Holden Forests & Gardens

What Holden Forests & Gardens does

Holden Forests & Gardens (HF&G) is a nonprofit environmental and cultural institution operating two distinct campuses in Northeast Ohio: the 3,500-acre Holden Arboretum in Kirtland and the Cleveland Botanical Garden in Cleveland's University Circle neighborhood. The institution functions as a living museum, maintaining curated collections of more than 20,000 plants across diverse biomes — including glasshouses featuring Costa Rica and Madagascar ecosystems — supported by dedicated research facilities such as the Long Center for Plant & Environmental Science, the Holden Seed Bank, and the David G. Leach Research Station. HF&G also delivers a portfolio of educational programs spanning K–12 school field trips, scout badge programs, summer camps, teen internships (Green Corps), adult classes, and tram tours.

The organization monetizes its assets through seven primary revenue streams: admission fees, tiered annual memberships (HF&G 1 through HF&G 6 plus donor and leadership-circle tiers priced $65–$1,000+), fee-based programs and classes, event and facility rentals (weddings, corporate events, photography permits), retail operations (Garden Store, Treehouse Store), donations and sponsorships, and food and beverage concessions operated via a catering partner. Distribution is overwhelmingly direct-to-consumer through walk-up admission, online ticketing, and in-person membership sales, supplemented by a small dedicated sales motion for corporate events, school group bookings, and weddings.

HF&G serves a diversified customer base spanning individual visitors, families, members, K–12 schools, scout troops, wedding couples, and corporate clients, and holds reciprocal admission partnerships with 345+ institutions across North America through the American Horticultural Society. As a nonprofit, the organization supplements earned revenue with charitable contributions, including recent $1M+ major gifts earmarked for visitor-experience transformation and community forestry initiatives such as Working Woods, Urban Forestry, and the Great Lakes Basin Forest Health Collaborative.

Name

Holden Forests & Gardens

Legal name

Holden Forests & Gardens

Website

https://holdenfg.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Holden Forests & Gardens is a Northeast Ohio nonprofit operating the 3,500-acre Holden Arboretum and the Cleveland Botanical Garden, serving visitors, members, schools, and event clients with curated plant collections, environmental research, educational programs, and venue rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Admission Fees: Ticket sales for Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden with separate pricing for adults, children, and free admission for members and children under 2.
2. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership tiers (HF&G 1-6) providing unlimited access to both campuses with member-only benefits and discounts.
3. Programs and Classes: Fees for educational programs, tram tours, classes, workshops, and summer camps.
4. Event and Facility Rentals: Revenue from wedding ceremonies, receptions, corporate events, photography permits, and venue rentals at both campuses.
5. Retail Operations: Garden Store sales at Cleveland Botanical Garden and Treehouse Store at Holden Arboretum.
6. Donations and Sponsorships: Individual giving, corporate sponsorships, legacy giving, and plant a tree programs.
7. Food and Beverage: Garden Café at Cleveland Botanical Garden and Grab + Go Café at Holden Arboretum operated by Spice Catering Co.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Holden Forests & Gardens is a nonprofit public garden institution that operates two complementary campuses—Holden Arboretum (a 3,500-acre living museum in Kirtland, Ohio) and Cleveland Botanical Garden (an urban oasis in University Circle)—offering curated plant collections, walking trails, and unique attractions such as the Murch Canopy Walk and Kalberer Emergent Tower. It runs environmental education programs for schools, scouts, and the general public; conducts plant science and conservation research through the Long Center, Holden Seed Bank, and David G. Leach Research Station; hosts weddings, corporate events, and photography permits; and sustains operations via admissions, memberships, donations, and grants.

Product overview

Holden Forests & Gardens is a nonprofit botanical garden organization operating two distinct campuses: Holden Arboretum (3,500 acres in Kirtland, Ohio) and Cleveland Botanical Garden (10 acres in University Circle, Cleveland). The organization functions as a living museum with curated plant collections, offering visitor attractions including the Murch Canopy Walk and Kalberer Emergent Tower at the Arboretum, and glasshouses showcasing Costa Rica and Madagascar biomes at the Botanical Garden. The product portfolio includes garden venues (Helen S. Layer Rhododendron Garden, Japanese Garden, Hershey Children's Garden), educational programming (school field trips, scout programs, Green Corps teen internships, summer camps), food services (Garden Café, Grab + Go Café), and venue rentals for weddings and corporate events. Research facilities include the Long Center for Plant & Environmental Science, Holden Seed Bank, and David G. Leach Research Station. The organization also offers membership programs providing reciprocal access to over 345 participating gardens.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Holden Arboretum A 3,500-acre living museum of plants and trees in Kirtland, Ohio (about 30 minutes east of Cleveland), featuring curated gardens, woodlands, lakes, meadows, more than 20 miles of trails, the Murch Canopy Walk, and the Kalberer Emergent Tower. Open to the public with ticketed general admission.
• Cleveland Botanical Garden An urban botanical garden located in the heart of University Circle in Cleveland, Ohio, featuring manicured gardens and climate-controlled glasshouses including the Costa Rica and Madagascar biomes, the Hershey Children's Garden, Japanese Garden, and Western Reserve Herb Garden. Open to the public with ticketed general admission.
• HF&G Annual Membership Program Tiered annual membership (HF&G 1 single person $65; HF&G 2 two people $85; HF&G 4 family with two guests $115; HF&G 6 extended family $170; Donor Levels $300–$999; Leadership Circle $1,000+) providing unlimited access to both Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden, member-only hours, and discounts on programs, events, and photography permits. Includes reciprocal admission access to 345+ American Horticultural Society partner gardens across North America.
• School Programs & Field Trips Curriculum-aligned field trip programs at Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden for K-12 and college groups, with guided programs at $9/student and self-guided at $7/student (minimum 10 students). Topics include ecology, plant science, and environmental conservation, with teacher resources and a Speakers Bureau.
• Summer Camps Multi-week summer day camps held at HF&G campuses, providing nature-based programming for children and youth.
• Green Corps Teen Internship A teen internship program providing high school students with hands-on environmental and horticultural work experience at HF&G campuses.
• Scout Programs Badge-earning programs for Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops covering Environmental Science Merit Badge, Trees badge, Gardener badge, and other outdoor adventure badges at both campuses.
• Wedding & Event Venues (Cleveland Botanical Garden) Wedding ceremony and reception venue rental at Cleveland Botanical Garden, including Clark Hall (280 ceremony / 300 cocktail / 200 dinner capacity), Woodland Hall, and Geis Terrace. Indoor and outdoor garden venue spaces with catering by Spice Catering Co.
• Wedding & Event Venues (Holden Arboretum) Wedding ceremony, reception, and event venue rentals at Holden Arboretum, with tiered pricing from $1,400 (3–20 guests) up to $3,500 for ceremony + reception (up to 30 guests), and exclusive coordination by Epic Elopements & Events.
• Tram Tours Seasonal narrated tram tours at Holden Arboretum departing from the Corning Visitor Center. Priced at $11/adults, $8/children (3–12), with $1 member discount; children 2 and under ride free in an adult's lap.
• Photography Permits Photography permits for both Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden, with tiered pricing based on party size (1–5 guests $150, 6–10 guests $250, 11–15 guests $350, 16–20 guests $450). Members receive 50% off at Holden Arboretum.
• Garden Café (Spice Catering Co.) On-site food service café at Cleveland Botanical Garden operated by Spice Catering Co., offering custom menus for daily café operations and special events.
• Grab + Go Café (Spice Hospitality Group) On-site quick-service food and beverage café at Holden Arboretum operated by Spice Hospitality Group / Spice Catering Co.
• HF&G Summer Pass Seasonal Summer Savings Pass providing unlimited access to both Cleveland Botanical Garden and Holden Arboretum from spring through Labor Day.
• Return of the Butterflies Exhibit Seasonal butterfly exhibit featuring hundreds of tropical butterflies in the Costa Rica glasshouse at Cleveland Botanical Garden.
• Woven Landscapes Exhibit Seasonal art-and-garden installation at Holden Arboretum originally from Cleveland's Waterloo Arts District.
• Orchid Rodeo Annual Orchid Show Annual orchid show with a Western theme hosted at Cleveland Botanical Garden.
• Native Seed Libraries Regional native seed library program offering free native seeds at 10 partner locations across Northeast Ohio.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reciprocal admission benefits with over 345 gardens, arboreta & conservatories throughout North America
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• Epic Elopements & EventscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive partnership for planning and managing all private rental events at Holden Arboretum, including weddings, milestone celebrations, and corporate retreats. Provides elevated experience with stress-free planning process for guests.
• Spice Catering Co.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatering and café partner at Cleveland Botanical Garden providing custom menus and innovative cuisine for events and daily café operations. Also partners for Grab + Go café at Holden Arboretum through Spice Hospitality Group.
• National Charter Bus ClevelandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred bus rental partner for group transportation to Holden Arboretum field trips and events.
• GOGO Charters ClevelandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred bus rental partner for group transportation to Holden Arboretum field trips and events.
• GOGO Charters ClevelandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred bus rental partner for group transportation to Cleveland Botanical Garden field trips and events.
• think[box]minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for DIY Flower Press programs at Cleveland Botanical Garden combining laser cutting technology with botanical education.
• Western Reserve Herb SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative programs including Herb-Inspired Junk Journals and Pressed Flower Crafts at Cleveland Botanical Garden.
• Praxis Fiber WorkshopminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDIY Dye Drop-In programs at both campuses exploring natural dyes and sustainable fiber arts.
• American Alliance of MuseumsmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizational membership providing standards, resources, and professional development for museum operations.
• American Public Gardens AssociationmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association membership connecting with other public gardens for best practices and collaborative initiatives.
• U.S. Forest ServicemoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partnership supporting conservation, forest health, and community forestry initiatives.
• American Horticultural SocietymoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerReciprocal admission program allowing members access to over 345 participating gardens, arboreta & conservatories throughout North America.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Denver Botanic Gardens: Multi-site botanical garden serving the Denver metro with comparable membership, education, and event-rental programming; serves a different geography and therefore does not directly compete with HF&G.
• Cleveland Metroparks Zoo: Same metropolitan area, operates as a comparable nonprofit cultural/zoological attraction with membership, education, and event-rental programming — useful regional comp for visitation and pricing in Cleveland.

Direct peers

• Morton Arboretum: 1,700-acre tree-focused arboretum near Chicago with research, education, and trail-based visitor experiences — a near-direct comparable in scale, research mission, and Midwest arboretum positioning.
• Chicago Botanic Garden: One of the largest public botanic gardens in the U.S., operating 385 acres across multiple habitats with research, education, and event-rental programs — directly comparable in operating model and revenue mix to Holden Forests & Gardens.
• Morris Arboretum: University-affiliated 92-acre arboretum in Philadelphia with gardens, research, and education programs — comparable mid-size arboretum with academic and conservation ties similar to Holden's.
• Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens: Pittsburgh-based botanical garden and glasshouse venue with education, seasonal exhibits, and event rentals — comparable Midwest botanical garden with similar urban footprint and programming mix.
• Longwood Gardens: 1,100-acre botanical garden in Pennsylvania offering living plant collections, seasonal exhibits, education programs, and high-end event rentals — closely comparable in attractions-driven admissions and membership model.
• Missouri Botanical Garden: 79-acre St. Louis botanical garden with active research center, horticultural education, and ticketed special exhibitions — mirrors Holden's mix of garden visitation, science programs, and membership revenue.
• New York Botanical Garden: 250-acre botanical garden with extensive living collections, a research program, K–12 education, and event rentals — operates an analogous combination of garden visitation, science, and venue-rental revenue streams.

Broad incumbents

• United States Botanic Garden: Federally operated public garden in Washington, D.C. with conservatory, living collections, and education programs — operates in the same category but at larger institutional scale and with federal funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_an9IclNabrabD3PS9vEJw
• Facebookfacebook.com/holdenarb
• Instagraminstagram.com/holden_arb
• Xx.com/hfandg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Holden Forests & Gardens