Worcester County Horticultural Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
NEW ENGLAND BOTANIC GARDEN AT TOWER HILL CREATES EXPERIENCES WITH PLANTS THAT INSPIRE PEOPLE AND IMPROVE THE WORLD.
- Income
- $8.7 million
- Spending
- $7.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- 1.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 39%
- Employees
- 123
- Volunteers
- 313
- Highest pay
- $305,678, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2526 of 26 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $2.3 million spent. HORTICULTURE - NEW ENGLAND BOTANIC GARDEN AT TOWER HILL FEATURES SEVENTEEN DISTINCT GARDENS, TWO INDOOR CONSERVATORIES, MEADOWS, WOODLAND PLANT COLLECTIONS, TRAILS, MEADOWS, PONDS, AND CONSERVATION LAND OF 200 ACRES. IN ADDITION, THE GARDEN HAS A FOCUSED OUTREACH IN SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING WORCESTER, THE SECOND LARGEST CITY IN NEW ENGLAND. NEBG STAFF ENGAGES MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROJECTS AIMED IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN URBAN AREAS THROUGH PLANTS AND ACCESS TO NATURE. WITH GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT FROM THE OUTREACH COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, NEBG STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS ON PROJECTS SUCH AS TREE MAINTENANCE, URBAN GREENING, STORMWATER MAINTENANCE, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, AND MORE. NEBG'S OUTREACH WORK ALSO INCLUDES SERVING AS A RESOURCE FOR LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT PLANT-BASED SOLUTIONS TO ISSUES INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CLIMATE CHANGE.
- $3.0 million spent. EDUCATION - ALL OF NEBG'S EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS ARE DESIGNED TO CREATE AN INQUISITIVE, KNOWLEDGEABLE, DIVERSE COMMUNITY, INSPIRED TO STEWARD AND ADVOCATE FOR THE NATURAL WORLD. WE SEEK TO EMPOWER PEOPLE TO WORK TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE AND TO ADDRESS THE GROWING DISCONNECT BETWEEN PEOPLE AND PLANTS. BY EXPERIENCING THE NATURAL WORLD IN YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT THE GARDEN AND IN THE COMMUNITY, CHILDREN GAIN KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURAL WORLD, BECOMING ADVOCATES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND LIFELONG STEWARDS. INTERACTION WITH PLANTS THROUGH NEBG'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS ALLOWS ALL VISITORS TO STRENGTHEN THEIR CONNECTION TO THE WORLD AROUND THEM, BUILD SKILLS TO IDENTIFY AND SOLVE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES, AND GAIN AN AWARENESS AND SENSITIVITY TO THESE ISSUES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1983.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.