Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Foundation

“The foundation board of trustees has delegated authority to an executive committee to act on behalf of the board in between board meetings. The executive committee consists of the immediate past president, the president (who shall be the chair), the vice president, the dhs trustee, the chairs of committee of the board. All members of the executive committee are current trustees.”

“The board includes the following trustees: dhs trustee: one member of the board shall be the head of the department of horticultural science (or successor unit) at the university of minnesota. Auxiliary trustee: one member of the board shall be elected by the minnesota landscape arboretum auxiliary. Regent trustees: the board of regents of the university of minnesota shall designate individuals for election as trustees such that the regent trustees, together with the dhs trustee, constitute no less than one-quarter of the total number of trustees.”

“The form 990 is prepared by an outside consultant. A draft of the public disclosure version of the form 990 is provided to the audit/finance committee who reviews the return and recommends approval to the full board. The public disclosure version of the form 990 is provided to all board members for their review prior to filing with the irs.”

“The conflict of interest statement is directed not only to trustees and officers, but to all employees who can influence the actions of the foundation. Those persons shall exercise the utmost good faith in all transactions involved in their duties, and they shall not use their positions with the foundation or knowledge gained for their personal benefit. Such individuals shall scrupulously avoid any conduct that might adversely affect the confidence of the public in the integrity of the foundation. Disclosure of any conflict of interest as listed in the policy should be made to the arboretum director (or if she or he is the one with the conflict, then to the board chair), who shall bring the matter to the attention of the board or a duly constituted committee thereof. Disclosure involving directors should be made to the board chair, (or if she or he is the one with the conflict, then to the board vice-chair) who shall bring these matters to the board or a duly constituted committee thereof. The board or a duly constituted committee thereof shall determine whether a conflict exists and in the case of an existing conflict, whether the contemplated transaction may be authorized as just, fair, and reasonable to the foundation. The decision of the board or a duly constituted committee thereof on these matters will rest in their sole discretion, and their concern must be the welfare of the foundation and the advancement of its purpose. Each officer, trustee, committee member or executive who is presently serving the foundation or who may hereafter become associated with the foundation shall annually complete a conflict of interest disclosure statement.”

“The foundation makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements available to the public upon request.”

“Performing essential duties across all programs, departments and operations, volunteers play a vital role in the success and maintenance of the minnesota landscape arboretum and its beautiful gardens. More than 1,162 volunteers (all in active status) served 41,295 hours in various capacities in fiscal year 2025. For the calendar year 2024, 3,283 master gardener volunteers provided their service to their communities, including at the arboretum, sharing research-based horticultural practices with the public on gardening and landscapes. Without volunteers the arboretum could not be the premier public garden that it is.”

“There were no changes from the prior year.”

“The form 990 reporting was amended to correct errors in the prior year revenue in part i, lines 8-12 and the prior year expenses in part i, lines 13-19 and to agree with the form 990 reporting for the year ending june 30, 2024. No other changes were made from the originally filed form 990 for the year ending june 30, 2025.”