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Massachusetts Golf Association Inc

EIN 04-2487562 · Norton, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE AND PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY AND VALUES OF GOLF THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Income
$9.2 million
Spending
$8.0 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
17.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 72%
Employees
91
Volunteers
290
Highest pay
$355,055, executive director/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $3.0 million spent. GOLF EVENT REGISTRATION FEES - EVERY YEAR, THOUSANDS OF MASSACHUSETTS GOLFERS OF ALL ABILITIES COMPETE IN VARYING EVENTS RANGING FROM STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, MEMBER TOURNAMENTS, AND USGA REGIONAL QUALIFYING EVENTS. THE PROCEEDS FROM THESE EVENTS HELP SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION IN ITS EXEMPT PURPOSE TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THE SPORT OF GOLF IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS.
  2. $1.8 million spent. GOLF FEES AND RELATED/JUNIOR GOLF PROGRAM - NEW WADING RIVER COUNTRY CLUB, LLC/DBA THE LINKS AT MASS GOLF SERVES AS A PERMANENT GOLF EDUCATION CENTER FOR MASSACHUSETTS THAT PROVIDES ACCESS FOR MANY YOUTH-BASED COMMUNITY PROGRAMS WITH THE GOAL OF POSITIVELY AFFECTING THE LIVES OF UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE STATE.THE LINKS IS THE HOME BASE FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS CHAPTER OF THE NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED THE FIRST TEE PROGRAM. A SERIES OF DAY AND WEEKLONG CLINICS ARE HOSTED FOR VARIOUS YOUTH AND COMMUNITY GROUPS AT THE CLUB THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS. IN ADDITION, THE FIRST TEE OF MASSACHUSETTS RUNS SATELLITE FACILITIES DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS IN THE FOLLOWING CITIES WITHIN MASSACHUSETTS; SPRINGFIELD, HYANNIS, BOSTON, NATICK AND BROCKTON. THE COURSE AT THE LINKS IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC YEAR-ROUND - WEATHER PERMITTING - AND PROVIDES AFFORDABLE GOLF ACCESS FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING JUNIORS, SENIORS AND WOMEN.
  3. $1.4 million spent. HANDICAPPING SERVICE - THE MGA PROVIDES ACCURATE AND TIMELY HANDICAP INDEXES FOR ROUGHLY 135,000 GOLFERS IN MASSACHUSETTS AND UPHOLDS THE INTEGRITY OF THE USGA HANDICAP SYSTEM. MAINTAINING A HANDICAP INDEX ALLOWS GOLFERS OF VARYING SKILL LEVELS TO COMPETE ON AN EQUITABLE BASIS.
  4. $1.0 million spent. MISCELLANEOUS - COURSE RATING, MEASURING AND MARKING - THE MGA RATES COURSES FOR MEN AND WOMEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE USGA COURSE & SLOPE RATING SYSTEM. PRECISE RATINGS ARE PROVIDED FOR EACH SET OF TEES SO THAT GOLFERS CAN ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF AN ACCURATE AND EQUITABLE HANDICAP SYSTEM. THE MGA ALSO ACCURATELY MEASURES COURSES TO ENSURE PRECISE RATINGS. ADDITIONALLY, THE MGA ASSISTS ITS CLUBS IN PROPERLY MARKING AND DEFINING THEIR GOLF COURSES (I.E. WATER HAZARDS, OUT OF BOUNDS, BALL DROPS, ETC.) FOR EITHER COMPETITIVE OR RECREATIONAL PLAY SO THAT MEMBERS CAN BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO PLAYING UNDER THE RULES OF GOLF. THESE PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED AS A COMPLIMENTARY SERVICE TO GOLF CLUBS.EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS - THE MGA CONDUCTS EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS ON A MYRIAD OF TOPICS INCLUDING THE RULES OF GOLF, ETIQUETTE, HANDICAP SYSTEM, TOURNAMENT PAIRING PROGRAMS AND COURSE RATING.USGA LIAISON - THE MGA ASSISTS THE USGA WITH NATIONAL ISSUES AFFECTING AMATEUR GOLF, PROCESSES AMATEUR STATUS REINSTATEMENT APPLICATIONS, CONDUCTS QUALIFYING ROUNDS FOR USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS AND UPHOLDS THE INTEGRITY OF THE USGA HANDICAP SYSTEM. THE USGA RELIES HEAVILY ON STATE AND REGIONAL GOLF ASSOCIATIONS TO COORDINATE ITS PROGRAMS AND ACCOMPLISH ITS OBJECTIVES.RENTALS - THE MGA PROVIDES VARIOUS UNAFFILIATED GOLF RELATED TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS WITH OFFICE SPACE IN THE ASSOCIATION'S PROPERTY - THE GOLF HOUSE - AT LESS THAN FAIR RENTAL VALUE. TWO ORGANIZATIONS, OCCUPYING APPROXIMATELY 25% OF THE OFFICE SPACE IN THE GOLF HOUSE, PAY RENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR LEASES, RESPECTIVELY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1990.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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.

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.