MCKEE BOTANICAL GARDEN INC

• Maintain excellence and integrity of McKee's horticultural collections, expand plant biodiversity within the Garden, and ensure that environmental sustainability remains at the forefront of our work.
• Continue to increase overall attendance to positively impact public awareness, revenue, and organizational sustainability.
• Increase endowment and the number of members in the McKee Legacy Society (planned giving) for long-term organizational sustainability.
• Provide innovative and engaging educational programming that promotes environmental stewardship, nurtures a meaningful bond between people and nature, and enriches visitors’ experiences in support of the McKee’s mission.

• In honor of McKee’s 20th anniversary, a Garden Revitalization Project will take place in 2021 – 2022 and will focus on enhancing select areas within the Garden.
• Maintain and enhance ongoing in-house initiatives to enrich Garden displays.
• Maintain excellence in McKee’s horticultural collections and enhance annual events, exhibitions, and activities that appeal to and are open to the public.
• Continue to advertise with local print, digital, and radio advertisers and increase in-house digital communications with active and lapsed members to promote the Children’s Garden, special events, exhibitions, and other unique activities in the Garden.
• Partner with residential communities, local schools, and groups to introduce member prospects about opportunities to engage with the Garden.
• Offer added incentives to becoming a member both to visitors and lapsed members at onsite events and during seasonal gift-giving holidays.
• Enhance digital ticketing technologies to promote membership and increase visitor satisfaction by making it easier for people to visit.
• Engage Board and Committee members to assist in identifying and soliciting prospective individual and corporate members.
• Enact a Legacy Society communication plan for 2021-22 to target prospective McKee Legacy Society members.
• Enhance the presence of the McKee Legacy Society on McKee's website and increase promotion through print and digital channels.
• Continue to meet monthly with Planned Giving Committee to identify prospects, evaluate efforts, and develop new strategies.
• Host Legacy Giving workshops and seminars at McKee for prospects, McKee volunteers, and local Life Care Centers.
• Offer unique and innovative workshops, classes, and lectures that focus on gardening, wellness, cooking, music, art, and other creative expressions.
• Offer weekly sensory sessions, dramatic play sessions, and family experiences in the Children’s Garden that foster critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and develop a sense of exploration and adventure in children.
• Continue to design and provide complimentary interactive activity guides to children, which reinforce environmental concepts and stewardship.
• Continue to offer and enhance Garden tours to enrich and inform visitors’ experiences of McKee’s history, mission, and horticultural collections.

For twenty years, McKee Botanical Garden has committed to strengthening its brand as a sustainable leader within the community and positively impacting Indian River County economically, culturally, and environmentally. As one of the area’s premier destinations and historical locations, McKee attracts visitors from across Florida, the United States, and internationally. Conveniently located on US Highway 1 and only five miles from the Barrier Island, the Garden is an accessible destination for seasonal and permanent residents. McKee Botanical Garden is committed to providing relevant, quality programming by sharing ideas, resources, and best practices to ensure that we educate and influence environmental stewardship effectively and efficiently.

McKee’s Board of Directors and Executive Director are strong leaders and represent the area's diversity of ages and backgrounds. McKee Botanical Garden is a fiscally sound non-profit organization, as demonstrated by its strong leadership and 20 years of operations. McKee has an engaged Board of Directors and multiple committees, all of whom meet regularly, offer their expertise, and financially support the Garden. The Executive and Finance Committee meet monthly and are responsible for reviewing and overseeing the financials. The Garden employs seventeen full and part-time employees and has a robust volunteer program consists of over 150 active volunteers.

Since opening in 2001, the Garden has doubled attendance from 20,000 in the first year to over 50,000 visitors, and membership has grown to nearly 3,500. McKee has implemented a sustainable funding strategy that generates revenue streams from admissions, memberships, individual donations, special events, foundation, corporate, government grants, corporate sponsorships, planned giving and earned income from gift shop sales, class fees, etc space rentals. These diverse, predictable, and sustainable revenue streams will ensure continuity for future years.

In 2019, McKee successfully completed its first capital campaign since its reopening in 2001. A total of $7 million was raised in three-years to build the new Children’s Garden and increase McKee’s existing endowment to $3.2 million.

The new Children's Garden at McKee is the only of its kind in Indian River County and a much-needed resource in our community. The lush one-acre area provides children and families with an interactive outdoor landscape in a safe, natural environment. Its mission is to create a fun and whimsical outdoor destination that inspires imagination and curiosity in children through interaction, education, and exploration.

McKee Botanical Garden is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is endorsed by the Garden Conservancy as a project of national significance. McKee’s architecture and artifacts are irreplaceable glimpses into Old Florida and United States history.

In 2019, McKee successfully completed its first capital campaign since its reopening in 2001. A total of $7 million was raised in three-years to build the new Children’s Garden and increase McKee’s existing endowment to $3.2 million.

The Children’s Garden successfully opened in January 2020 and, as a result, has significantly increased membership and attendance and has positively impacted the visitor experience.
McKee now employs a full-time Education coordinator and has expanded education programs for children and adults.

McKee has developed a new board recruiting program and board education program. The recruiting program includes an assessment of skills, networks, and community representation. The education program is designed to build the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to be an effective ambassador in the community.

FY21 attendance is tracking to be the highest in the history of the Garden. Membership has maintained a 75% retention rate and has exceeded all past years.

McKee is confident it will be able to increase organizational sustainability by doing the following:
• Continuing to leverage our Board of Directors and Committee members to cultivate existing donors as well as identify and engage prospective donors.
• Ongoing enhancement of digital technologies to attract a wider scope of visitors, gain insights on visitor behavior, and promote membership.
• Improving our special events and promotions to increase attendance and revenue.
• Developing stronger relations and monetary/in-kind support from local businesses and corporations.