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Heritage Plantation of Sandwich Inc

EIN 04-2704457 · Sandwich, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HERITAGE MUSEUM AND GARDENS CELEBRATES THE LANDSCAPES AND CULTURE OF OUR REGION AND INSPIRES PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO LEARN TOGETHER. WE DO THIS BY SHARING EXCELLENCE IN HORTICUTURE, GARDEN DESIGN, STEM EDUCATION, OUTDOOR DISCOVERY AND THE EXHIBITION OF THE GREAT COLLECTIONS.

Income
$13.4 million
Spending
$7.0 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
7.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
131
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$260,024, president &

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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 48% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 105% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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. $562,199 spent. COLLECTIONS - HERITAGE PROVIDES MAJOR EXHIBITIONS EACH YEAR BASED ON IT'S 18,000 OBJECT COLLECTIONS WHICH INCLUDES AMERICAN AUTOMOBILES, SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ART, AND HISTORICAL OBJECTS WITH A FOCUS ON CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS. IN ADDITION, HERITAGE OFFERS ANNUAL SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS WHICH EXAMINE ASPECTS OF OUR REGIONAL CULTURE. OUTSIDE, HERITAGE PRESENTS ANNUAL INSTALLATIONS BY CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS. IN ADDITION TO PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE EXHIBITS, THE COLLECTIONS STAFF CARE FOR AND MANAGE OUR PERMANANT COLLECTIONS.
  2. $89,594 spent. HORTICULTURE - ABOUT 60 ACRES OF HERITAGE'S 100 ACRE PROPERTY ARE INTENSELY PLANTED. THESE INCLUDE OUR INTERNATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT COLLECTIONS OF SPECIMEM TREES,RHODODENDRONS, HOSTAS, DAYLILIES AND HYDRANGEAS. A MAZE GARDEN HOUSES OUR THREE-SEASON VINE COLLECTION, A LABYRINTH, FLUME FOUNTAIN, AND THE MCGRAW FAMILY GARDEN OF THE SENSES APPEALS TO ALL FIVE SENSES. HERITAGE WORKS FREQUENTLY WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS RESEARCHING AND TESTING OF NEW HORTICULTURE METHODS. WE CATALOGUE OUR PLANTS AND SHARE INFORMATION WITH THE FIELD ONLINE.
  3. $4.7 million spent. SCHOOL AND PROGRAMS - HERITAGE PROVIDES BROAD EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS FOR FORMAL AND INFORMAL SETTINGS. OVER 60,000 CHILDREN ARE SERVED IN FORMAL AND INFORMAL SETTINGS. FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN, THIS INCLUSES HIDDEN HOLLOW, THE OUTDOOR DISCOVERY AREA AND FIELD TRIPS. FAMILY INFORMAL LEARNING PROGRAMS INCLUDE SPECIAL THEME LEARNING DAYS, FESTIVAL WEEKS AND SPECIAL TOURS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF OUR EXHIBITS. FOR ADULTS, A SERIES INCLUDING BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS FOR AUTO ENTHUSIASTS, HYDRANGEA UNIVERSITY AND OTHER HORTICULTURE RELATED WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, LECTURES, GUIDED TOURS, AND CURATOR-LED TALKS. AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES PAID OPPORTUNITIES FOR 6 HORTICULTURE GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS ANNUALLY WHO WORK WITH OUR HORTICULTURE PROFESSIONALS. IN ADDITION, PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS DO PRACTICUMS AND FULFILL OTHER CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS INTERNING IN THE HUNDRED ACRE SCHOOL. SCHOOL AND PROGRAMS - HERITAGE PROVIDES BROAD EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS FOR FORMAL AND INFORMAL SETTINGS. OVER 60,000 CHILDREN ARE SERVED IN FORMAL AND INFORMAL SETTINGS. FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN, THIS INCLUSES HIDDEN HOLLOW, THE OUTDOOR DISCOVERY AREA AND FIELD TRIPS. FAMILY INFORMAL LEARNING PROGRAMS INCLUDE SPECIAL THEME LEARNING DAYS, FESTIVAL WEEKS AND SPECIAL TOURS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF OUR EXHIBITS. FOR ADULTS, A SERIES INCLUDING BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS FOR AUTO ENTHUSIASTS, HYDRANGEA UNIVERSITY AND OTHER HORTICULTURE RELATED WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, LECTURES, GUIDED TOURS, AND CURATOR-LED TALKS. AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES PAID OPPORTUNITIES FOR 6 HORTICULTURE GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS ANNUALLY WHO WORK WITH OUR HORTICULTURE PROFESSIONALS. IN ADDITION, PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS DO PRACTICUMS AND FULFILL OTHER CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS INTERNING IN THE HUNDRED ACRE SCHOOL.
  4. LINE 1: HERITAGE MUSEUMS & GARDENS CELEBRATES THE LANDSCAPES AND CULTURE OF OUR REGION AND INSPIRES PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO EXPLORE, DISCOVER AND LEARN TOGETHER. WE DO THIS THROUGH EXCELLENCE IN HORTICULTURE, GARDEN DESIGN, STEM EDUCATION, OUTDOOR DISCOVERY AND THE EXHIBITION OF GREAT COLLECTIONS. HERITAGE PROVIDES A PLACE TO UNPLUG AND RECONNECT WITH FAMILY, WITH COMMUNITY, WITH THE OUTDOORS, AND WITH SELF. WE ARE A PERFECT ENVIRONMENT FOR LEARNING. WE ARE AN ACTIVE, INNOVATIVE LEARNING CENTER THAT HELPS PEOPLE FIND AND PURSUE A LIFE-LONG PASSION IN THE FIELDS OF HORTICULTURE, GARDEN DESIGN, STUDY OF THE PAST AND SIMPLE ENJOYMENT OF THE BEAUTY AROUND THEM. WE UTILIZE OUR HOME ON CAPE COD - A SYMBOL OF SUMMER - TO OPEN PEOPLE'S MINDS AND HEARTS TO THE JOY OF LIFE-LONG LEARNING IN AN UNHURRIED, WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT. WE ARE A PLACE TO MEET AND BE INSPIRED BY OTHERS WHO ARE PURSUING THEIR OWN PASSIONATE INTERESTS. WE CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH HORTICULTURAL RESEARCH, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF FOCUSED STUDY. WE COLLABORATE AND PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS, PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS WHO SHARE OUR GOALS AND PERSECTIVE IN ORDER TO ADVANCE OUR WORK AND ACHEIVE THE SCALE NECESSARY TO MAKE INROADS IN OUR AREAS OF INTEREST.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1994.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.