Gore Place Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF GORE PLACE IS TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE THE 1806 COUNTRY ESTATE OF CHRISTOPHER AND REBECCA GORE AS A UNIQUE COMMUNITY RESOURCE THAT TELLS THE STORY OF EARLY 19TH CENTURY AMERICAN LIFE.
- Income
- $3.0 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 60%
- Reserves
- 20.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 78%
- Employees
- 21
- Volunteers
- 56
- Highest pay
- $127,500, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 20.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 54% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 98% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1560% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2523 of 23 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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 June 30, 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)
- $693,368 spent. MUSEUM OPERATIONS - GORE PLACE SOCIETY PRESERVES, RESTORES AND PROMOTES THE EARLY 19TH CENTURY ESTATE OF CHRISTOPHER AND REBECCA GORE AS A UNIQUE COMMUNITY RESOURCE THAT TELLS THE STORY OF EARLY 19TH CENTURY AMERICA. GORE PLACE IS A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK WITH PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANCE FOR ARCHITECTURE AND AMERICAN LABOR HISTORY. THE MANSION HOUSES THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF EARLY 19TH CENTURY BOSTON-MADE FURNITURE IN A HISTORIC HOUSE. GORE PLACE IS ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS. THE GORE ESTATE HAS 50 ACRES OF LAWNS, GARDENS AND FARM FIELDS WITH A 1793 CARRIAGE HOUSE, AN 1806 MANSION, AN 1835 FARM MANAGER'S COTTAGE AND A SMALL FARM OF PERIOD BREEDS OF SHEEP AND POULTRY. A YEAR-ROUND CALENDAR OF PROGRAMS INCLUDES DAY AND EVENING TOURS, EXHIBITS, LECTURES, DRAMAS, CONCERTS, CLASSROOM AND FAMILY EDUCATION PROGRAMS BOTH IN THE MANSION AND ON THE FARM, PUBLICATIONS, WORKSHOPS, FARM GATHERINGS, FARM STAND, SUMMER INTERN PROGRAM AND FESTIVALS. THE LARGEST EVENT IS THE ANNUAL SHEEP SHEARING FESTIVAL IN APRIL. AN ESTIMATED 30,000 VISITORS USE THE ESTATE ANNUALLY FOR PROGRAMS AND RECREATION.
- $120,800 spent. PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION - THE MANSION WAS DESIGNED BY REBECCA GORE AND FRENCH ARCHITECT JACQUES-GUILLAUME LEGRAND AFTER CHRISTOPHER GORE HAD COMPLETED DIPLOMATIC DUTY IN ENGLAND. THE 50 ROOM BRICK STRUCTURE IS THE OLDEST SURVIVING ELECTED GOVERNOR'S MANSION IN MASSACHUSETTS AND IS AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF AMERICAN NEOCLASSICAL (FEDERAL) ARCHITECTURE. THERE ARE HIGH CEILINGS, MARBLE FLOORS, OVAL ROOMS, CURVED DOORS AND MOLDINGS, A FULL-SPIRAL CANTILEVERED STAIRCASE AND LARGE WINDOWS. GORE PLACE HAS A PROGRAM OF SCHOLARLY RESEARCH TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND INTERPRET HOW THE GORES LIVED ON THE ESTATE AND TO GUIDE INTERPRETIVE PLANNING AND PROGRAMS. A MASTER LANDSCAPE PLAN AND A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE GORE PLACE FARM GUIDE FUTURE PRESERVATION OF THE LANDSCAPE. YEAR ROUND EDUCATION AND INTERPRETATION PROGRAMS AT GORE PLACE ATTRACT MORE THAN 15,000 VISITORS EACH YEAR. TOURS IN THE MANSION HAVE MULTI-SENSORY TOUCHABLE OBJECTS AND GUIDES WHO ARE TRAINED IN GIVING TOURS TO VISITORS WITH A VARIETY OF ABILITIES. THERE ARE ALSO COSTUMED GUIDED EVENING TOURS. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE SEASONAL EXHIBITS AND LECTURES, SELF-GUIDED TAKE-A-WALK BACKPACKS FOR OUTDOOR NATURE EXPLORATION, AN OUTDOOR STORY TRAIL WITH ILLUSTRATED PAGES FROM A CHILD'S BOOK THAT CHANGES WITH THE SEASON, A BOOK NOOK AND BENCHES TO ENCOURAGE READING, WINTER SNOWSHOEING, PRESCHOOL PLAY TIMES, AN ANNUAL COMMUNITY BOOK SALE, OUTDOOR SCAVENGER HUNTS, DRAMAS, WORKSHOPS, CONCERTS, AND TEAS. PUBLICATIONS INCLUDE A BIOGRAPHY OF THE GORES, THE HOUSE SERVANT'S DIRECTORY, BY ROBERT ROBERTS, WHO WAS A BUTLER TO THE GORES, A DVD ON THE GORE STORY, A SELF-GUIDED WALKING TOUR, AND SEVERAL SMALLER PUBLICATIONS ON THE GORE STORY. THE 50 ACRE GORE ESTATE IS MAINTAINED AS AN AGRARIAN LANDSCAPE AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DURING THE GORE OCCUPANCY. THERE ARE PERIOD VARIETIES OF SHEEP AND POULTRY AS WELL AS ORGANICALLY GROWN RAISED BED. EGGS AND MEAT ARE SOLD ON SITE. HORTICULTURE AND AGRICULTURE WORKSHOPS OFFER ADVICE AND INSTRUCTION FOR LOCAL GARDENERS, WHILE CORN ROASTS, OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES AND WAGON RIDES ENCOURAGE VISITORS TO ENJOY THE OPEN SPACE AND ANIMALS. COMMUNITY GROUPS USE THE GROUNDS FOR PROGRAMS THAT REQUIRE OPEN LAND, SUCH AS CUB SCOUT ROCKET DAY, ARCHERY LESSONS, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL BARBEQUE, AND THE TRAVELING VIETNAM VETERANS MOVING MEMORIAL WALL. THE GORE PLACE FARM IS A UNIQUE COMMUNITY RESOURCE SERVING MORE THAN 15,000 VISITORS EACH YEAR.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1946.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 2026.
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