In 2017, the Arboretum engaged Benefactor Group to assess the potential impact of an admission fee through a comprehensive discovery process. This process involved interviews, focus groups, an online survey, benchmarking, and secondary research to understand how an admission fee could affect visitation, membership, philanthropic support, and overall revenue. The study yielded positive results, leading to a recommendation for the introduction of an admission fee, while ensuring the inclusion of membership opportunities, strategic partnerships for access, and clear communication to staff and media regarding the rationale behind the change.

Dawes Arboretum continued its partnership with Benefactor Group to successfully implement an admission fee, building on prior collaboration to evaluate the implications of this change. Benefactor Group consultants developed a detailed implementation plan outlining project deliverables, task sequencing, estimated work duration, and cost assessments.