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Plan New Hampshire-The Foundation for Shaping the Built Environment

EIN 22-3019910 · Portsmouth, NH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PLAN NH, FOUNDED IN 1989, HAS A MISSION TO FOSTER EXCELLENCE IN THE PLANNING, DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE'S BUILT ENVIRONMENT. OUR MEMBERSHIP IS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY GROUP OF ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, PLANNERS, BUILDERS AND REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS, FINANCIAL AND INSURANCE FIRMS, AND OTHERS WITH AN INTEREST IN HOW, WHAT, AND WHERE WE BUILD, AND THE IMPACT THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT HAS ON OUR DAILY LIVES. SEVERAL NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWNS, CITIES, AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALSO MEMBERS. PLAN NH HAS A VISION OF VIBRANT COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE; COMMUNITIES THAT ARE ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY VIBRANT, IN WHICH: OUR CHANGING CONTEXT IS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION DURING PLANNING AND RELATED DECISIONS; COMMUNITIES BALANCE NECESSARY GROWTH WITH PRESERVING THEIR UNIQUE SENSE OF PLACE; COMPACT, MIXED-USE AREAS ARE ENCOURAGED; THERE ARE REASONABLE, AFFORDABLE CHOICES FOR WHERE TO LIVE AND HOW TO GET ABOUT; WE ARE STEWARDS OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND HISTORIC ASSETS;

Income
$236,441
Spending
$149,086
Spent on programs
57%
Reserves
23.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 47%
Employees
2
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$68,920, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 88 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 23.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    57% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 82 out of 100.

  • 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

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

  • 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, 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 (5)
  1. $5,968 spent. IN APRIL, PLAN NH CONDUCTED A COMMUNITY DESIGN CHARRETTE IN MANCHESTER, NH. IN MAY, PLAN NH HOSTED OUR SPRING WORKSHOP, PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERS AT WORK, IN NASHUA. THE EVENT BEGAN WITH PRESENTATIONS FROM INDUSTRY EXPERTS BEFORE EMBARKING ON A WALKING TOUR HIGHLIGHTING A VARIETY OF DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN NASHUA'S MILLYARD AREA. THE EVENT ENDED WITH A NETWORKING EVENT AT A LOCAL ESTABLISHMENT. IN MAY, PLAN NH ALSO CONDUCTED A COMMUNITY DESIGN CHARRETTE IN NASHUA, NH. IN OCTOBER, PLAN NH ALSO HELD A COMMUNITY DESIGN CHARRETTE IN HAMPTON, NH.
  2. $5,171 spent. IN JANUARY, PLAN NH HOSTED A NEW YEAR NETWORKING EVENT AT ENGELBERTH CONSTRUCTION TO BRING TOGETHER PLAN NH MEMBERS AND OTHERS WHO CARE ABOUT THE PLAN NH MISSION. IN MARCH, PLAN NH ALSO HOSTED A SPRING NETWORKING EVENT AT REVO CASINO & SOCIAL HOUSE IN DOVER, NH. THIS EVENT BROUGHT TOGETHER PLAN NH MEMBERS AND OTHERS WHO CARE ABOUT THE PLAN NH MISSION. IN AUGUST, PLAN NH HOSTED A NETWORKING EVENT AT THE WESTBROOK INN IN DERRY, NH TO BRING TOGETHER PLAN NH MEMBERS AND OTHERS WHO CARE ABOUT THE PLAN NH MISSION. IN SEPTEMBER, PLAN NH HOSTED OUR FALL CONFERENCE AT HOTEL CONCORD IN CONCORD, NH. THERE WERE OVER 65 ATTENDEES FOR THIS CONFERENCE. THE CONFERENCE WAS TITLED BUILT TO LAST: REDUCING IMPACT, MAXIMIZING PERFORMANCE AND FOCUSED ON HOW PLANNERS, ARCHITECTS, AND OTHERS ARE LEVERAGING EVOLVING TRENDS IN DECONSTRUCTION, CONSTRUCTION WASTE CIRCULARITY, AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT TO DRIVE PROJECT SUCCESS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND BEYOND. THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER WAS NANCY E. SMITH OF GROWSMART MAINE. IN NOVEMBER, PLAN NH HOSTED A NETWORKING EVENT AT TFMORAN TO BRING TOGETHER PLAN NH MEMBERS AND OTHERS WHO CARE ABOUT THE PLAN NH MISSION. IN JANUARY, PLAN NH HOSTED A NEW YEAR NETWORKING EVENT AT ENGELBERTH CONSTRUCTION TO BRING TOGETHER PLAN NH MEMBERS AND OTHERS WHO CARE ABOUT THE PLAN NH MISSION. IN MARCH, PLAN NH ALSO HOSTED A SPRING NETWORKING EVENT AT REVO CASINO & SOCIAL HOUSE IN DOVER, NH. THIS EVENT BROUGHT TOGETHER PLAN NH MEMBERS AND OTHERS WHO CARE ABOUT THE PLAN NH MISSION. IN AUGUST, PLAN NH HOSTED A NETWORKING EVENT AT THE WESTBROOK INN IN DERRY, NH TO BRING TOGETHER PLAN NH MEMBERS AND OTHERS WHO CARE ABOUT THE PLAN NH MISSION. IN SEPTEMBER, PLAN NH HOSTED OUR FALL CONFERENCE AT HOTEL CONCORD IN CONCORD, NH. THERE WERE OVER 65 ATTENDEES FOR THIS CONFERENCE. THE CONFERENCE WAS TITLED BUILT TO LAST: REDUCING IMPACT, MAXIMIZING PERFORMANCE AND FOCUSED ON HOW PLANNERS, ARCHITECTS, AND OTHERS ARE LEVERAGING EVOLVING TRENDS IN DECONSTRUCTION, CONSTRUCTION WASTE CIRCULARITY, AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT TO DRIVE PROJECT SUCCESS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND BEYOND. THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER WAS NANCY E. SMITH OF GROWSMART MAINE. IN NOVEMBER, PLAN NH HOSTED A NETWORKING EVENT AT TFMORAN TO BRING TOGETHER PLAN NH MEMBERS AND OTHERS WHO CARE ABOUT THE PLAN NH MISSION.
  3. $11,488 spent. IN JUNE, PLAN NH HOSTED OUR ANNUAL AWARDS EVENING, RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING PROJECTS THAT HAVE HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS RECIPIENTS OF THE PLAN NH SCHOLARSHIP & FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. WE AWARDED 31,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO 14 STUDENTS WHO CALL NH HOME AND ARE STUDYING IN A FIELD RELATED TO THE PLAN NH MISSION, AS WELL AS THE FOLLOWING FOUR PROJECTS WITH A 2025 MERIT AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: ALLENSTOWN COMMUNITY SCHOOL - ALLENSTOWN, NH JACKSON SQUARE AFFORDABLE HOUSING - NASHUA, NH PENACOOK COMMUNITY CENTER - CONCORD, NH SOUHEGAN RIVER TRAIL - MERRIMACK, NH
  4. $62,319 spent. IN FEBRUARY, PLAN NH HOSTED OUR ANNUAL "VIRTUAL TOWN HALL," INTRODUCING BOARD MEMBERS AND PLANS FOR THE YEAR. THIS RECORDING WAS ADDED TO OUR ONLINE LIBRARY. IN MARCH, PLAN NH HIRED ANNA WELLS TO FILL A NEWLY CREATED PART-TIME PROGRAM COORDINATOR ROLE. IN OCTOBER, PLAN NH HOSTED OUR ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC AND FUNDRAISER AT BEAVER MEADOWS IN CONCORD, HOSTING 120+ PLAYERS AND RAISING OVER 31,000 FOR THE PLAN NH MISSION AND SCHOLARSHIP FUND. THROUGHOUT 2024: A.PLAN NH MAINTAINED A MEMBERSHIP OF 100+ FIRMS, MUNICIPALITIES, NONPROFITS, AND INDIVIDUALS PASSIONATE ABOUT NH'S BUILT ENVIRONMENT. B.PLAN NH CONTINUED TO FUNDRAISE OUR MISSION THROUGH NHGIVES AND GIVING TUESDAY, AS WELL AS OUR FIRST EVER CHARITABLE GAMING NIGHTS AWARDED TO PLAN NH FROM REVO CASINO & SOCIAL HOUSE IN DOVER, NH AND HELD IN AUGUST. C.PLAN NH CONTINUED WORK WITH NH HOUSING ON THE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY PLANNING GRANT PROGRAM, SPECIFICALLY DEDICATING A SPECIFIC NUMBER OF CHARRETTES FOR COMMUNITIES WHO ARE ALSO HOP GRANTEES. PLAN NH CONTINUES TO INFORM AND INSPIRE COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS THE PLANNERS, DESIGNERS AND BUILDERS WHO SHAPE THEM, ABOUT IDEAS, TRENDS AND PRACTICES THAT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO CREATING DELIGHTFUL PLACES IN WHICH TO LIVE, WORK, AND/OR PLAY. WE DO SO THROUGH OUR EVENTS AND THROUGH NEWSLETTERS, BLOG ENTRIES, AND OUR WEBSITE - WWW.PLANNH.ORG.
  5. IN FEBRUARY, PLAN NH HOSTED OUR ANNUAL "VIRTUAL TOWN HALL," INTRODUCING BOARD MEMBERS AND PLANS FOR THE YEAR. THIS RECORDING WAS ADDED TO OUR ONLINE LIBRARY. IN MARCH, PLAN NH HIRED ANNA WELLS TO FILL A NEWLY CREATED PART-TIME PROGRAM COORDINATOR ROLE. IN OCTOBER, PLAN NH HOSTED OUR ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC AND FUNDRAISER AT BEAVER MEADOWS IN CONCORD, HOSTING 120+ PLAYERS AND RAISING OVER 31,000 FOR THE PLAN NH MISSION AND SCHOLARSHIP FUND. THROUGHOUT 2024: A.PLAN NH MAINTAINED A MEMBERSHIP OF 100+ FIRMS, MUNICIPALITIES, NONPROFITS, AND INDIVIDUALS PASSIONATE ABOUT NH'S BUILT ENVIRONMENT. B.PLAN NH CONTINUED TO FUNDRAISE OUR MISSION THROUGH NHGIVES AND GIVING TUESDAY, AS WELL AS OUR FIRST EVER CHARITABLE GAMING NIGHTS AWARDED TO PLAN NH FROM REVO CASINO & SOCIAL HOUSE IN DOVER, NH AND HELD IN AUGUST. C.PLAN NH CONTINUED WORK WITH NH HOUSING ON THE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY PLANNING GRANT PROGRAM, SPECIFICALLY DEDICATING A SPECIFIC NUMBER OF CHARRETTES FOR COMMUNITIES WHO ARE ALSO HOP GRANTEES. PLAN NH CONTINUES TO INFORM AND INSPIRE COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS THE PLANNERS, DESIGNERS AND BUILDERS WHO SHAPE THEM, ABOUT IDEAS, TRENDS AND PRACTICES THAT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO CREATING DELIGHTFUL PLACES IN WHICH TO LIVE, WORK, AND/OR PLAY. WE DO SO THROUGH OUR EVENTS AND THROUGH NEWSLETTERS, BLOG ENTRIES, AND OUR WEBSITE - WWW.PLANNH.ORG.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 May 1990.

    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.

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