Alaska Botanical Garden

What Alaska Botanical Garden does

Alaska Botanical Garden, Inc. is a private nonprofit organization operating a 110-acre public botanical garden in Anchorage, Alaska, on land held under a 1990 land use agreement and 2003 long-term lease with the Municipality of Anchorage. Founded in 1986 and opened to the public in 1993, the garden maintains over 1,100 plant varieties and 150+ species across eight acres of cultivated gardens and boreal forest trails, including a Nationally Accredited Meconopsis (Himalayan blue poppy) Collection and an American Peony Society Gold Medal Peony collection. Its operational backbone consists of GardenExplorer for plant records, Neon CRM for membership and event management, and an e-commerce storefront for online plant sales with in-person pickup.

The organization serves a diversified audience including general public visitors, K-12 schools, families with children, garden enthusiasts, corporate partners, and artists through a portfolio spanning garden admissions, an annual membership program ($100 Family Membership), retail nursery plant sales, education field trips and summer camps, wellness and art workshops, guided tours, event rentals, and the Wine in the Woods annual fundraiser. Programming includes the Guided Gardening program ($100/share) and Learning CSA ($750/share combining produce with gardening guidance and a one-year membership). The garden receives no Municipal, State, or Federal operating support and is funded through a mix of earned revenue, donations, business sponsorships, and an endowment fund. The board is presently leading a major Garden Expansion Project and capital campaign while recruiting a new Executive Director to succeed the prior 14-year leader.

Name

Alaska Botanical Garden

Legal name

Alaska Botanical Garden

Website

https://alaskabg.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Alaska Botanical Garden is a 110-acre nonprofit botanical garden in Anchorage, Alaska, offering seasonal admissions, memberships, nursery plant sales, education programs, summer camps, and events to the general public, schools, families, and corporate partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Anchorage

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Admission Fees: Day admission fees charged to visitors during operating season (May-September) and shoulder seasons. Adults $14, Youth/Student/Senior $10, with free admission for members and children 6 and under.
2. Membership Program: Annual memberships providing free year-round admission, discounts on workshops, camps, and retail, plus early access to plant sales and 10% nursery discount. Family Membership valued at $100.
3. Nursery Plant Sales: Retail sales of hardy perennials, native plants, annuals, seeds, plugs, and shrubs from the on-site nursery. Online ordering available with in-person pickup.
4. Educational Programs: Revenue from summer camps (Full Day: Members $333/Non-Members $348 per child/week; Half Day: Members $230/Non-Members $245), guided tours ($16/person or $96 minimum), and workshop fees.
5. Special Events: Ticketed events including Wine in the Woods (tasting $85, designated driver $55), fundraisers, and seasonal programming.
6. Donations and Fundraising: Donor wall leaf purchases, general donations, legacy giving, and endowment contributions from supporters.
7. Business Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship program with multiple levels offering community visibility for sponsors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Alaska Botanical Garden operates a 110-acre public botanical garden in Anchorage, Alaska, offering general garden admission to cultivated gardens and boreal forest trails showcasing over 1,100 plant varieties. The organization sells hardy perennials, native plants, annuals, and seeds from its on-site nursery, and runs educational programs including K-12 school field trips, guided tours, and summer camps for children ages 5-12. Additional offerings include a Membership Program, recurring wellness and educational workshops (Tai Chi, Yoga, Qigong, art classes), an annual Wine in the Woods fundraising tasting, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, venue rentals, and an artist residency program.

Product overview

Alaska Botanical Garden operates as a 110-acre outdoor botanical garden in Anchorage, Alaska, offering a single unified visitor experience centered on garden admission. The core offering encompasses general admission to cultivated gardens and trails showcasing over 1,100 plant varieties, supplemented by a Membership Program for repeat visitors. The product portfolio includes Nursery Plant Sales (hardy perennials, native plants, annuals, seeds), Education Programs (field trips, school workshops), and Summer Camps for children ages 5-12. Additional revenue streams include Events & Workshops (wellness classes like Tai Chi, Yoga, Qigong, plus art workshops and seasonal events), the Learning CSA (Community Supported Agriculture combining produce shares with gardening guidance), Guided Tours, and Event Rentals. Special offerings include the Nationally Accredited Meconopsis Collection (Himalayan poppies), Art in the Garden (outdoor art installations), and an Artist Residency Program. The Garden operates seasonally (May-September summer hours, with spring/fall/winter rates) and generates revenue through admissions, memberships, plant sales, program fees, donations, and business sponsorships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Garden Admission General seasonal admission to the 110-acre Alaska Botanical Garden for individual visitors, with rates varying by age group (Adults $14, Youth/Student/Senior/Military $10) and by season (summer, spring/fall, winter). Free for members and children 6 and under.
• Membership Program Annual membership providing free year-round garden admission, discounts on workshops, summer camps, and retail, early access to plant sales, and a 10% nursery discount. Family Membership valued at $100.
• Nursery Plant Sales Retail sale of hardy perennials, native plants, plugs, shrubs, annuals, and seeds cultivated at the Garden's nursery and adapted to Southcentral Alaska conditions. Available in-person at the on-site nursery and online via alaskabg.shop for in-person pickup.
• Education Programs (School Field Trips) Hands-on curriculum-aligned programs for K-12 schools and teachers including Soils/Compost/Worms, Alaskan Plants & Animals, Traveling Seed, Garden Cycles, Pollinators & Plants, Plants as Medicine, Garden Nutrition, and Yoga ABC's. Self-guided school trips priced at $7/student. Available year-round for grades pre-K through 12.
• Summer Camps Week-long summer day camps for children ages 5-12 offering full-day (8:30am-4pm) and half-day (morning or afternoon) options with themed programming.
• Guided Tours One-hour guided tours along the half-mile paved loop with an Education Specialist, highlighting flowering plants. Must be booked at least two weeks in advance. $16/person or minimum of $96.
• Events & Workshops Recurring wellness and educational programming including Tai Chi, Qigong, Yoga (Vinyasa Flow, Hatha, Yin), Storytime in the Garden, What's in Bloom Walking Tours, Bird TLC Ambassador Birds, Music Together, art workshops (Acrylic Painting, Hypertufa containers), and Discovery Tables.
• Wine in the Woods Annual fundraising tasting event featuring wines from around the world, savory bites from local eateries, garden raffle, and ambient entertainment. Tasting ticket $85, Designated Driver ticket $55. 21+ only.
• Guided Gardening Program Annual horticultural guidance subscription providing weekly educational emails from March to October, video tutorials, harvest newsletters with recipes, and weekly office hours with horticulture staff. $100 per share.
• Learning CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Combines the Guided Gardening Program with 12 weeks of fresh produce (mid-June to early September), a 1-year Family Membership ($100 value), and seeds/plant starts. $750 per share, billed annually.
• Event Rentals Private rental of garden spaces for gatherings up to 50 guests, including the Greenhouse venue (unavailable March-May). Intimate gatherings under 15 people allowed with general admission. Inquiry-based booking.
• Artist Residency Program Residency opportunities for artists to work within the botanical garden setting, creating art inspired by the natural environment, with an ongoing Garden-Scale Art Exhibition opportunity for outdoor installations.
• Art in the Garden

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves approximately 50,000 visitors per season
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Museums AlaskasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided assistance with the 'Foreign & Familiar' art installation commission, working alongside Rasmuson Foundation.
• Republic National Distributing CompanysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerWine donor for Wine in the Woods annual fundraiser, providing wines featured at the event.
• 61 Degrees North WinerysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerWinery partner donating wines for Wine in the Woods tasting event.
• Hive Mind MeaderysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMeadery partner donating mead for Wine in the Woods tasting event.
• Anchorage Park FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichelle LeBeau, ABG Board Co-President, serves as Director of Philanthropy and Marketing at Anchorage Park Foundation, linking the organizations through board leadership.
• Alaska Rock Garden SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstructed and maintains the Rock Garden featuring 350+ species of specialized alpine plants, a core component of ABG's collections.
• Herb Study GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer group maintaining the Herb Garden in partnership with Master Gardeners and Cooperative Extension Service.
• Wildflower Garden ClubsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlants and maintains the Verna Pratt Wildflower Trail featuring common Alaskan wildflowers and native plants.
• Bird Treatment and Learning Center (Bird TLC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeasonal partner bringing ambassador birds to the garden for educational programming on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from June 30-August 28.
• Municipality of AnchoragecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLand use agreement signed in 1990 and long-term lease for additional acreage in 2003 with Municipality of Anchorage for garden operations on municipal land.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Atlanta Botanical Garden: Mid-to-large nonprofit botanical garden with admissions, memberships, plant sales, and special exhibitions including art installations — analogous institutional model including art-in-the-garden programming and event-driven fundraising like Wine in the Woods.
• Morris Arboretum: University-affiliated arboretum operating admissions, memberships, education programs, and nationally accredited plant collections — directly comparable on accredited collections strategy and education-driven nonprofit operations.
• Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Long-established nonprofit botanical garden operating admissions, memberships, education programs, and nationally recognized plant collections — a useful comparator for ABG's ambitions around accredited collections and education programming, though at materially larger scale.
• Denver Botanic Gardens: A comparable mid-sized municipal botanical garden offering year-round admissions, memberships, plant sales, education programs, and special events on a multi-acre cultivated site — operationally the closest analog in scale and revenue mix to Alaska Botanical Garden.
• Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens: Mid-sized nonprofit botanical garden on a comparable acreage scale with memberships, admissions, plant sales, and education programs — a tight size-and-model analog to Alaska Botanical Garden.

Peers

• Tucson Botanical Gardens: Mid-sized nonprofit botanical garden of comparable scale offering admissions, memberships, education, and plant sales in a regional U.S. market — closely analogous in operating model, programmatic mix, and target visitor segments.

Regional players

• Anchorage Museum: Anchorage's primary cultural institution offering admissions, memberships, education programming, and special exhibitions — competes for the same Anchorage tourist and resident leisure-spend dollars and shares board-level nonprofit leadership overlap.
• Alaska Native Heritage Center: Anchorage-based nonprofit cultural and educational attraction offering admissions, programs, and community events — operates in the same Anchorage tourism, education, and nonprofit donor ecosystem as Alaska Botanical Garden.
• Alaska Zoo: Anchorage-based nonprofit visitor attraction focused on living collections, education, and admissions — operates in the same regional tourism and education market and shares nonprofit revenue dynamics with ABG.

Broad incumbents

• Chicago Botanic Garden: Large, multi-feature public garden with admissions, memberships, plant sales, education, and accredited collections — illustrates the upside trajectory for an institution scaling programs and collections over decades.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/alaskabg
• Facebookfacebook.com/alaskabotanicalgarden
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alaska-botanical-garden

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Alaska Botanical Garden