD
Chairman Mills
McGill Equipment
PanAmerican Seed
Sheridan Nurseries
TBG Bloom Cafe
The Food Dudes
Toronto Master Gardeners
Tradewinds International
Sales Co. Inc.
Zavida Coffee
GIFTS IN HONOUR OF Antja Bodnaruk
Arnold Siebenthal
Christopher Critchlow
TBG Floral Class Teachers
John Radford
Kathy Dembroski
Margaux Harrington
Marjorie Collis
Maxine Wagner
Nimet Visram
Pat Ware
Sandi Bliguin
Shelagh O'Neill
The Garden Club of Toronto
Winston, Charlie, Theo & Evelene
GIFTS IN M
Betsy Chan
Carrie Smi
Catherine T
David Mon
Diogo and Edith Whit
Gladye Bre
Gloria Ho
Graeme Sc
Gulam Jina
Irene Hood
Irene Stoke
Jordan E. O
Mary Elisa
Mary W. P
Michael N
Myra Nort
Ruby Fishe
Rupert Fie
Tue LeQuo
ENDOWM
Caroline S
Joan Helen
Leslie Dale
Mark and M
Nancy Eat
TBG Gene
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Year Ending December 31, 2023 (reported in thousands of dollars)
Donations, grants and subsidies (note 1)
Investments and other income (note 2)
Expansion project
Total Revenue EXPENDITURES
Salaries and benefits
Other operating costs
Retail Education and tours
Professional fees
Systems
Expansion project
Total Expenditures
Excess (deficit) of revenues over expenditures for the year before under-noted items
Amortization of deferred contributions (note 3)
Amortization of leasehold improvements
EXCESS (DEFICIT OF REVENUES OVER EXPENDITURES FOR THE YEAR)
NOTES
1
4 REVENUE
2
(599) 329 (358) $(628)
Like many non-profits, in 2023 TBG experienced a significant reduction in grant funding This is tied to the post-pandemic landscape where grants were oversubscribed and funding priorities changed rapidly. If grant funding had maintained at or above the 2022 levels, the bottom line for 2023 could have been in a surplus position The 2021 Donations, grants, and subsidies include $323,486 from the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and $102,408 from the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program
Unspent deferred capital contributions - In 2021 $101,672 of unspent deferred capital contributions were approved by the donor to be repurposed and applied to general operating expenses to compensate for these costs The amount has been included in the investment and other revenue on the statement of operations.
3. The above Statement of Operations provides a summary or the TBG financial activity for 2023, 2022 and 2021. Financial Statements for each year (January 1 to December 31) were audited by KPMG
Deferred contributions relate to the non-operating revenues and expenditures received for the revitalization of the building and grounds located at 777 Lawrence Avenue East, as part of TBG's Expansion and Renewal work Deferred contributions are amortized into revenue on the same basis as the amortization related to the leasehold improvements
2023 OPERATING RESULTS
(reported in thousands of dollars)
In2023,TBG balancedoperationalsustainabilitywithstrategicgrowthwhilenavigatingthefinancialpressures impactingthewidernonprofitcommunity Forthefirsttimesince2019,TBGreturnedtofulloperations followingpandemic-relateddisruptions,anditwasabanneryearofsuccessfortheGarden Wereinvestedin ourgardens,launchednewpartnerships,andachievedrecord-breakingsummercampparticipation. However,inthemidstofallofthesesuccesses,thereweresignificantfinancialchallengesthatimpactedthe non-profitcommunityoverall Thetwocorechallengeswere: 1)ReducedGrantFunding:Shiftsingranting priorities,anextremefocusonnewprojects,limitedsupportforcoreoperations,andoversubscriptionto availablegrantfundscomparedtopreviousyears 2)ExtendedTimelineforCorporateSponsorship:thetimeline togotomarkettopursuecorporatesponsorshipwaslongerthananticipated,whichdelayedexpectedrevenue ForTBG, thistranslatedtolowerthanexpectedrevenues,particularlyingovernmentgrantsandhigherthan forecastedexpensesthanforecast Asaresult,therewasarevenueshortfallof$627,876in2023
Despitethechallenges,earnedrevenueincreasedby25%-duetotheeffortsonouroperatingstrategies If grantanddonationlevelscouldhavebeenmaintainedwewouldhaveachievedasurplusin2023
WhilenooneintheGarden’scommunityofsupportersandchampionswantsustobeinthisposition,wewere notalone Manynon-profitshavebeenwrestlingwithfinancialissuesasgrantrevenuesandotherfinancial supportshavenotreturnedtopre-pandemiclevels,whiledemandforservicescontinuestoincrease Wehavemadeprogressinaddressingourfinancialposition,butwestillhaveworktodo Ourpriorityin2024is toensurethattheGardenraisesthefundsneededtobeonsolidgroundfor2025 Thiswillprovidethe resourcesandstaffingnecessaryforcontinuedgrowthandsuccess.
5 YEAR FINANCIAL HISTORY
(reported in thousands of dollars)
Revenue Expenditures
Adjustment for items noted below
Adjusted for Extraordinary Gifts (2019)
2023 VS 2022 & 2021 REVENUE FROM OPERATIONS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2022-2023
Board Chair Gordon Ashworth
Vice Chair Tony DiGiovanni
Secretary Dianne Azzarello
Treasurer Janice Winton
Members
Barb Anie, Dianne Azzarello, Adeline Cheng, Michele Chandler, Doris Chee, Ben Cullen, Lisa Ellis, Susan Grundy, Abdullah Hamidi, Margareth Lobo Gault, Helder Marcos, Haig Seferian, Martin Ship
Ex Officio
Christina Iacovino (City of Toronto), Derryn Gill (Garden Club of Toronto), Michael Erdman(Milne House Garden Club)
MISSION
Toronto Botanical Garden connects people and plants, fostering sustainable communities and developing reciprocal relationships with nature through lifelong learning.
VISION
Toronto Botanical Garden is a garden for all; a diverse community that recognizes the lifegiving role of nature, working together for a more sustainable world
LAND
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We acknowledge the land we are meeting on is the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.