# Chicago Horticultural Society Endowment

Chicago Horticultural Society Endowment is an Endowment / Foundation based in Glencoe, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Glencoe, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Glencoe, IL, United States
- **Founded:** 1890
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** chicagobotanic.org
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/chicago-botanic-garden

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Chicago Horticultural Society Endowment is a US-based non-profit organisation established in 1890. It invests on behalf of the Chicago Botanic Garden, focusing on the biotech and life science sectors.

## Sectors

- Real Estate
- Hedge Funds

## People

- Andrew Sinclair — Chair of the Finance & Investment Committee
- Paul Rafac — Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
- Jean M. Franczyk — President and Chief Executive Officer
- Michael R. Zimmerman — Board Chair of the Chicago Horticultural Society

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at the Chicago Horticultural Society Endowment?

The Finance & Investment Committee, chaired by Andrew Sinclair, oversees the endowment's portfolio strategy and manager selection. Sinclair's professional background includes an affiliation with Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Day-to-day financial management is led by Paul Rafac, the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

### How is the Chicago Horticultural Society Endowment related to the Chicago Botanic Garden?

The endowment exists to support the Chicago Botanic Garden, which the Chicago Horticultural Society operates under a public-private partnership with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. The Forest Preserve District owns the 385-acre land, while the Society manages the Garden and controls the endowment. This structure separates land ownership from operational governance.

### What types of assets does the endowment hold beyond standard securities?

Beyond its investment portfolio — which includes U.S. commercial real estate funds, global investment partnerships, and hedge fund allocations — the Society holds a rare book collection, a living plant collection, and a dedicated art collection located at the Garden. These non-financial assets are tied to the institution's cultural and scientific mission.

### Where does the Chicago Horticultural Society's funding come from?

As a non-profit operating entity, the Society generates revenue through Garden admissions, memberships, private philanthropy, and public support, while the endowment serves as a long-term financial reserve. The Forest Preserve District of Cook County provides the land, but the Society is responsible for operating and funding the Garden.

### Who owns the Chicago Botanic Garden property?

The Forest Preserve District of Cook County owns the land at 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe, Illinois. The Chicago Horticultural Society operates the Garden through a cooperative agreement that dates back to 1965, making this a long-standing public-private arrangement.

## Related profiles

- [Chevron Corporation](https://altss.com/profile/chevron-corporation)
- [Chicago Policemen's Annuity & Benefit Fund (PABF)](https://altss.com/profile/chicago-policemen-s-annuity-benefit-fund-pabf)

---

Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/chicago-horticultural-society-endowment

Maintained by Altss — https://altss.com — methodology: https://altss.com/methodology