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Blossoms of Hope the Howard County Cherry Tree Project Inc

EIN 20-2857869 · Ellicott City, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENHANCE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS AND SUPPORT FOR OUR COMMUNITY; CANCER-RELATED AND OTHER CAUSES. OUR COMMUNITY BLOSSOMS AS WE CHAMPION HOPE WITH PASSION TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$304,721
Spending
$301,375
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
5
Volunteers
0

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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 109% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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)
  1. $46,324 spent. MENTAL HEALTH SUMMIT - AN IMMERSIVE EXPLORATION OF POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORTS, WITH A FOCUS ON HOW STUDENTS CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND, PRACTICE, AND MODEL THESE STRATEGIES FOR BOTH THEMSELVES AND THEIR PEERS IN REAL-WORLD, APPLIED ENVIRONMENTS. PARTICIPANTS WILL ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL DISCUSSIONS, HANDS-ON LEARNING, AND COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING CENTERED ON STUDENT WELL-BEING AND SCHOOL CLIMATE.
  2. $194,191 spent. TREE PLANTING: BLOSSOMS OF HOPE PLANTS AND MAINTAINS CHERRY TREES ON PUBLIC LANDS AND SELLS TREES TO RESIDENTS AND CORPORATIONS TO ENTICE VISITORS TO VISIT HOWARD COUNTY, MD. A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THESE SALES ARE DISTRIBUTED TO OTHER 501(C)(3) CHARITIES/ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE CANCER AWARENESS AND PREVENTION.

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

  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 November 6, 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 June 2025.

    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 June 2006.

    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 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.