Morton Arboretum launches $63 million capital campaign

The Morton Arboretum has launched a five-year, $63 million capital campaign that will enable it to deepen its tree-focused scientific and conservation work, expand new tree development, and improve core facilities to meet its strategic vision.

Plans for the Growing Brilliantly campaign include the redevelopment of South Farm, which serves as the operations and plant production hub for the 1,700-acre arboretum in Lisle.

Along with supporting the new South Farm complex, the campaign will fund critical initiatives, including the arboretum's tree conservation and New Plant Development programs, enhancements to the award-winning Children's Garden, and the launch of the Center for Tree Science. The Center for Tree Science will provide opportunities for tree scientists, professionals and students to collaborate and participate in training.

The redevelopment of South Farm is the first project to be undertaken as part of the campaign. Scheduled for completion in late 2017, it will include a new operations building, transportation hub and expanded plant production facilities with 5,400 square feet of new greenhouse space.

Already $35.6 million has been raised in the Growing Brilliantly campaign, a figure that includes the five largest gifts in the arboretum's history. Among them is a $3 million gift from an arboretum trustee; a $3 million gift, including $1 million in matching funds, from the Hamill Family Foundation for arboretum science and conservation programs; and $2.3 million from the Daniel P. Haerther Fund for Development of Trees for the Urban Environment in support of the New Plant Development Program.

The campaign comes on the heels of a record year for the arboretum, when, after years of steady growth, the institution welcomed more than one million visitors in 2015.

"More than ever, trees today need advocates as they face mounting challenges," arboretum President and CEO Gerard T. Donnelly said. "Such generous gifts are critical to helping us achieve our goal of creating a greener, healthier and more beautiful world. Gifts to the campaign support the ever-increasing relevancy of the arboretum's mission to save and plant trees, and position the arboretum for even greater impact and more service to the public in the coming years."

"The Morton Arboretum is a phenomenal outdoor museum of trees and a local treasure whose staff is working to address key scientific issues facing our communities and planet," said Darrell Jackson, chairman of the arboretum's board of trustees and a donor to the Growing Brilliantly campaign. "The day-to-day work of the arboretum as a nonprofit organization depends on a robust stream of funding for all of its programs, from tree science to the Children's Garden. The arboretum is open to the public 365 days a year so each and every day showcases the impact of charitable giving."

The arboretum has been on a trajectory of growth for the past decade, brought about by the site redevelopment of 2004-05 that introduced the Children's Garden and a focus on public outreach.

For information and updates on the Morton Arboretum's Growing Brilliantly campaign, visit mortonarb.org.