Planting Fields Foundation

What Planting Fields Foundation does

Planting Fields Foundation is a privately funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1952 to steward a 409-acre historic estate in Oyster Bay, New York, working in partnership with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. The organization manages one of the few surviving Gold Coast estates with original land intact, featuring a 65-room Tudor Revival mansion (Coe Hall) designed by Walker & Gillette, landscapes designed by the Olmsted Brothers Firm, over 20 gardens, 5 miles of woodland trails, and 500+ linear feet of archival materials. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and welcomes over 200,000 visitors annually.

The Foundation generates revenue through a diversified portfolio: visitor admissions ($5-$18 tiers), Oak Circle tiered memberships ($500-$10,000), facility rentals for weddings and corporate events ($2,500-$15,000+), K-12 educational programs, individual donations and annual fund campaigns, multi-year capital campaigns (most notably the Oudolf Garden designed by Piet Oudolf, set for fall 2026 completion), planned giving vehicles, photography permits, and a museum shop. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via walk-up admissions, online event registration, and inquiry-based booking for weddings and corporate retreats, supplemented by community partnerships with school districts, libraries, and civic organizations.

The organization is led by President and CEO Dr. Gina J. Wouters and operates with approximately 30-35 staff across executive, education, collections, buildings and grounds, visitor experience, and advancement functions. Strategic priorities include the Oudolf Garden development (a one-acre installation of over 24,000 plants representing the most significant site addition since the 1930s), the annual Catalyst contemporary art commissioning program (launched 2020), preservation initiatives including West Portico restoration and Oak Allée replanting, and expanded educational and community engagement programs such as the Service Corps youth leadership cohort. The organization adopted a new mission statement in April 2025.

Name

Planting Fields Foundation

Legal name

Planting Fields Foundation

Website

https://plantingfields.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Planting Fields Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit stewarding a 409-acre Gold Coast historic estate in Oyster Bay, New York, serving 200,000+ annual visitors through gardens, museum tours, K-12 education, weddings and events, and the Catalyst contemporary art program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Oyster Bay

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Admissions and Parking: Revenue from visitor admissions to the site, including general admission fees ($18 adults, $17 seniors, $5 children) and parking fees ($8 per car, $35 per bus during peak seasons). Serves over 200,000 visitors annually.
2. Membership (Oak Circle): Annual membership program with four tiers: Acorn ($500), Red Oak ($1,000), Chinkapin Oak ($5,000), and White Oak ($10,000). Provides exclusive benefits including Empire Passes, private tours, event invitations, and curated experiences.
3. Facility Rentals: Venue rental revenue from wedding ceremonies (starting at $2,500), wedding receptions (starting at $15,000), corporate meetings and retreats (starting at $15,000 for Coe Hall), and private event rentals (starting at $5,000 weekdays, $7,000 weekends).
4. Individual Donations (Annual Fund): Annual giving program with donor recognition from $10 to $10,000+. Supports operational costs, educational programming, and preservation initiatives. Donors receive recognition on website and annual report.
5. Capital Campaigns: Major fundraising campaigns for specific projects including the Oudolf Garden ($100,000+ for Founding Funders, plant sponsorships $25-$100, tree sponsorships $5,000-$10,000, bench sponsorships $25,000, Rose Arbor restoration $300,000, Landscape Curator endowment $2 million).
6. Planned Giving: Deferred giving vehicles including bequests, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, retirement plan beneficiary designations, and IRA charitable rollovers (up to $100,000 annually per PATH Act).
7. Educational Programs: Revenue from K-12 field trips ($10 per student), specialized youth programs ($25 per child for Wings 2 Roots), and classroom outreach programs ($200 flat fee). Also includes grant-funded programs for qualifying schools.
8. Photography Permits and Commercial Usage: Revenue from photography permits issued by New York State Parks for outdoor shoots, Main House interior photography sessions ($400 up to 3 people, $700 up to 9 people), and commercial film/TV production fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Planting Fields Foundation stewards a 409-acre historic estate in Oyster Bay, New York, offering public access to a 65-room Tudor Revival mansion (Coe Hall), Olmsted Brothers-designed gardens and landscapes, greenhouse collections, and over five miles of woodland trails. The Foundation delivers paid and free programming including Main House tours, K-12 educational field trips, signature annual cultural events, wedding and corporate venue rentals, an annual contemporary art commissioning series (Catalyst), and a forthcoming Piet Oudolf-designed garden.

Product overview

Planting Fields Foundation operates as a historic estate and public garden offering a unified portfolio of visitor experiences, educational programming, and venue services across its 409-acre site. Core offerings include Main House guided and self-guided tours, garden and greenhouse experiences, and the annual Catalyst contemporary art program. The Foundation provides K-12 educational programming through programs like Junior Rangers and Coe Kids, and hosts signature annual events including the Camellia Festival, Spring/Fall 5K races, and Home for the Holidays. Venue rental services encompass wedding ceremonies, private events, and corporate retreats at Coe Hall. The portfolio also includes learning kits, service learning programs, archival research access, and photography services. A major upcoming addition is The Oudolf Garden, designed by Piet Oudolf and scheduled for completion in fall 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Main House Tours Self-guided and guided tours of the 65-room Tudor Revival Main House (Coe Hall), featuring original ironwork by Samuel Yellin and murals by Robert Winthrop Chanler and Everett Shinn, for individual visitors and groups.
• Greenhouse and Garden Tours Access to the Main Greenhouse and Camellia Greenhouse with historic camellia collection, tropical plants, and over 20 themed gardens, included with estate admission.
• Annual Cultural Events Recurring signature events and festivals for visitors and members including Camellia Festival, Branches in Bloom, Spring and Fall 5K races, Home for the Holidays, and Notes in Nature chamber music concerts.
• K-12 Educational Programs Place-based learning programs for K-12 students and schools aligned with NYS and national standards in art, social studies, English, and science.
• Wedding and Private Event Rentals Venue rentals for wedding ceremonies, receptions, rehearsal dinners, and private events at Coe Hall and gardens for couples and event planners.
• Meeting and Retreat Facilities Rental of Coe Hall for board meetings, conferences, and professional networking events with capacity for up to 150 cocktail reception or 80 sit-down guests.
• Photography Services Main House interior photography permits and commercial filming location services for engagements, proposals, family portraits, and film/TV projects.
• Oak Circle Membership Annual membership program with four tiers ($500 to $10,000) providing Empire Passes, private tours, event invitations, and curated experiences for individual donors and supporters.
• The Oudolf Garden New one-acre garden designed by internationally acclaimed landscape designer Piet Oudolf, featuring over 24,000 plants and serving as a major visitor attraction completing in fall 2026.
• Catalyst Contemporary Art Program Annual contemporary art commissioning program inviting artists to create site-specific installations across the 409-acre estate, continuing the Coe family's legacy of artistic patronage.
• Learning Kits Free digital educational resource kits for educators and families covering seasonal, nature, and history themes.
• Service Learning Programs Youth leadership and service programs including Youth Leaders for high school students and Service Corps for young adults ages 18-26.
• Archives and Research Access On-site research access to 500+ linear feet of archival materials including Coe family papers, photographs, architectural drawings, and the Innocenti & Webel archive, with select materials digitized through NY Heritage and Empire ADC.
• Legacy of Landscape Exhibition Rotating exhibition exploring the estate's landscape architecture history, currently featuring Innocenti & Webel's designs for the Coe family.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 200,000 visitors annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered moderate and core.

• Long Island Chamber MusicmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership for summer concert series 'Notes in Nature: Summer Symphonies.' Nine world-class string players performing chamber music on the West Lawn.
• Innocenti & WebelmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Long Island landscape architecture firm whose archive (landscape plans, photographs, correspondence) was acquired by Planting Fields Foundation in 2021. The firm designed projects for Coe family children on Long Island, France, and Florida.
• New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic PreservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary governmental partner in stewardship of Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park. Foundation works in partnership with NY State Parks to maintain, revitalize, and restore the site. State Parks issues outdoor photography permits and supports capital projects.
• Parks & Trails New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministers NY State Park and Trail Partnership Grants in partnership with NYS Office of Parks. Supporting Service Corps youth leadership program and trail camera wildlife observation project.
• Piet OudolfcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternationally acclaimed landscape designer commissioned to create the Oudolf Garden at Planting Fields. This represents Oudolf's first public garden in New York in over a decade (following High Line and Battery Park).
• The Cultural Landscape FoundationmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Olmsted 200 commemoration and guidebook of Olmsted-designed sites on Long Island. Led efforts to create public access to 15 different Olmsted sites.
• National Association of Olmsted ParksmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeritage and preservation partner organization collaborating on Olmsted legacy initiatives and advocacy.
• North Shore School DistrictcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEducation partner for K-12 field trips and community service projects. One of multiple school districts in the formal Education Partners program.
• Locust Valley LibrarymoderateImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommunity partner providing free and inclusive programming access. One of multiple libraries in the formal Community Partners program.
• Mill Neck School for the DeafmoderateImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommunity partner dedicated to providing access and assistance to deaf and hard-of-hearing community members through inclusive programming.
• Nassau BOCESmoderateImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEducational partner providing cooperative educational services. One of multiple education partners in the formal program.
• Heritage LandscapesmoderateImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPreeminent landscape preservation firm engaged to complete the Cultural Landscape Report in 2019, providing comprehensive documentation of the Olmsted Brothers-designed landscape.
• Jan Hird Pokorny Associates (JHPA)moderateImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm specializing in historic building preservation engaged for West Portico restoration project.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• New York Botanical Garden: NYBG is a 250-acre National Historic Landmark garden in the Bronx with major conservatories, exhibitions, and educational programming. Substantially larger and more visited than Planting Fields but overlapping audience and competing for the same NY metro cultural-tourism dollars.
• Biltmore Estate: Biltmore is a 8,000-acre Gilded Age estate in Asheville, NC with mansion tours, gardens, winemaking, lodging, and events. The benchmark for American historic estate tourism at scale; relevant for venue rental and membership economics though far larger than Planting Fields.
• Longwood Gardens: Longwood Gardens is a major 1,100-acre public garden in Pennsylvania with conservatories, fountain gardens, and large-scale event programming. Significantly larger and more established than Planting Fields, but a key comparable for garden-based visitor experiences and venue rentals.

Regional players

• Old Bethpage Village Restoration: Old Bethpage Village Restoration is a Long Island living history museum operated in partnership with NY State Parks, similar in partnership structure and regional audience to Planting Fields. Comparable educational programming model but focused on 19th-century village life rather than estate horticulture.

Direct peers

• Lyndhurst Mansion: Lyndhurst is a National Trust historic site in Tarrytown, NY offering mansion tours, grounds access, and event rentals in a Gothic Revival mansion on the Hudson River. It directly parallels Planting Fields' historic house + landscape + events business model in the NY region.
• Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library: Winterthur is a Delaware du Pont estate offering mansion tours, a naturalistic garden, library/archives, and education programs. Comparable scale and mix of decorative arts, designed landscape, and academic programming to Planting Fields.
• Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site: Vanderbilt Mansion NHS is a National Park Service site in Hyde Park, NY offering mansion tours, formal gardens, and grounds on the Hudson River. Comparable Gold Coast-era Hudson Valley estate with public programming and garden stewardship.
• Old Westbury Gardens: Old Westbury Gardens is a Long Island Gold Coast estate with formal gardens, a mansion, and similar programming (tours, weddings, education, events). It is the most direct geographic and conceptual comparable to Planting Fields, with overlapping customer segments on Long Island.
• Wave Hill: Wave Hill is a 28-acre public garden and cultural center in the Bronx offering house tours, gardens, arts programming, and education. It operates a similar hybrid cultural-garden model with comparable revenue streams (admissions, memberships, events, weddings) within the NY metro area.
• Kykuit (Rockefeller Estate): Kykuit is the Rockefeller family estate in Sleepy Hollow, NY featuring a historic house, gardens (including a Oudolf-designed sculpture garden), and art collection tours. Comparable to Planting Fields in combining elite family heritage, Olmsted/Sert landscape design, and curated public access.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/plantingfields
• Instagraminstagram.com/plantingfields
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/planting-fields-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Planting Fields Foundation