cornell botanic gardens
Cornell Botanic Gardens is a non-profit affiliate of Cornell University managing 3,600 acres of gardens, arboretum, and natural areas in Ithaca, NY. It serves 70,000+ visitors and 5,000+ learners annually through free public access, educational programs, conservation research, and a graduate Public Garden Leadership program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersIthaca, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What cornell botanic gardens does
Cornell Botanic Gardens is a non-profit public garden and educational institution operating as an integral unit of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. The organization manages 3,600 acres spanning cultivated gardens, the F.R. Newman Arboretum, on-campus natural areas, and off-campus natural areas across the Cayuga Lake Basin. Its living collections include 10,078 accessioned plants and 3,400 trees, plus specialty gardens such as the Robison York State Herb Garden (500+ herb varieties) and the Bowers Rhododendron Collection. The institution serves a diverse audience that includes Cornell University students and faculty (5,000+ learners annually), the general public (70,000+ visitors annually), K-12 school groups, and external research collaborators.
Its core products and services center on three layers. First, physical assets: gardens, arboretum, gorges (including Cascadilla Gorge, donated to Cornell in 1909), and natural areas open daily from dawn to dusk at no charge. Second, digital infrastructure: a searchable plant database, an interactive garden map, and self-guided tours delivered through the Pocketsights mobile application (now available in English, Spanish, and Mandarin). Third, programmatic offerings: school and youth programs (Wildflower Explorations, Haudenosaunee Food Crops), adult education and tours, the Public Garden Leadership MPS graduate program, the Learning by Leading undergraduate program, conservation initiatives (ash tree resistance, whitebark pine propagation), and a volunteer pipeline including trained Garden Guides. Technology partnerships include USDA Forest Service on climate-resilient species propagation and The Nature Conservancy on emerald ash borer resistance.
The business model is non-profit institutional. Primary funding flows from Cornell University operating subsidy, supplemented by donations and planned giving (including named endowments from the Weaver, DuBowy, DeCou, and Greenberg families), federal and institutional grants (notably a $192,000 IMLS grant in 2018 for plant records digitization), program fees for educational offerings, and an Access Pass membership program. Grounds access is universally free, eliminating customer acquisition friction but capping direct earned revenue. The organization is governed by an Advisory Council of Cornell alumni, faculty, students, and community members, with named leadership including Executive Director Ari Novy (who succeeded long-tenured Christopher Dunn in 2018), Director of Natural Areas Todd Bittner, and Director of Education Sonja Skelly.
cornell botanic gardens firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- cornell botanic gardens
- Legal name
- Cornell Botanic Gardens
- Website
- https://cornellbotanicgardens.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Cornell Botanic Gardens is a non-profit affiliate of Cornell University managing 3,600 acres of gardens, arboretum, and natural areas in Ithaca, NY. It serves 70,000+ visitors and 5,000+ learners annually through free public access, educational programs, conservation research, and a graduate Public Garden Leadership program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
cornell botanic gardens industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Gardens and Botanical Conservation
- NAICS
- Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Nursery and Floriculture Production (11142), Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production (1114), Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (11321)
- SIC
- Forestry (800), Agricultural Services (700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Garden Bed Installation & Planting (Annuals, Perennials, Shrubs) (HSAIAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Native, Pollinator & Drought-Tolerant Garden Installations (HSAIAFAL), Invasive Species & Vegetation Management (Woody Plants) (HSAIADAI)
Keywords
Where cornell botanic gardens is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ithaca
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
cornell botanic gardens business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- University Funding: Cornell Botanic Gardens is funded primarily through Cornell University as an integral campus asset, receiving institutional support for operations and maintenance
- Donations and Planned Giving: Charitable contributions from alumni, supporters, and community members including legacy gifts, charitable remainder trusts, and endowment donations (e.g., Howard & Joanne Greenberg gift, Paul DuBowy internship endowment, Weaver horticulture endowment)
- Program Fees: Fees for educational programs, workshops, classes, and specialized experiences for adults and youth
- Grants: Federal and institutional grants including $192,000 IMLS grant for plant records digitization and collaboration funding from agencies like USDA Forest Service
- Membership and Access Pass: Access Pass/membership program providing benefits to supporters
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | General admission to gardens and natural areas is free |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
cornell botanic gardens product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cornell Botanic Gardens manages 3,600 acres of cultivated gardens, the F.R. Newman Arboretum, and natural areas in and around Cornell University, including 10,078 accessioned plants and 3,400 trees. It delivers free public access, self-guided and guided tours, school and adult educational programs, plant conservation initiatives, and a Public Garden Leadership graduate program. Operations are funded through Cornell University institutional support, donations, grants, program fees, and memberships.
Product overview
Cornell Botanic Gardens operates as a living museum and educational institution managing over 3,600 acres of cultivated gardens, F.R. Newman Arboretum, and natural areas. The organization offers a searchable Plant Database as its core digital product, along with Interactive Garden Maps and Self-Guided Tours via the Pocketsights app. Educational offerings include School and Youth Programs, Adult Education and Tours, Conservation Programs, and Volunteer Programs. These products and services collectively support the institution's mission to connect plants and peoples through cultivation, conservation, and education.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Gardens, Arboretum, and Natural Areas Over 3,600 acres of cultivated gardens, the F.R. Newman Arboretum, and natural areas including the Robison York State Herb Garden, Pounder Vegetable Garden, Mundy Wildflower Garden, Bowers Rhododendron Collection, gorges, and waterfalls, open free of charge to the public.
- Plant Database A searchable online database cataloging plant collections at Cornell Botanic Gardens, allowing users to search by common name, scientific name, family, or keyword to access plant information, images, and locations.
- Interactive Garden Map An interactive digital map enabling users to explore specialty gardens, the arboretum, natural areas, scenic overlooks, waterfalls, outdoor sculptures, parking, and restrooms across Cornell's campus properties, with filtering by facility type.
Quantifiable outcome
- 5,000 students, faculty, and community learners engaged annually
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use cornell botanic gardens
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
cornell botanic gardens technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
Feature3 records
cornell botanic gardens partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- U.S. Forest ServicecoreCollaboration on ash tree conservation and resistance to emerald ash borer; collaboration on whitebark pine propagation research; USFS Dorena Genetic Resource Center partnership for climate-affected conifer species
- The Nature ConservancycoreCollaboration in protecting native ash trees by nurturing those with natural resistance to emerald ash borer
- Arborjet | EcologelminorPartnership to treat historic ash trees as part of Saving America's Iconic Trees project
- USDA Forest Service Dorena Genetic Resource CentercoreCollaboration to propagate tree seedlings with disease/pest resistance; received whitebark pine and other conifer seedlings for trial in Upstate New York climate
- Garden Club of AmericaminorFellowship program supporting public garden professionals to visit gardens across the country for research
- Hubert Humphrey Fellowship ProgramminorHost organization for Humphrey Fellows providing professional affiliations and international conservation experience
- Tug Hill CommissionminorPartnership on Winter Wildlife Webinar Series sharing knowledge on ash tree conservation
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
cornell botanic gardens competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- New York Botanical Garden: Major public botanical garden in the Bronx operating plant collections, educational programs, and conservation research. Highly comparable in mission, scale of living collections, and educational programming to Cornell Botanic Gardens.
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Urban botanical garden with extensive plant collections, school and youth education programs, and conservation initiatives. Operates a comparable public-garden model with strong educational outreach similar to Cornell Botanic Gardens.
- Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University: University-affiliated arboretum managing large tree and plant collections with research and education programs. Closely parallels Cornell Botanic Gardens' university integration, scientific mission, and arboretum component.
- Missouri Botanical Garden: Large-scale public botanical garden with extensive plant collections, conservation programs, and educational offerings. Comparable in scale of operations, breadth of programming, and conservation research focus.
- Chicago Botanic Garden: Major public garden operating 385 acres of display gardens and natural areas with strong education and conservation programs. Comparable in scope of collections, school programming, and visitor engagement model.
- Longwood Gardens: Large public display garden with extensive horticultural collections, educational programs, and a nonprofit operating model. Comparable in mission of public horticulture display and education.
- United States Botanic Garden: Federal public botanical garden with curated plant collections, conservation programs, and educational offerings. Comparable as a public-facing botanical institution focused on plant display and education.
- Denver Botanic Gardens: Regional botanical garden operating multiple themed gardens, natural areas, and educational programs. Comparable as a community-anchored botanical institution with conservation and education missions.
- Morris Arboretum (University of Pennsylvania): University-affiliated arboretum managing tree collections, gardens, and educational programming in the Philadelphia region. Closely mirrors Cornell Botanic Gardens' Ivy League-affiliated arboretum model with academic integration.
- Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens: Large nonprofit cultural institution with significant botanical garden component, plant collections, and educational programming. Comparable as a multi-purpose nonprofit operating a botanical garden within a larger institutional framework.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
cornell botanic gardens social profiles
Digital presencecornell botanic gardens financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
cornell botanic gardens leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
cornell botanic gardens funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
cornell botanic gardens M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about cornell botanic gardens
What does cornell botanic gardens do?
Cornell Botanic Gardens manages 3,600 acres of cultivated gardens, the F.R. Newman Arboretum, and natural areas in and around Cornell University, including 10,078 accessioned plants and 3,400 trees. It delivers free public access, self-guided and guided tours, school and adult educational programs, plant conservation initiatives, and a Public Garden Leadership graduate program. Operations are funded through Cornell University institutional support, donations, grants, program fees, and memberships.
Is cornell botanic gardens a public or private company?
cornell botanic gardens is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was cornell botanic gardens founded?
cornell botanic gardens was founded in 2018.
Where is cornell botanic gardens based?
cornell botanic gardens is headquartered in Ithaca, United States, in the North America region.
How does cornell botanic gardens make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. University Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations and Planned Giving, program Fees, grants and membership and Access Pass.
Who are cornell botanic gardens's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are New York Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, Missouri Botanical Garden, Chicago Botanic Garden, Longwood Gardens, United States Botanic Garden, Denver Botanic Gardens, Morris Arboretum (University of Pennsylvania) and Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.
Does cornell botanic gardens have an API?
No public API is recorded for cornell botanic gardens.
What industry is cornell botanic gardens in?
cornell botanic gardens's product category is Public Gardens and Botanical Conservation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAIAFAB, Garden Bed Installation & Planting (Annuals, Perennials, Shrubs), with a secondary code of HSAIAFAL, Native, Pollinator & Drought-Tolerant Garden Installations. Its NAICS code is 71213 and its SIC code is 800.