Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Garden Inc

Transcription

1 Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Garden Inc SUMMARY Mission The mission of the Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens, Inc. is to provide a natural setting along the Peace River showcasing world class sculpture and unique botanicals to inspire creativity throughout the community and the opportunity for education and research. Contact Information Primary Address 5800 Riverside Drive Punta Gorda, FL Alternate Address 5800 Riverside Drive Punta Gorda FL Phone admin@peacerivergardens.org Website Facebook PeaceRiverGardens Twitter PeaceRiverGardens General Information nprofit Organization Does Business As (DBA) Peace River Botanical and Sculpture Gardens Peace River Gardens Tax Exempt Status Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Garden Inc Public Supported Charity 1

2 Incorporation Year 2009 State Charitable Solicitations Permit June 2018 State Registration Apr

3 BACKGROUND & NEEDS Impact Statement Accomplishments in 2017: Opened Phases I & II (11 acres) of the planned six phases of the Gardens to the public on October 20 Installed four new sculptures Installed five outdoor botanical portrait photos by Laurie Tennent as a permanent exhibition along the walkway. Hired five employees to cover our operational needs: office, gift-shop/snack area and admissions retail management and garden worker. Received $10,000 grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation and $10,000 grant for Garden Community Center furnishings from Tetrault Family Foundation, $20,000 grant for Tennent portrait purchase as well as $12,500 in major donor gifts. Goals for 2018: Install two sculptures by artist Carole Feuerman that have been exhibited for the past six months in Venice, Italy. Attract an average of 1,000 visitors each month. Prepare the conceptual, architectural and working drawings for Phase III (Welcome Center and restroom facilities) and waste treatment facility to apply for permits. Increase our grants, major donors, and admission income to meet our development goals. Hire professional leadership to move us to the next level and develop a consultant program that will help us address specific needs of the Gardens. Needs Statement 1.Membership, donor, accounting software - $15,000 2.Plant accession/location software for botanical collections - $25,000 3.Botanical Garden Think Tank event - $10,000 4.Funds for Consultants and Planning activities - $10,000 5.Garden maintenance tools and equipment - $5,000 Background Statement A 27 acre "sanctuary of art and nature," the Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens (PRB&SG) began as a vison of Roger and Linda Tetrault and now grows to reality along the vital estuary of the beautiful Peace River. The philanthropy of the founders will assure continue growth and development of all aspects of this natural beauty. The PRB&SG focuses on three major areas. First, creation of a sculpture garden of "fun, unique or whimsical" works of world artists along the Peace River. Second, focus will be on unique and creative botanical outdoor plant "rooms" that initially features hibiscus, bougainvillea, bromeliads, aquatic plants, cacti, and human use species and their horticultural use in research and education. Finally, the Gardens are intended to be a showcase for wetland preservation and environmental education as well as for green construction, sustainable development and best management practices. The Gardens opened Phases I & II to the public in October, 2017 with twelve large scale outdoor sculptures created by world artists as well as more than 8,000 plants, 3

4 many of which are arranged in collections. The Garden Community Center functions as the center of the campus with a café/gift shop, and the patio overlooks a aquatic pond and adjacent reflecting infinity pools. Self guiding and docent-led tours will allow visitors to enjoy more than a mile of walkways including a 220 ft observation pier over the Peace River, and 640 ft of boardwalk through heritage mangroves and uplands as they view the amazing sculptures and beautiful botanicals. Future phases include the completion of the boardwalk creating an enjoyable circular walk throughout all the property, the development of a 2 acre island into an 'great lawn' with pavilion/children's activity area, a contemporary welcome center, tea/reception facility, green and shade houses and educational/research facilities. A 10,000 square foot private home situated on the property will, in the future become part of Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens, Inc., the 501c(3) organization created to own and operate the Gardens, and will be converted for a fine art museum or other use. The home contains more than 200 pieces of art that will also convey to the operating organization. The Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens, Inc., has a 99 year lease from the Tetrault Family Foundation (TFF) for the property and has approximately $7 million in cash and assets invested to date. The total contribution from the (TFF) is expected, over time, to exceed $35 million. Statement from the Board Chair The journey from concept to reality is never a straight line. Over the past 16 months I have had the privilege to be part of a journey that has finally blossomed from the dream of a visionary couple to the home of the newest regional destination. The Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens, Inc. opened our gates to the public in late October and since then we have received encouraging support from our visitors that we have provided a much appreciate venue. The challenge to open a botanical and sculpture garden with no previous experience was a daunting one for my Board of Directors. Many were experienced in the operation of a non-profit organization, but few had retail or operational backgrounds. We were aware that we had to approach this project with a "business" mind-set in order to be responsible fiscal managers. We chose to "start small" working with limited staff and delaying hiring employees until we knew exactly what we needed. We are fortunate to have assembled a team of workers who share a passion for making the Peace River Gardens into a welcoming sanctuary from the world. We are learning the strengths and weaknesses of relying on volunteers for tasks ranging from plant care to docents and are implementing changes to benefit all. During this past year our Board has operated with the understanding that whatever we offered to the community and our visitors was to be at the best of our abilities. The has meant that we have had to delay implementing some very good ideas and staffing preferences for fiscal prudence. Since our opening we have been able to address some of the needs, but continue to move forward with deliberation so we do not exceed our income sources. We finished 2017 with a very positive financial position despite the expenses leading up to and beyond our public opening. I continue to be awed by the opportunity I have been offered to serve in this position. I have been able to share this destination with so many wonderful people, Board members, community leaders, volunteers, staff, visitors from far and wide which allows me to envision what is possible for our future. The partnerships we are developing have brought media attention and promotion from local and regional television, the Boston GLOBE, Florida SUN (German language magazine), Allegiant Airlines in-flight magazine, TTG-China (Chinese language travel trade publication) as well as our local print media. Statement from the CEO/Executive Director At this time we have no Executive Director. Areas Served National 4

5 We attract people from the United States and Europe. Punta Gorda has a large seasonal visitor population which come from many states and Europe. Once established, the PRB&SG will attract visitors seeking to view sculptures, botanical collections, and, ultimately, scientific researchers and educators. Service Categories Primary Organization Type Secondary Organization Type Tertiary Organization Type Arts,Culture & Humanities Environment Arts,Culture & Humanities 5

6 PROGRAMS Plant Collections Description We are currently gathering collections of the following botanicals: 1) staghorn ferns 2) bromeliads 3) bougainvillea 4) bamboo 5) unique palms 6) aquatic pond plants. As more complete collections are acquired we will begin to offer these classes. This is part of our mission to show and educate garden guests about unique botanicals. We will partner with Charlotte County Master Gardeners and other knowledgeable leaders on the use and care of our unique botanicals. Budget $3, Category Program Linked to Organizational Strategy Population Served Short Term Success Long Term Success Program Success Monitoring Program Success Examples Education, General/Other Adult Education General/Unspecified Aging, Elderly, Senior Citizens K-12 (5-19 years) This program allows us to develop relationships with the various botanical gardens not only in our region of southwest Florida but throughout the state. We anticipate this will expand to include the sharing of best practices from existing garden executive staff so that we might learn from those more experienced. With complete collections of various species, it will underscore our nature as a source for education and research by local persons and will attract professionals involved in research and education. Our education program will teach the public about use and care of the plants and the options that are available. As the Gardens develop into a full service destination, growth in participation will be our greatest measure. Board Members and future staff will monitor the success of this program. This program is successful if we have nearly all 18 species and provide an educational program for those interested in growing staghorn ferns. It will be a similar success as the Gardens hosts those professionals interested in the other species We have acquired a number of staghorn ferns from Fairchild. And varieties of other botanicals are being planted. It is too early to provide an educational class. The garden is still being built. 6

7 Docent program Description The garden will showcase world-class sculptures. Our docent program will lead guests to each sculpture and explain the sculpture and the artists. Budget $ Category Program Linked to Organizational Strategy Population Served Short Term Success Long Term Success Program Success Monitoring Program Success Examples Environment, General/Other Botanical & Aquatic Gardens Families General/Unspecified General/Unspecified We have recruited and trained a cadre of 12 docents who have provided guided tours to visitors, enhancing their experience of the Gardens. The visitor feedback overwhelmingly supports this program and encourages additional docent coverage. The docent program will provide guided tours during most of our hours of operation, thereby providing the highest quality experience and learning possible. The docents will include Florida Master Gardeners as well as those with expertise in the arts to offer a broad experience. Customer feedback and responses on social media will let us know the strengths and needs of the program. The recruitment and training of more volunteers will indicate the program is well received by the community. Though our number of docents is not sufficient to cover all hours of operation, we have already received group reservations with requests for specific docents to lead their tours. To us, this means group organizers have already visited the Gardens and experienced the skills demonstrated by that docent. Comments Program Comments by Organization In the eight months before our public opening, the Board President made PowerPoint presentations and other public presentations to 16 different community venues and/or organizations reaching more than 1,200 people, the social media exposure in Facebook expanded from 87 "Likes" to more than 700 "Likes" of the Gardens page, and other outlets (Instagram and Twitter) were also initiated and expanded. A You-Tube Channel was created. These, in addition to communication in publications of the 4 area Chambers of Commerce have "put us on the map" after the preceding development years when the Gardens maintained a very low profile. We are in our infancy, but are anxious to grow in a responsible and solid manner. 7

8 MANAGEMENT CEO/Executive Director CEO/Executive Director CEO Executive Director n/a Staff & Volunteer Statistics Full Time Staff 0 Part Time Staff 5 Staff Retention Rate % Professional Development N/A Contractors 0 Volunteers 30 Management Reports to Board CEO/Executive Director Formal Evaluation Senior Management Formal Evaluation nmanagement Formal Evaluation N/A N/A N/A N/A Collaborations Since 2016 our work with the following groups to propagate plants for the garden Charlotte County Master Gardeners The Caloosahatchee Bromeliad Society Green Thumbs of Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association Area garden clubs the Harry Golding Hibiscus Society Comments Management Comments by Organization The management and daily operation of the Peace River Gardens in preparation for, and subsequent to, the public opening in October 2017 was provided primarily by the volunteer Board President and the Executive Administrator, assisted by Board members with expertise in specific areas. This process, though perhaps abnormal to the opening for a non-profit destination, worked well because expectations were realistic and wellmanaged. As a fledgling operation, we are remaining as flexible as possible in our management style as we "learn our way" into effectiveness. We are striving to remain nimble, ready to make adjustments as necessary to meet the evolving needs. 8

9 GOVERNANCE Board Chair Board Chair Company Affiliation Rev. Bill Klossner Board Term Oct 2016 to Sept 2019 Board Chair Retired - Pastor Emeritus, Congregaitonal United Church of Christ revbfl@yahoo.com Board Members Name Affiliation Status R. S. "Chip" Futch Charlotte Couty Tourism Department Voting Shelli Green Merrill Lynch FInancial Voting Marlene Hofer Community Volunteer Voting Rev. William Klossner Retired, Pastor Emeritus, Congregational United Church of Christ Voting Joan LeBeau City of Punta Gorda nvoting Richard McElhenie Community Volunteer Voting Catherine S Peterson Retired Kent State University Voting Dan Sater The Sater Group, Inc. Voting Marilyn Smith Mooney Community Volunteer Voting Kirk Stirton Hadlon, Stirton & Midkiff CPA Voting Roger Tetrault Tetrault Family Foundation nvoting Linda Tetrault Tetrault Family Foundation nvoting John Wright Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce Voting Board Demographics - Ethnicity African American/Black 0 Asian American/Pacific Islander 0 Caucasian 13 Hispanic/Latino 0 Native American/American Indian 0 Other 0 0 Board Demographics - Gender Male 7 Female 6 t Specified 0 9

10 Governance Board Term Lengths 3 Board Term Limits 3 Board Orientation Number of Full Board Meetings Annually 12 Board Meeting Attendance % 63 Board Self-Evaluation Written Board Selection Criteria Percentage of Board Making Monetary Contributions 100 Percentage of Board Making In-Kind Contributions 100 Constituency Includes Client Representation Standing Committees Executive Volunteer Marketing Communications / Promotion / Publicity / Public Relations Finance Development / Fund Development / Fund Raising / Grant Writing / Major Gifts Comments Governance Comments by Organization The Board has expanded the membership by adding members with specific skills and areas of responsibility. Each of the Board members is now responsible for one area of operational needs. This is, naturally, a developing process, but since its introduction, has shown promise. The transition in the membership has meant that new concepts and ways of management and strategic planning has occasionally been a challenge, but the Board has successfully worked through the differences. The Board includes two members who have specific technical responsibilities (CPA and Building Designer) who live elsewhere (New Orleans and Nashville). Their Board participation is accomplished through electronic communication/updates rather than in-person attendance at meetings. This reason, then, reflects a lower Board attendance percentage, but these two members are active in their participation. 10

11 FINANCIALS Current Financial Info Tax Year Begins 2018 Tax Year Ends 2018 Projected Revenue $220, Projected Expenses $145, Total Projected Revenue includes "in-kind" contributions/ donations Endowment Value $0.00 Spending Policy Percentage 0 Tax Credits Capital Campaign In a Capital Campaign Campaign Purpose Phase III development includes the permanent Welcome Center with a gift shop, restrooms and restaurant/reception facility. We are in the process of creating architectural and engineering plans to begin the formal planning for a capital effort. Campaign Goal 0 Dates Jan 2019 to Dec 2022 Anticipate Campaign Within Next 5 Years? IRS Form 990s 990 Postcard 990 form 990-N Postcard N Audit/Financial Documents Financials 2016 PRB&SG financial 2015 financials Financials 2013 Financials 2012 Financials 2011 Solvency Short Term Solvency 11

12 Fiscal Year Current Ratio: Current Assets/Current Liabilities Long Term Solvency Fiscal Year Long-Term Liabilities/Total Assets 0% 0% 0% Historical Financial Review Revenue and Expenses Fiscal Year Total Revenue $66,862 $13,454 $24,317 Total Expenses $11,289 $2,268 $1,136 Revenue Sources Fiscal Year Foundation and Corporation $0 $0 $0 Contributions Government Contributions $0 $0 $0 Federal $0 $0 $0 State $0 $0 $0 Local $0 $0 $0 Unspecified $0 $0 $0 Individual Contributions $62,981 $13,440 $24,316 Indirect Public Support $0 $0 $0 Earned Revenue $0 $0 $0 Investment Income, Net of Losses $21 $14 $1 Membership Dues $3,860 $0 $0 Special Events $0 $0 $0 Revenue In-Kind $0 $0 $0 Other $0 $0 $0 Expense Allocation Fiscal Year Program Expense $3,071 $633 $0 Administration Expense $8,218 $1,635 $1,136 Fundraising Expense $0 $0 $0 Payments to Affiliates $0 $0 $0 Total Revenue/Total Expenses Program Expense/Total Expenses 27% 28% 0% Fundraising Expense/Contributed Revenue 0% 0% 0% Assets and Liabilities Fiscal Year Total Assets $90,129 $34,557 $23,372 Current Assets $90,129 $34,557 $23,372 Long-Term Liabilities $0 $0 $0 Current Liabilities $0 $0 $0 Total Net Assets $90,129 $34,557 $23,372 Top Funding Sources 12

13 Fiscal Year Top Funding Source & Dollar Amount Contributions, gifts, grants $62,981 Contributions, gifts, grants $13,440 Contributions, gifts, grants $24,316 Second Highest Funding Source & Dollar Membership Dues Investment Income Investment Income Amount $3,860 $14 $1 Third Highest Funding Source & Dollar Amount Investment Income $21 0 $0 0 $0 Comments Financial Comments by Organization Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens, Inc. has now assumed the financial responsibility for the daily operations of the Gardens and so are relying on admission income and other sources to meet the expenses, The primary source of development and construction costs remains with the Tetrault Family Foundation. In the early months of operation, we have met our expenses. Financial Comments by Foundation The organization files the IRS Form 990-N. Financial information taken from compilations. Contributions include foundation and corporate support. 13

14 PLANS, POLICIES & LICENSES Plans Fundraising Plan Communication Plan Strategic Plan Management Succession Plan Continuity of Operations Plan Policies Organizational Policies and Procedures Written Conflict of Interest Policy ndiscrimination Policy Directors and Officers Insurance Policy Risk Management Policy Commercial General Liability and D and O and Umbrella or Excess and Automobile and Professional Whistle Blower Policy Document Destruction Policy Affiliations Affiliation Year rth Port Chamber of Commerce 2016 Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce 2016 Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Englewood-Cape Haze Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Government Licenses Is your organization licensed by the Government? Planning & Policies Comments Planning & Policies Comments by Organization Planning & Policies Comments by Foundation Created Copyright