Leila Arboretum Society, Inc.

What Leila Arboretum Society, Inc. does

Leila Arboretum Society, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that manages the 72-acre Leila Arboretum in Battle Creek, Michigan, under a management contract with the City of Battle Creek (which owns the underlying land, donated in 1922 by Leila Y. Post Montgomery). Founded in 1981 to reclaim the overgrown arboretum, the organization operates with approximately 3.5 paid staff and hundreds of volunteers and serves more than 40,000 visitors annually. Its asset base comprises the main arboretum with 2,500+ marked trees and plants, the 1.5-acre Kaleidoscope Garden (children's enclosed garden/pavilion), the Fantasy Forest sculpture garden (25 chainsaw carvings), the 365 Urban and Community Farm, an 18-hole disc golf course, the Peace Labyrinth, and the Kingman Museum (temporarily relocated). There is no software, app, or digital platform layer; the technology stack is entirely physical horticultural and recreational infrastructure.

The business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue mix across six streams: (1) annual membership subscriptions in six tiers from $25 (Individual) to $1,000 (Oak), (2) facility rentals for weddings, corporate events, and reunions, (3) memorial/commemorative transactions (engraved bricks $100-$900, memorial trees $500+, teakwood benches $3,000), (4) tax-deductible donations and grants, (5) fee-based educational programs (yoga, gardening, master gardener), and (6) ticketed event admissions (e.g., Battle Creek Garden Tour at $10 advance / $15 day-of). Distribution is community-led and regional: lasgarden.org website, Facebook and Instagram, email newsletter, community events, and word-of-mouth. The organization is supported by a sponsor/foundation base including Post Consumer Brands, Huntington Bank, Battle Creek Community Foundation, Zanetti Family Foundation, Guido A. & Elizabeth H. Binda Foundation, and the Miller Foundation.

Customer segments span general public and families (primary), K-12 schools and educators (via the 365 Urban Farm partnership with Battle Creek Public Schools), corporate groups (facility rentals and team events), and community members/volunteers. Strategic alliances include the American Horticultural Society (reciprocal garden access for Family-tier members), the Masa Center (2024 Heritage Blue Corn cultural-agriculture program at the Urban Farm), Otterdance Yoga (Tuesday yoga co-hosting), All You Need Grand Rental (preferred event vendor), and Kingman Museum (co-located cultural institution). The 33rd Annual Battle Creek Garden Tour is scheduled for July 2026, indicating ongoing operational continuity.

Name

Leila Arboretum Society, Inc.

Legal name

Leila Arboretum Society

Website

https://lasgarden.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Leila Arboretum Society is a Battle Creek, Michigan 501(c)(3) nonprofit managing a 72-acre arboretum and attractions including the Kaleidoscope Garden, Fantasy Forest, and 365 Urban Farm. It serves 40,000+ annual visitors through memberships, rentals, classes, events, donations, and memorial gifts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Botanical Garden and Arboretum Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Parks, Gardens & Botanical Attractions (THAJACAH)

Keywords

• Arboretum garden operations
• Horticultural education programs
• Community urban farming
• Outdoor event rentals
• Memorial commemorative gifts

Headquarters

HQ city

Battle Creek

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees ranging from $20-$1000 at various tiers, providing benefits including discounts, free event admissions, and honorary tree planting opportunities.
2. Facility Rentals: Rental revenue from weddings, corporate events, family reunions, birthday parties, and facility usage. Contact vendor All You Need Grand Rental for seating assistance.
3. Memorial Gifts: Commemorative purchases including engraved bricks ($100-$900), trees ($500+), and teakwood benches ($3000) placed throughout the arboretum grounds.
4. Donations: Tax-deductible donations and grants supporting the nonprofit's mission to preserve and enhance Leila Arboretum.
5. Educational Programs: Revenue from classes and workshops including yoga sessions, with 10% discount for members.
6. Event Admissions: Ticket sales for annual events such as the Battle Creek Garden Tour ($10 advance, $15 day of event), Chainsaw Carving Festival, and other community events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Leila Arboretum Society operates a 72-acre botanical arboretum and related attractions (Kaleidoscope Garden, Fantasy Forest sculpture garden, 365 Urban Farm, Kingman Museum, disc golf course) on city-owned land in Battle Creek, Michigan. The nonprofit sells memberships, rents facilities for weddings and corporate events, offers classes and educational programs, sells commemorative memorial gifts, and accepts donations and grants to support horticultural preservation and community education.

Product overview

Leila Arboretum Society operates a 72-acre botanical garden (Leila Arboretum) and multiple distinct attraction and program products. The core portfolio includes: the Leila Arboretum (garden grounds with trees, trails, and Peace Labyrinth), Kaleidoscope Garden (1.5-acre educational garden for children), Fantasy Forest (25 chainsaw-carved wood sculptures), 365 Urban and Community Farm (1.5-acre urban agriculture site), and Kingman Museum (natural history museum/planetarium). Supporting services include an 18-hole disc golf course, educational classes (yoga, gardening), facility rentals for events, a memorial gift program (bricks, trees, benches), multi-tiered membership program, and volunteer opportunities. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit managed by a 3.5-person staff with hundreds of volunteers, hosting over 40,000 annual visitors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Leila Arboretum A 72-acre botanical garden owned by the City of Battle Creek and managed by LAS, featuring 2,500 marked trees and plants, dozens of gardens and walkways, a 1-mile walk/running trail, and the Peace Labyrinth. Open daily from dawn to dusk with no admission fees.
• Kaleidoscope Garden A 1.5-acre enclosed garden and pavilion designed for younger enthusiasts, offering educational programs and serving as a venue for corporate and family picnics, birthday parties, and weddings. Open weekdays 9am-5pm, May through October.
• Fantasy Forest A sculpture garden featuring 25 chainsaw-carved wood sculptures depicting wizards, castles, dragons, and other mythical creatures, carved from 100-year-old ash trees. Open daily from dawn to dusk with no admission fees.
• 365 Urban and Community Farm An approximately 1.5-acre urban farm established in 2017 providing local fresh fruits and vegetables, comprising indoor and outdoor growing areas including hoop houses, a greenhouse, and field growing areas. Partners with Battle Creek Public Schools for K-12 educational programs.
• Kingman Museum A natural history museum and planetarium originally located on Leila Arboretum grounds. Features paleontology and geology specimens, animal taxidermy mounts, Native American artifacts, and human embryo and fetus exhibits. Artifacts are currently housed at the Battle Creek Regional History Museum due to building issues.
• Disc Golf Course An 18-hole disc golf course established in 2013, spanning over 7,500 feet through the hilly and wooded Arboretum, designed for disc golfers of all skill levels.
• Classes and Educational Programs Educational offerings including yoga classes (co-hosted with Otterdance Yoga on Tuesdays 6-7pm), Growing in the Garden classes, and master gardener certification programs. The Kaleidoscope Garden offers educational field trips and family learning experiences from May through October.
• Wedding and Event Rentals Facility rentals for weddings, corporate events, family reunions, and receptions. Venues include gazebos, sculptures, and meandering pathways throughout the Arboretum. All You Need Grand Rental is the preferred vendor for seating assistance.
• Memorial and Commemorative Gifts Commemorative purchase program offering engraved bricks placed around the cupola in Kaleidoscope Garden ($100-$900), memorial trees planted with a dedication tag ($500 and up), and teakwood benches with permanent brass name plaques placed throughout the arboretum ($3,000).
• Membership Program Multi-tiered annual membership program with six tiers: Student/Senior/Military ($20), Individual ($25), Family/Grandparent ($50), Hemlock ($100), Sweetgum ($250), Birch ($500), and Oak ($1,000). Benefits include discounts, free admissions, honorary trees, reciprocal access to 150+ American Horticultural Society gardens, and personal event hosting in Kaleidoscope Garden at higher tiers.
• Sculptures Collection Public art collection including 'The Great American Horse' bronze sculpture, 'Circa' Corten steel piece, and 'Covenant' split stone monolith, by various Michigan artists. Installed within Leila Arboretum grounds and available for viewing during public operating hours.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40,000 visitors annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Masa CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024In 2024, Masa Center began a partnership with Leila Arboretum and the Urban and Community Farm to grow Heritage Blue Corn native to Michoacán, Mexico. Masa Center's mission-driven collaboration provides community gardening education with emphasis on peer support, mentorship, and sense of cultural space.
• Battle Creek Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner365 Urban and Community Farm partners with Battle Creek Public Schools and other K-12 educators to provide hands-on learning programs and field trip opportunities.
• American Horticultural SocietyminorOthersFamily and Grandparent membership includes free admission to over 150 American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Gardens.
• All You Need Grand RentalminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPreferred vendor for event seating and set-up assistance for weddings and events at Leila Arboretum. Contact: 269-788-9944.
• Otterdance YogaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-hosts yoga classes at the arboretum on Tuesdays, 6-7pm. Event organized by Otterdance Yoga and Leila Arboretum.
• Post Consumer BrandsminorOthersCorporate sponsor listed on the organization website.
• Huntington BankminorOthersCorporate sponsor listed on the organization website.
• Battle Creek Community FoundationminorOthersFoundation sponsor listed on the organization website.
• Kingman MuseumminorOthersNatural history museum and planetarium originally located at Leila Arboretum grounds. Due to building issues, artifacts are temporarily stored at Battle Creek Regional History Museum.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Longwood Gardens: 1,100-acre public garden in Pennsylvania with horticultural displays, conservatory, fountains, and educational programming — directly comparable as a major nonprofit botanical garden with diversified revenue streams and educational mission.
• Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park: Michigan-based 158-acre public garden and sculpture park combining botanical collections with sculptures, events, and educational programming — directly comparable in scope, programming mix (gardens + sculpture + events), and Midwest regional audience to Leila Arboretum Society.
• Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum: University of Michigan-operated botanical garden and arboretum in Ann Arbor featuring native plant collections, trails, and educational programming — comparable as a Michigan botanical institution with similar educational programming and arboretum-style tree collections.
• Rotary Gardens: 20-acre nonprofit botanical garden in Janesville, Wisconsin featuring themed gardens, educational programs, and community events — comparable as a smaller regional nonprofit botanical garden with community-driven programming and similar scale.
• Holden Forests & Gardens: Ohio-based nonprofit operating the Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden, featuring tree collections, gardens, and educational programs — comparable as a Midwest nonprofit botanical organization with arboretum focus.
• Tyler Arboretum: 650-acre nonprofit arboretum in Delaware County, Pennsylvania featuring historic trees, gardens, and educational programs — directly comparable as a regional nonprofit arboretum with similar programming mix and revenue model.
• Morton Arboretum: 1,700-acre tree-focused public garden in Illinois with extensive tree collections, trails, educational programs, and event rentals — directly comparable as a Midwest arboretum with diverse revenue streams including memberships, events, and classes.
• Dawes Arboretum: Ohio-based arboretum with extensive tree collections, hiking trails, and educational programming operated as a nonprofit — comparable as a Midwest regional arboretum with similar mission and operating model.
• Chicago Botanic Garden: 385-acre public garden operated by the Chicago Horticultural Society, featuring 27 gardens, educational programs, and event venues — directly comparable as a major nonprofit botanical garden with diverse programming and revenue mix.
• Pittsburgh Botanic Garden: 460-acre nonprofit botanic garden in western Pennsylvania featuring gardens, trails, and educational programming — comparable as a regional nonprofit botanical garden with similar mission and programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LeilaArboretum
• Instagraminstagram.com/leila_arboretum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leila-arboretum-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Leila Arboretum Society, Inc.