2025-06-18T15:19:49-05:00 2024-09-30 141918990 TEMPLETON & COMPANY LLP 222 LAKEVIEW AVENUE SUITE 1200 WEST PALM BEACH FL 33401 990 2023-10-01 592418059 FRIENDS OF MOUNTS BOTANICAL GARDEN INC FRIE 5612331757 559 N MILITARY TRAIL WEST PALM BEACH FL 33415 SCOTT SCOVILL PRESIDENT 5612331757 2025-06-18 1 1 JOHN CHENOWETH P01768153 5617989988 2025-05-30 2023 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z SCOTT SCOVILL 559 N MILITARY TRAIL WPB FL 33415 2373003 0 X WWW.MOUNTS.ORG X 1983 FL ITS MISSION IS TO INSPIRE AND EDUCATE THROUGH NATURE. 10 10 26 233 0 0 699826 1149159 843335 1009427 274 19332 26576 78436 1570011 2256354 0 0 0 0 900950 1147770 0 0 126601 743125 1079515 1644075 2227285 -74064 29069 1118590 1100617 331802 284760 786788 815857 X MISSION: TO INSPIRE AND EDUCATE THROUGH NATURE.VISION: WE ENVISION OUR PUBLIC GARDEN AS A NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ATTRACTION FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE. ITS CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES WILL DRAW ATTENDEES TO ENJOY, APPRECIATE AND LEARN FROM THIS OASIS OF TRANQUIL BEAUTY. 0 0 903746 700630 WITH A MISSION TO INSPIRE AND EDUCATE THROUGH NATURE, MOUNTS BOTANICAL GARDEN (MBG) IS THE OLDEST AND LARGEST PUBLIC GARDEN IN THE PALM BEACHES. THE NOW 20-ACRE TROPICAL OASIS IS HOME TO 25 DISPLAY GARDENS FEATURING A COLLECTION OF OVER 7,000 SPECIES OF TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL BOTANICALS. MBG WELCOMED OVER 62,000 GUESTS AND MORE THAN 3,300 MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS OVER THE MOST RECENT FISCAL YEAR.UNIQUELY SETTING MBG APART FROM OTHER GARDENS, APPROXIMATELY 90% OF THE PLANTS AT MBG CAN BE EFFECTIVELY GROWN IN FLORIDA HOME GARDENS. THIS ALLOWS MBG TO PROVIDE VISITORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY GROW THEIR OWN TROPICAL OASIS AT HOME. IN ADDITION, MBG'S NURSERY AND VINTAGE GARDEN THRIFT SHOP OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VISITORS TO PURCHASE SUITABLE PLANTS, FLOWERS, AND ACCESSORIES FOR THEIR PERSONAL GARDENS.CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN BEAUTIFYING THE GARDEN'S LANDSCAPE IS ANOTHER TOP PRIORITY. THIS INCLUDED HUNDREDS OF NEW PERMANENT PLANTINGS OVER THE PAST YEAR. MBG HAS ALSO PLANTED HUNDREDS OF ADDITIONAL ORCHIDS THROUGHOUT THE GARDEN. UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE GARDEN'S PROFESSIONAL HORTICULTURE STAFF, MORE THAN 200 DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS GAVE OVER 5,500 PERSONAL HOURS TO THE GARDEN'S BEAUTIFICATION, INCLUDING PLANTING, PRUNING, PROPAGATING, AND EDUCATING. 321442 83387 EDUCATION:AS A CORNERSTONE TO ITS MISSION, MBG IS KNOWN AS A TEACHING AND LEARNING GARDEN, PROVIDING A WIDE ARRAY OF EDUCATIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AGES DESIGNED TO CULTIVATE WONDER AND APPRECIATION FOR THE NATURAL WORLD. OVER 230 PUBLIC PROGRAMS, CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, AND GUIDED TOURS TOOK PLACE THIS PAST YEAR, ATTRACTING NEARLY 3,000 ADULT PARTICIPANTS IN CLASSES AND MORE THAN 1,000 TOUR PARTICIPANTS. THE GARDEN'S WIDE ARRAY OF PROGRAMMING INCLUDES HORTICULTURE, GARDENING, ART AND CULTURE, AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS. IN ADDITION TO ADULT PROGRAMMING, MBG OFFERS A ROBUST SPECTRUM OF YOUTH PROGRAMMING WHICH SERVED 5,700 STUDENTS AND CHILDREN AT THE GARDEN AND REACHED A TOTAL OF 17,000 STUDENTS, INCLUDING OUTREACH IN SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY. CHILDREN'S EXPERIENCES WITH NATURE FROM WILDERNESS BACKPACKING, TO PLANTS IN A PRESCHOOL, TO A WETLAND LESSON ARE PROVEN TO PROMOTE LEARNING. FOR THE 2024/2025 SCHOOL YEAR, MBG WAS SELECTED TO BE THE OFFICIAL FIELD TRIP PROVIDER FOR ALL PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 3RD GRADERS. AS PART OF THE NEW PROGRAM, WHICH LAUNCHED IN AUGUST 2024, MORE THAN 15,000 CHILDREN, 200 TEACHERS AND 1,500 CHAPERONES STARTED VISITING THE GARDEN IN AUGUST OF 2024 AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE, LEARN, AND CONNECT WITH NATURE AT MOUNTS BOTANICAL GARDEN. 422510 225410 MBG'S SEASONAL PLANT-A-PALOOZA PLANT SALES AND MAJOR EXHIBITS CONTINUE TO BE THE GARDEN'S MOST POPULAR EVENTS, ATTRACTING MORE THAN 12,000 ATTENDEES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. HELD IN FEBRUARY, APRIL, SEPTEMBER, AND NOVEMBER, THE FOUR SEASONAL PLANT SALES FEATURE TOP GROWERS FROM THROUGHOUT FLORIDA DISPLAYING AND SELLING A WIDE VARIETY OF ORNAMENTALS, ORCHIDS, SUCCULENTS, CACTUS, BONSAI, BUTTERFLY/NATIVE PLANTS, SHRUBS, FRUIT TREES, HERBS, GARDEN ACCESSORIES, BASKETS, FINE CRAFTS, AND MORE. IN ADDITION, SPEAKERS AND AUTHORS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS CONDUCT FUN AND INFORMATIVE PRESENTATIONS ON GARDENING, HORTICULTURE, AND MORE.TO COMPLEMENT ITS LUSH TROPICAL LANDSCAPE, MBG HOUSES A NUMBER OF PERMANENT EXHIBITS AND COLLECTIONS. THE 'MOAI AT MOUNTS BOTANICAL GARDEN' EXHIBIT RECONNECTS VISITORS TO THE ANCIENT RAPA NUI CULTURE OF EASTER ISLAND, AND THE STORY OF PRESERVING AND PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCES, INCLUDING OUR POTABLE WATER, OCEAN AND SEA LIFE, FORESTS, NATIVE WILDLIFE, AND FERTILE FARMLANDS. MBG ALSO HOUSES AN ECLECTIC ART COLLECTION OF SCULPTURES PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED THROUGHOUT THE GARDEN. IN ADDITION, THROUGHOUT EACH YEAR, MBG PROVIDES VISITORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE FEATURED EXHIBITS. IN DECEMBER 2022, PATRICK DOUGHERTY BUILT HIS LAST OUTDOOR SCULPTURE "FIT FOR A KING," AT MBG, WHICH WAS ON DISPLAY THROUGH OCTOBER 9, 2024, BUT DID NOT SURVIVE HURRICANE MILTON. IN JANUARY 2024, MBG OPEN ITS LARGEST TRAVELING EXHIBIT TO DATE THAT RUNS THROUGH MAY 12, 2024. ORIGAMI IN THE GARDEN, BY SANTA FE ARTISTS JENNIFER AND KEVIN BOX, FEATURED MORE THAN 20 LARGER-THAN-LIFE METAL SCULPTURES LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE GARDEN. IN NOVEMBER 2024, MBG OPENED RIBBIT THE EXHIBIT II, A COLLECTION OF 18 LARGER-THAN-LIFE WHIMSICAL METAL SCULPTURES BY ARTIST ANDY COBB. THE EXHIBIT WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT MBG THROUGH MAY 2025, UNDER THE THEME "LEAP INTO NATURE, ART & SCIENCE." MBG OFFERED A YEAR OF INSPIRATIONAL ART, NATURE, AND ECOLOGICAL PROGRAMMING FOR ALL AGES.IN JANUARY 2024, MBG WELCOMED MONKS OF DREPUNG GOMANG MONASTERY FOR A WEEK-LONG SACRED ARTS TOUR, WHICH FEATURED A VARIETY OF SOUL-STIRRING EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING DAILY CEREMONIES, CREATION OF A SACRED SAND MANDALA, MALA BEAD MAKING CLASSES, PET BLESSINGS, AND A CULTURAL PAGEANT, WHICH ATTRACTED OVER 800 PARTICIPANTS.MBG'S POPULAR MONTHLY DOGS' DAYS IN THE GARDEN DREW 2,800 ATTENDEES TO THE GARDEN.IN APRIL 2024, MBG REINSTATED MONTHLY PALM BEACH COUNTY RESIDENTS DAY, OFFERING FREE TOURS FOR RESIDENTS, WHICH ATTRACTED NEARLY 900 ATTENDEES. 1647698 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 28 0 26 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 10 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 FL X X JEANNINE POLITOSKI 5612331757 559 N MILITARY TRAIL WEST PALM BEACH FL 33415 X CHARLES F BARISH MD DIRECTOR AT LARGE 1.00 X 0 0 0 MARY-THERESE DELATE DIRECTOR AT LARGE 1.00 X 0 0 0 ANNE M GANNON DIRECTOR AT LARGE 1.00 X 0 0 0 DOROTHY JACKS DIRECTOR AT LARGE 1.00 X 0 0 0 CHRISTINA KRAMER DIRECTOR AT LARGE 1.00 X 0 0 0 KAREN MARCUS DIRECTOR AT LARGE 1.00 X 0 0 0 CLAUDIA MENDOZA DIRECTOR AT LARGE 1.00 X 0 0 0 TOM RAMICCIO DIRECTOR AT LARGE 1.00 X 0 0 0 SANDY SMITH DIRECTOR AT LARGE 1.00 X 0 0 0 TIM WHELAN DIRECTOR AT LARGE 1.00 X 0 0 0 SCOTT SCOVILL PRESIDENT 4.00 X 0 0 0 JOSEPH SINGER VICE PRESIDENT 2.00 X 0 0 0 CHERYL HOUGHTELIN SECRETARY 2.00 X 0 0 0 WILLIAM BITTNER TREASURER 1.00 X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 322096 56034 60323 710706 119070 1149159 FUNDRAISING 611710 700630 700630 GARDEN SHOP 459420 225410 225410 EDUCATION 459420 83387 83387 1009427 19332 19332 195085 56034 116649 78436 78436 2256354 1009427 0 97768 X 989440 809628 121700 58112 84282 71535 1875 10872 74048 60576 9136 4336 307163 101435 205178 550 79753 71561 2740 5452 25602 13945 11484 173 67973 19005 14727 34241 43663 12414 28384 2865 18058 4444 5662 7952 19657 15314 3925 418 30175 1293 28882 EXHIBIT DISPLAY EXPENSE 198720 198720 GARDEN IMPROVEMENTS AND 162400 153185 8715 500 SUPPLIES 56135 52626 3509 BANK SERVICE CHARGE 50734 47733 1871 1130 19482 14284 5198 2227285 1647698 452986 126601 710232 88987 689773 35969 90702 69785 66175 191694 32803 83798 32042 60413 51756 17497 17506 33000 62915 1118590 1100617 120907 125281 210895 159479 331802 284760 X 401758 231984 385030 583873 786788 815857 1118590 1100617 29069 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 662088 618651 575606 828365 1149159 3833869 572830 593889 1054472 773164 1204512 4198867 1234918 1212540 1630078 1601529 2353671 8032736 0 0 0 8032736 4222 1591 631 517 19332 26293 4222 1591 631 517 19332 26293 1239140 1214131 1630709 1602046 2373003 8059029 0.99670 0.99840 0.00330 0.00160 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 63293 32042 31251 20505 20505 51756 CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS 62915 62915 X 3113039 856685 856685 2256354 0 2256354 3083970 856685 856685 2227285 0 2227285 PART X, LINE 2: FRIENDS HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (IRS) AS EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL INCOME TAX UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE (IRC). ACCORDINGLY, NO PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES HAS BEEN RECORDED IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. FRIENDS IS REQUIRED TO OPERATE IN CONFORMITY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE IRC TO MAINTAIN ITS EXEMPT STATUS. MANAGEMENT ANALYZES TAX POSITIONS IN JURISDICTIONS WHERE IT IS REQUIRED TO FILE INCOME TAX RETURNS. BASED ON ITS EVALUATION, MANAGEMENT DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY TAX POSITIONS FOR WHICH IT IS REASONABLY POSSIBLE THAT THE TOTAL AMOUNTS OF UNRECOGNIZED TAX BENEFITS WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE OR DECREASE. INTEREST AND PENALTIES ATTRIBUTABLE TO INCOME TAXES, IF ANY, ARE INCLUDED IN OPERATING EXPENSES. NO SUCH INTEREST OR PENALTIES WERE RECORDED FOR THE YEARS 2024 OR 2023. FRIENDS IS NO LONGER SUBJECT TO INCOME TAX EXAMINATIONS FOR FISCAL YEARS PRIOR TO 2021. SPRING BENEFIT 251119 56034 195085 116649 251119 56034 195085 116649 116649 78436 X 2 11679 FAIR MARKET VALUE X 1 5123 FAIR MARKET VALUE X 2 22878 FAIR MARKET VALUE X GARDEN SUPPLIES 517 74074 FAIR MARKET VALUE X HOME FOR SACRED ART TOUR 1 5316 FAIR MARKET VALUE 0 0 0 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE FINANCE COMMITTEE REVIEWS AND RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL FORM 990 TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONFLICTS POLICY STATEMENTS ADOPTED BY THE ORGANIZATION AND WILL ADMINISTER THE ANNUAL QUESTIONNAIRE. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15B THE ORGANIZATION DETERMINES COMPENSATION FOR ITS OFFICERS AND/OR KEY EMPLOYEES BASED ON BENCHMARKS FROM SIMILAR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. SALARIES ARE APPROVED BY THE BOARD AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS. JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND SALARIES ARE DISCUSSED WITH OUTSIDE COUNSEL AS DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE BOARD. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE ANNUAL FORM 990 IS MADE AVAILABLE UPON SPECIFIC REQUEST. FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 11G PROFESSIONAL FEES: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 101,435. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 205,178. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 550. TOTAL EXPENSES 307,163. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: THE ORGANIZATION DID NOT CHANGE EITHER ITS OVERSIGHT PROCESS OR SELECTION PROCESS DURING THE TAX YEAR.