Opperational Support
In March of 2021, MBG reached an agreement with the City of Mobile to provide operational support. Financial support of $150,000 annually is conditioned on increased performance by the Gardens in 6 critical areas: revenue, attendance, fund raising, capital projects, volunteer participation and prudent financial management.
At the conclusion of our FY 2021-22 we reported the following:
- Revenue – our FY2020-21 year total revenue: $722,100. In 2021-22 our total revenue INCREASED to $791,658.
- Attendance – our Admissions for 2020-21: $31,490. Our 2021-22 Admissions have INCREASED to $33,518.
- Fundraising – our FY 2020-21 fundraising: $146,787. In 2021-22 we fundraised $167,102 plus we raised and contributed $58,238 to our endowment fund managed at the Community Foundation of South Alabama
- In FY2020-21 we added $120,119 in Capital Improvements. In 2021-22 we have added $100,763 including:
- Permanent outdoor glass art installations by Juli Juneau, Diana Dyer, and Ellie Knight
- Modine gas heaters at two primary grow houses at Magnolia Hill
- Completed a central retail unit for the gift shop and completed library buildouts at the Botanical Center
- Acquisitioned a collection of childrens books for our library
- Added 3 Little Library units, several benches, and a picnic table on the grounds
- Acquisitioned much needed equipment: 2021 Kymco unit; bush hog, blade, and augers for tractor; power drive mower; chainsaws; and a power washer with disc attachment
- Completed the hardscape of the Terry Plauche Bog Garden, dedicated November 14, 2021
- Completed the expansion of WinterGarden, including additional pathways and benches
- Completed Cleyera Cathedral
- Installed a portion of the Tea Maze Trail
- Volunteer participation and membership have increased significantly. Our membership is the largest in the history of the Gardens, and the income generated through membership at the conclusion of FY2021/22 was $90,000. For perspective, the 2019 year topped out at $55,000 in membership. We completed the 2021-22 year with volunteer hours of 5,634 with the most hours contributed through our greenhouse volunteers. We are also working with several interns through a partnership with the University of South Alabama Department of Biology. In 2022-23 we have 2 interns actively working with MBG.
- Prudent financial management – All incomes and expenses are documented in high detail through QuickBooks. All financials are reviewed monthly by the Board treasurer, Colleen Keleher CPA CGMA, who generates a Treasurers report for monthly board review and approval. An annual external financial review is performed each summer.
Endowment Fund for the Mobile Botanical Gardens
In 2021, the Mobile Botanical Gardens received a large gift from the Wayne Denson McRae Endowment Fund for educational and programming support. This seed money, managed by The Community Foundation of South Alabama, serves as the beginning of a larger fund to sustain the Gardens in perpetuity.
Match Challenge: The Wayne Denson McRae Endowment Fund for the Mobile Botanical Gardens
In addition to the initial gift of $500,000, a match challenge of an additional $250,000 has been extended from the McRae Foundation. If MBG can raise $250,000 before the summer of 2024, the Foundation will match our raised amount resulting in a $1,000,000 endowment.
Contributions can be made just to the Endowment fund or you may consider participating in a Naming Opportunity as a way to support a garden asset in addition to contributing to the endowment.
For more information on Naming Opportunities, please see the section below. If you would like to contribute strictly to the matching endowment fund, please use the link below and check the box to apply towards the endowment.
The Gardens gratefully acknowledges the following contributors to the match challenge for the Endowment Fund:
-A-
June and Roe Acree
Marion Andrews
Tom Andrews
Teresa Ashcraft
Norma Ashley
-B-
Jeanne Backes
John and Celia Mann Baehr
Elisa and Wes Baldwin
Mary Anne Ball
Jessica and Bill Barrick
Travis M. Bedsole, Jr.
Carol Bishop
Karen Blaylock
Norman Bolling
Brenda and Harold Bolton
Judith Boswell
Katherine Boyers
Margaret and Milton Brown
Holle and Donald Briskman
-C-
Donna and Joe Camp
Diane and Murray Cape
Josie Carter
Susan and William L. Case
Robin Chestnutt
Brenda Lee Clemans
Stephen Clements
DeAnna H. Cobb
Lynn E. Coleman
Julie and Kevin Conrey
Carolyn Courson
Nita Crandall
Sally Czepiel
-D-
John Daugherty
Theresa Davidson
Blanche and Allen Dawe
Mary Ann and Teresa Ann Days
Robbin Desporte
Ann and Jack DiPalma
Candy and Charlie Dolan
Elizabeth and Hardy Downing
Barbara Drey
Kathy and Doug Dunning
-E-
Betsy Eager
Joy B. Earp
Roosevelt Edwards
Elevator World
Nicole and Fabien Eyal
-F-
Jane Finley
Kelli Foley
Sandra Forbus
Mary and Vernon Fowlkes
Valerie and S. Floyd Fraser, Jr.
Robin and Michael Freeman
-G-
Hilda Gewin
Billie F. and Russell Goodloe
Margaret Gordon
Betty and Mack Graham
Chuck Greer
Therese G. Greer
Margaret Greer
-H-
Nancy Hanna
Foy and Woody Hannum
Beth Hardaway
Kimberly Hargrove
Sammy and Paul Helminger
Ricia Hendrick
Phyllis and Jay Henson
Carol and Craig Hoadley
Suzanne and Norris Hoffman
-I-
Bonney Irwin
Carolyn D. and Robert W. Israel
-J-
Tim Jackson
Betty and David Jeffries
John W. Jeffries
Jackie and James Jenkins
Michael O. Johnson
Michelle Jones
James R. Jones
Jacquelin M. Jones
-K-
Deborah Kassner
Loriel Kelly
Neil and Helen Kennedy
Shannon Kenny
Sherman Putman and Cheryle Kent
Diane C. Kilpatrick
Wanda G. Kirkpatrick
Linda Kloter
Robin and Robert Krchak
-L-
Mary Ann Lafleur
Laidlaw Foundation
Gloria and Alex Landi
Jain Ann Lane
Doris C. Lanham
Eloise and Keville Larson
Myra Lassere
Glinda Lathan
Kathy and Forrest Latta
Sara Long
Pat Lytle
-M-
Nella and David MacRae
Julia Maitre
John Mayronne & Associates
Rebecca McClure
Joan McCracken
Arthur McCrory
Gretchen McDermott
Emily and Patrick McGough, in Memory of Jim McGough
Katherine and Matthew McLean
Mr. & Mrs. William McLeod
Kitty and Michael Meshad
Larry S. Miller
Garry Mitchell
Julie and Howard Moore
Joy Murphy
-N-
Catherine M. Neal
David Nelson
Florence Nelson
William T. Nicholas
Annette Nolan
Derek and Ursel Norman
-O-
Kimi and Allen Oaks
Margaret and John Olive
Joanne Ortmann
-P-
Marianna M. and Roy T. Parker
Mary Elizabeth Perry
Joan and Douglas Peterson
Stephanie and Trey Pluscht
Beth Poates
Catherine Fowlkes Potter
Ethel M. Powell
Susan Powers
-Q-
Annette Quint
-R-
Kerry Rehm
Olivia Reinhaus
Connie P. Reynolds
Mary and Charles Rodning
Laura and David Rogers
Melissa and John Roombos
Amy B. Russell
Gudrun and Freeman Russell, Jr.
-S-
Andrew Saunders
Diane Sellers
Vera Lynn and Randy Sheets
Charles M. Shirk
Barley and Lewis Shreve
Shirley D. Silverman
Sherri and Lawrence Sindel
Maryella and Wayne Sirmon,
in honor of William Desak Sirmon
Steven Sisk
Mary Hunter Slaton
Janice Small
James Small, In Honor of Janice Small
Karen Carr and Michael Smith
Jason Smith
Linda St. John
Kathleen and Frank St. Lawrence
Brenda Johnson Stanton
Debbie and Thornton Stephens
Judy and Rick Stout
Sharon Strang
Linda Stringer
Martha and Harry Surline
-T-
Barbara and Tim Tillery
Jane Trawick
-V-
Colleen Keleher and Maarten van der Giessen
-W-
Kathy Wadkins
Gregory Waselkov
Janet and Marshall Waters
Judy and Mark Weaver
Sheri N. Weber
Erin Wheeler
Barbie Whitaker
Lindy Kaiser Wiggins
Greer and David Wilhelm
Lynda Williams
Konrad Kressley and Catherine Windom
Nan Woddail-Smith
Melissa Wold
Mary Gale Woolford
Peggy W. Wright
Shelby W. Wright
-Y-
Debbie Yeager
-Z-
Cynthia Zipperly
Naming Opportunities at Mobile Botanical Gardens
Naming Opportunities are categorized as 1) Existing Garden Features, 2) Existing Garden Features to be upgraded or 3) New Garden Features. Please contact us if you are interested in a naming opportunity. Please email or call the office at 251.342.0555 for more information. Click the image below to view the full list of naming opportunities.
How Naming Opportunity Funds are applied
Example: Funding the Naming Opportunity of the Crepe Myrtle Alley for $25,000.
First, the funder can decide if they wish to make the contribution fully in one payment or divide the amount over two years (completing by June 2024).
10% of the asset naming cost will be set aside in our asset management restricted fund. In the case of our example, that amount is $2,500. These funds are only accessed for specific enhancements made to the named asset.
If the funder elects to divide the naming opportunity over two years, their initial contribution is $12,500. Of that initial amount, $2,500 is directed to the asset management restricted fund and the remainder ($10,000) goes directly to the endowment fund. In year 2 the funder makes the balance payment of $12,500 and the full amount applies to the endowment. Naming of the Crepe Myrtle Alley ultimately results in $22,500 added to our endowment and $2,500 added to our asset management restricted fund.
Mobile Botanical Gardens is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with public/private funding.