The New York Botanical Garden
Lobbying client
The New York Botanical Garden is a botanical garden and research institution at Bronx Park in the Bronx, established in 1891 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1967. In our filing data it is among the more active clients we track, filing 42 lobbying disclosures since 2024 and reaching 15 City Council members through its lobbyists CMW Strategies LLC and London House LLC, on budget and capital funding for the Garden across the FY25 and FY26 city budgets. It also holds active city contracts worth about $24.7 million.
- Council members lobbied
- 15
- Filings (since 2024)
- 45
- Lobbying compensation (since 2024)
- $343,801
- Industry (per city contracts)
- Construction Services
- City contracts (active)
- $24,679,924 · 5 contracts
- Awarded all-time
- $53,272,302 · 24 since 2007, incl. expired
- Paid to date
- $32,464,161
- Won without a fresh bid
- 100% of contract value · $53,247,302 · 23 contracts
- Discretionary funding (FY2009-FY2027)
- $5,128,619 · 223 awards
- Funding history
- Funded every year since FY2009 (19 years running)
- Top officer pay (FY2024)
- $921,163 · Jennifer Bernstein, CEO & The William C. Steer Sr. President
- Based in
- Bronx, NY
Lobbied these council members
- Eric Dinowitz Council Member, District 11 (Bronx)
- Kevin C. Riley Council Member, District 12 (Bronx)
- Oswald J. Feliz Council Member, District 15 (Bronx)
- Althea V. Stevens Council Member, District 16 (Bronx)
- Justin E. Sanchez Council Member, District 17 (Bronx)
- Amanda C. Farías Council Member, District 18 (Bronx)
- Sandra Ung Council Member, District 20 (Queens)
- Linda Lee Council Member, District 23 (Queens)
- Nantasha M. Williams Council Member, District 27 (Queens)
- Julie Menin Council Member, District 5 (Manhattan)
- Shaun Abreu Council Member, District 7 (Manhattan)
Represented by lobbyist firms
- CMW Strategies LLC Lobbyist firm
- London House LLC Lobbyist firm
Holds contracts at
- Department of Cultural Affairs City agency
- Department of Design and Construction City agency
- Department of Environmental Protection City agency
Funded by these agencies
- Department of Cultural Affairs City agency
- Department of Environmental Protection City agency
- Department of Parks and Recreation City agency
- Department of Sanitation City agency
Lobbied former members
Members who have since left their seat
- Adrienne Adams
- Carlina Rivera
- Diana Ayala
- Justin Brannan
What they lobbied on
subjects from their filings
- Budget - Budget Support for Cultural Institutions for Capital and Expense
- Budget - Capital Funding
- Budget - Capital and Member Item
- Budget - FY25 Budget Support Capital and Expense
- Budget - FY26 Funding
- Budget - Funding
City contracts
Registered city contracts, largest first by current contract value (not amount spent): running now, then registered to start later, then ended. Totals count every registered contract. Each line shows its Checkbook contract ID. The tag on each row is how it was awarded (“no-bid” = non-competitive).
- Demolition and construction at NYBG. Department of Design and Construction · CT185020261407756 $15,965,680
- NYBG - Children's Adventure Garden Renovations Department of Design and Construction · CT185020241404171 $3,960,784
- CCG: Construction BID Department of Design and Construction · CT185020251408356 $2,280,392
- Discretionary purchase of trams and front loader for NYBG Department of Cultural Affairs · CT112620268802623 $2,153,000
- Discretionary purchase of vehicles for NYBG Department of Cultural Affairs · CT112620221412256 $320,068
- PV205CONS, NY Botanical Gdn Boiler Rep Department of Design and Construction · CT185020191420613 · ended 2022 $12,843,137
- Edible Academy Building and Family Garden Enhancements NYBG Department of Design and Construction · CT185020161415515 · ended 2019 $9,901,961
- Green Zone and ACE at NYBG Department of Design and Construction · CT185020151424347 · ended 2018 $2,919,471
- NY Botanical Garden Permeable Paving Department of Environmental Protection · CT182620171403456 · ended 2017 $993,641
- Purchase of a compressed natural gas tram fleet for NYBG Department of Cultural Affairs · CT112620191423315 · ended 2025 $950,650
Largest payments, by purpose
The organization's largest individual city payments (roughly $25,000 and up), grouped by purpose, to show what recent money was for. This is NOT a total — smaller payments aren't listed; see “Paid to date” above for the complete amount paid against its contracts. Fiscal years 2020 and later.
- PV205CONS, NY Botanical Gdn Boiler Rep Department of Cultural Affairs · FY2020 · 3 payments $6,519,850
- PV205CONS, NY Botanical Gdn Boiler Rep Department of Cultural Affairs · FY2021 · 2 payments $2,412,043
- PV205CONS, NY Botanical Gdn Boiler Rep Department of Cultural Affairs · FY2023 $2,000,000
- NYBG - Children's Adventure Garden Renovations Department of Cultural Affairs · FY2026 $1,651,165
- NY Botanical Garden Permeable Paving Department of Environmental Protection · FY2020 $768,816
- Purchase of a compressed natural gas tram fleet for NYBG Department of Cultural Affairs · FY2026 $450,650
- Edible Academy Building and Family Garden Enhancements NYBG Department of Cultural Affairs · FY2020 $167,261
- Discretionary purchase of vehicles for NYBG Department of Cultural Affairs · FY2026 $136,035
- GARDENER TRAINING PROGRAM FOR POP Department of Parks and Recreation · FY2026 $100,000
- Performance of NYC Compost Project educational services and technical assistance to community compost sites. Department of Sanitation · FY2024 $92,276
- Performance of NYC Compost Project educational services and technical assistance to community compost sites. Department of Sanitation · FY2023 $27,600
- NYC Parks Advanced Principles of Urban Tree Care Department of Parks and Recreation · FY2027 $26,525
- ANNUAL ADVANCE PRINCIPLES OF URBAN TREE CARE TRAINING Department of Parks and Recreation · FY2026 $25,750
Discretionary funding received
City Council discretionary (member-item) awards, largest first. Covers FY2009-FY2027.
- SCI Network NYC CM Speaker · Speaker's Initiative · DCLA · FY2026 $282,200
- SCI Network NYC CM Speaker · Speaker's Initiative · DCLA · FY2027 $282,200
- Community Composting Community Composting · DCLA · FY2025 $100,000
- Community Cultural Enrichment CM Speaker · Speaker's Initiative · DCLA · FY2025 $100,000
- Community Composting at Cultural Institutions Groups Community Composting at Cultural Institutions Groups · DCLA · FY2026 $100,000
- Community Composting at Cultural Institutions Groups Community Composting at Cultural Institutions Groups · DCLA · FY2027 $100,000
- Speaker's Initiative Speaker's Initiative · DCLA · FY2022 $97,200
- Speaker's Initiative CM Speaker · Speaker's Initiative · DCLA · FY2023 $97,200
- Speaker's Initiative CM Speaker · Speaker's Initiative · DCLA · FY2024 $97,200
- SCI Network NYC CM Speaker · Speaker's Initiative · DCLA · FY2025 $97,200
- Senior Events & Tours CM Feliz · Support Our Seniors · DCLA · FY2021 $80,000
- Edible Academy Partnership Program CM Speaker · Speaker's Initiative · DCLA · FY2024 $75,000
- Edible Academy Partnership Program CM Speaker · Speaker's Initiative · DCLA · FY2025 $75,000
- Edible Academy Partnership Program CM Speaker · DCLA · FY2026 $75,000
- Edible Academy Partnership Program CM Speaker · DCLA · FY2027 $75,000
- Programming @ DFTA & NYCHA Senior Centers Support Our Seniors · DCLA · FY2019 $60,000
- Senior Events & Tours CM Torres · Support Our Seniors · DCLA · FY2020 $60,000
- A Greener NYC A Greener NYC · DYCD · FY2015 $50,000
- A Greener NYC A Greener NYC · DCLA · FY2016 $50,000
- Speaker's Initiative Speaker's Initiative · DCLA · FY2018 $50,000
Funded by these council members
City Council members who steered discretionary (member-item) money to this organization, largest first (FY2020 and later, where the sponsoring member is disclosed). Sitting members link to their page.
- Oswald J. Feliz FY2021-2027 · 21 awards $525,000
- Amanda C. Farías FY2022-2027 · 12 awards $243,000
- Salamanca FY2020-2025 · 8 awards $205,000
- Pierina Ana Sanchez FY2022-2025 · 11 awards $155,000
- Ritchie Torres FY2020 · 3 awards $105,000
- Althea V. Stevens FY2022-2027 · 11 awards $100,000
- Kevin C. Riley FY2023-2027 · 5 awards $100,000
- Marmorato FY2024-2025 · 5 awards $90,000
- Darlene Mealy FY2023-2027 · 7 awards $70,000
- Cabrera FY2020-2021 · 6 awards $59,000
- Ayala FY2020-2025 · 6 awards $55,000
- Shirley Aldebol FY2026-2027 · 2 awards $50,000
- Justin E. Sanchez FY2026 · 2 awards $44,000
- Gjonaj FY2020-2021 · 4 awards $40,000
- Justin E. Sanchez FY2027 · 1 award $40,000
- Eric Dinowitz FY2025-2027 · 3 awards $30,000
- Velazquez FY2022-2023 · 3 awards $25,000
- Vanessa Gibson FY2020-2021 · 2 awards $20,000
- Diaz FY2020-2021 · 2 awards $16,000
- Cohen FY2020-2021 · 2 awards $15,000
Officer & key-staff pay
Reportable compensation from this organization's IRS Form 990 (Part VII), latest available filing (FY2024). Includes pay from related organizations where reported; an annual figure, not a running total. Source: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
- Jennifer Bernstein CEO & The William C. Steer Sr. President $921,163
- Lauren Turchio Chief Operating Officer $503,591
- Todd Forrest Arthur Ross VP Horticulture & Living $451,953
- Justin Jamail General Counsel $424,396
- Isaac Thweatt Chief Advancement Officer $415,372
- Michael Crowley Chief Marketing Officer $412,680
Officer pay over time
Total officer pay changed -3% from FY2020 to FY2024. Top-officer reportable compensation by year (org-paid only), with each year's share of total revenue. Source: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer 990 filings.
- FY2020 Carrie R Barratt End 73120 · 5.3% of revenue $1,389,881
- FY2021 Joseph V Cossaboom End 821 · 5.58% of revenue $916,868
- FY2022 Jennifer Bernstein · 5.92% of revenue $827,455
- FY2023 Jennifer Bernstein · 4.28% of revenue $865,842
- FY2024 Jennifer Bernstein · 4.04% of revenue $921,163
Where their influence converges
Outside interests connected to this official through more than one independent channel — drawn straight from the records the rest of the site already shows. “Lobbied them” = a lobbying filing that named the member. “Outside spending” = an independent-expenditure committee the interest funds spent in
- Althea V. Stevens It lobbied them; it holds contracts at 1 agency in their committees' jurisdiction
- Amanda C. Farías It lobbied them; it holds contracts at 1 agency in their committees' jurisdiction
- Eric Dinowitz It lobbied them; it holds contracts at 1 agency in their committees' jurisdiction
- Justin E. Sanchez It lobbied them; it holds contracts at 2 agencies in their committees' jurisdiction
- Nantasha M. Williams It lobbied them; it holds contracts at 1 agency in their committees' jurisdiction
- Sandra Ung It lobbied them; it holds contracts at 1 agency in their committees' jurisdiction
- Shaun Abreu It lobbied them; it holds contracts at 1 agency in their committees' jurisdiction
Community project funding secured by (FY2024)
Members of New York's congressional delegation named as requestors of an enacted FY2024 community project for this organization, in the House Appropriations Committee's own final project tables. Each figure is the amount APPROPRIATED for that project, not money paid out to this organization to date.
- Charles E. Schumer Welikia Project · New York, NY · Commerce, Justice, Science $500,000
Community project funding requested by (FY2026)
Members who asked the House Appropriations Committee to fund a FY2026 community project for this organization. These are requests, not awards: the FY2026 bills were enacted, but the committee has not published final FY2026 project tables, so whether any of these was funded is not shown here. Each
- Ritchie Torres Nature Your City: NYBG Climate Research and Public Education · 2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY, Bronx, New York, 10458 · Commerce Justice Science $750,000
Federal awards
Federal awards made directly to this organization in fiscal years 2023 through 2026. Each amount is what the federal government has OBLIGATED on that award as recorded on USAspending.gov as of 2026-08-31 — money committed, not money paid out. These are prime awards only: federal money this
- Institute of Museum and Library Services 45.312 National Leadership Grants · Institute of Museum and Library Services · Grant $912,085
- National Science Foundation 47.074 Biological Sciences · National Science Foundation · Grant $796,540
- National Science Foundation 47.074 Biological Sciences · National Science Foundation · Grant $750,000
- National Science Foundation 47.074 Biological Sciences · National Science Foundation · Grant $583,862
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration 43.001 Science · National Aeronautics and Space Administration · Grant $540,154
- National Science Foundation 47.074 Biological Sciences · National Science Foundation · Grant $523,852
- Department of Commerce 11.469 Congressionally Identified Awards and Projects · National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration · Grant $499,998
- National Science Foundation 47.075 Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences · National Science Foundation · Grant $499,160
- National Science Foundation 47.074 Biological Sciences · National Science Foundation · Grant $471,456
- National Endowment for the Humanities 45.164 Promotion of the Humanities Public Programs · National Endowment for the Humanities · Grant $449,159
- National Science Foundation 47.074 Biological Sciences · National Science Foundation · Grant $424,728
- National Endowment for the Humanities 45.149 Promotion of the Humanities Division of Preservation and Access · National Endowment for the Humanities · Grant $418,415
- National Science Foundation 47.074 Biological Sciences · National Science Foundation · Grant $340,546
- National Science Foundation 47.074 Biological Sciences · National Science Foundation · Grant $338,770
- National Science Foundation 47.074 Biological Sciences · National Science Foundation · Grant $308,074
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration 43.001 Science · National Aeronautics and Space Administration · Grant $249,979
- Institute of Museum and Library Services 45.301 Museums for America · Institute of Museum and Library Services · Grant $249,912
- Institute of Museum and Library Services 45.301 Museums for America · Institute of Museum and Library Services · Grant $245,944
- National Endowment for the Humanities 45.164 Promotion of the Humanities Public Programs · National Endowment for the Humanities · Grant $241,440
- Institute of Museum and Library Services 45.301 Museums for America · Institute of Museum and Library Services · Grant $164,959