Nebraska Statewide Arboretum

What Nebraska Statewide Arboretum does

Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, operating as PlantNebraska, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1978 and headquartered at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Lincoln, Nebraska. The organization operates a statewide network of 100+ affiliated gardens and arboretums and runs community-oriented programs in tree planting, garden making, environmental education, and green infrastructure across Nebraska. Its core technical asset is nearly 50 years of plant-trialing data covering 200+ species and hybrids adapted to Nebraska's relatively treeless, climatically challenging conditions.

PlantNebraska monetizes through a multi-stream model rather than a single product: tiered individual memberships ranging from $65 to $2,000 per year, an organizational membership at $100 per year, tax-deductible donations, seasonal plant sales (Spring Affair and greenhouse sales) with member discounts, and grant administration services including Trees for Nebraska Towns, Greener Towns matching grants up to $5,000, and the $10 million Urban and Community Forestry Grants program. It also generates incremental revenue through a Bloom Box pre-planted garden product, landscape design services, a podcast with over 100 episodes, The Canopy Blog, and a Speaker Bureau serving schools, conferences, and community groups. Distribution is direct-to-community via local Green Teams, an online grant portal, and an e-commerce plant sales storefront.

The organization is led by Executive Director Hanna Pinneo and supported by a small staff including a Green Infrastructure Coordinator (Justin Evertson), Horticulture Coordinator (Bob Henrickson), District Forester (Sarah Browning), and a Bumble Bee Atlas Project Manager (Genevieve Pugesek). Strategic partnerships anchor operations with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska Forest Service, Nebraska Environmental Trust, USDA, and UNL Extension Stormwater Workgroup, alongside a network of corporate sponsors and implementation consultants.

Name

Nebraska Statewide Arboretum

Legal name

Nebraska Statewide Arboretum

Website

https://plantnebraska.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Nebraska Statewide Arboretum (d/b/a PlantNebraska) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1978 that operates a statewide network of 100+ affiliated gardens and arboretums, delivering tree-planting grants, horticultural education, and community green-infrastructure programs to Nebraska municipalities, schools, and home gardeners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental & Horticulture Services

NAICS

Landscaping Services (561730), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Landscape Architectural Services (541320)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply (5200)

akta.pro primary industry

Native, Pollinator & Drought-Tolerant Garden Installations (HSAIAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Garden Bed Design, Layout & Planting Plans (HSAIAFAA), Seasonal Color, Planting & Horticultural Services (BPABADAL), Garden Bed Installation & Planting (Annuals, Perennials, Shrubs) (HSAIAFAB), Plant Replacement, Transplanting & Garden Refresh Services (HSAIAFAG)

Keywords

• Community forestry programs
• Urban tree planting
• Conservation education
• Landscape design services
• Community garden support

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Memberships: Annual membership fees ranging from $65 to $2,000 per year for individuals, plus $100/year for organizational members. Memberships provide access to events, discounts, publications, and free/discounted admission to botanical gardens.
2. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, family foundations, and corporate sponsors. Single largest source of unrestricted funding for the organization.
3. Plant Sales: Seasonal plant sales including Spring Affair plant sale and greenhouse plant sales. Members receive 15% discounts on greenhouse plants and 10% on Spring Affair plants.
4. Grant Funding Administration: Administers grant programs including Trees for Nebraska Towns, Greener Towns (up to $5,000), and Urban and Community Forestry Grants ($10 million available).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Nebraska Statewide Arboretum plants trees and develops green spaces across Nebraska, delivers community garden support and grants, and provides landscape design consultations for homeowners, businesses, and municipalities. It also operates plant sales, an organizational membership program, and educational programming through a podcast and online news/blog content under the PlantNebraska brand.

Product overview

PlantNebraska (formerly Nebraska Statewide Arboretum) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization that operates as a platform of interconnected horticultural programs rather than a single product. The core offerings include grant programs for tree planting and community landscaping (Trees for Nebraska Towns, Greener Towns providing up to $5,000 matching funds, and Urban and Community Forestry Grants administering $10 million), the Bloom Box garden system for purchase and installation, Landscape Design Services, the GreatPlants annual selection program, a Podcast with over 100 episodes, and The Canopy Blog. Supporting services include a membership program with tiered annual fees, the Spring Affair plant sale, a Speaker Bureau for educational presentations, and a Searchable Resource Library. These programs work together to advance the organization's mission of planting Nebraska for healthy people, vibrant communities, and a resilient environment through tree planting, garden making, community building, and environmental education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ReTree Nebraska Week Annual coordinated community tree planting event that mobilizes volunteers, municipalities, and partner organizations across Nebraska to plant trees during a designated week.
• Community Forestry Program Program that supports municipalities and community organizations in planning, funding, and implementing urban forestry and tree planting initiatives across Nebraska.
• Community Garden Grants Grant program that provides funding and technical assistance to Nebraska communities and organizations establishing or expanding community gardens.
• Landscape Design Services Consultative landscape design services delivered by arboretum staff to homeowners, businesses, and communities seeking regionally appropriate plant selection and layout guidance.
• Plant Sales Retail plant sales program offering regionally appropriate native and landscape plants to home gardeners and plant enthusiasts via an online storefront.
• Organizational Membership Program Annual membership program for organizations, priced at $100 per year, providing engagement and benefits tied to the arboretum's statewide planting, conservation, and education work.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7,676 trees planted in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nebraska Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with University of Nebraska-Lincoln providing forest service expertise, technical assistance, and collaborative green infrastructure projects across Nebraska communities.
• University of Nebraska LincolncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution providing academic expertise, research support, and institutional infrastructure for PlantNebraska's statewide horticultural and environmental education programs.
• Great Plains NurseryminorOthersSilver sponsor supporting PlantNebraska's mission and programs through corporate sponsorship.
• Nebraska Arborists AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association providing professional expertise in arboriculture and supporting educational programs for tree care professionals.
• UBTminorOthersCorporate sponsor supporting PlantNebraska's community greening initiatives.
• JEO Consulting GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting partner providing engineering and design expertise for green infrastructure projects.
• Arbor AestheticsminorOthersSponsor supporting PlantNebraska programs and community tree-planting efforts.
• UNL Extension Stormwater WorkgroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership with University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension focused on stormwater management, water quality education, and green infrastructure techniques.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Forests: National nonprofit focused on reforestation and urban forestry with national policy and grant influence. Comparable in community forestry program focus but operates at a national policy scale rather than a single-state community model.

Direct peers

• Missouri Botanical Garden: Major nonprofit botanical garden with plant research, education, and community horticulture programs. Comparable core mission of public garden operations, plant trials, and member-supported environmental stewardship, though at significantly larger scale.
• Morton Arboretum: Large nonprofit arboretum in Illinois with a comparable mission of tree planting, plant research/trialing, education, and community forestry programs. Operates a similar membership, grant, and plant sale model but at a larger regional scale.
• Chicago Botanic Garden: Large nonprofit botanic garden with plant trials, horticulture education, and community conservation programs. Comparable as a major public garden with research, conservation, and member-driven funding.
• Holden Forests & Gardens: Ohio-based nonprofit combining an arboretum and botanical garden with research, education, and community forestry programs. Comparable size and orientation toward both plant trials and community engagement.
• Arnold Arboretum: Harvard-affiliated nonprofit arboretum with deep plant research, public garden network, and educational programming. Comparable as a university-affiliated arboretum with curated plant collections and trial-based expertise.
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: University of Texas-affiliated nonprofit focused on native plants, ecological landscaping, and pollinator-friendly gardens. Closely comparable in mission emphasis on native plants, education, and research-based plant recommendations.
• Dawes Arboretum: Ohio-based nonprofit arboretum offering similar membership tiers, plant sales, educational programs, and community tree-planting initiatives. Closely comparable in mission, scale, and Midwest/regional focus.
• Reiman Gardens: Iowa State University-affiliated public garden with strong plant trial programs, educational events, and member support. Closely comparable as a land-grant university-affiliated garden in the Great Plains region with similar scope and audience.

Others

• Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories: Commercial arboriculture research and tree care services provider with a research lab and large arborist network. Adjacent/thematic peer for arborist expertise and tree-care research, but operates as a for-profit services business rather than a public nonprofit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@plantnebraska
• Facebookfacebook.com/plantnebraska
• Instagraminstagram.com/plantnebraska
• Xx.com/NEarboretum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Nebraska Statewide Arboretum