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Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

EIN 23-1352265 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDED IN 1827, THE PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY (PHS) USES HORTICULTURE TO ADVANCE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA REGION. (CONTINUED IN SCH O)PHS'S WORK FOCUSES ON FOUR IMPACT PRIORITIES: CREATING HEALTHY LIVING ENVIRONMENTS, INCREASING ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD, EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND BUILDING MEANINGFUL SOCIAL CONNECTIONS. PHS IS THE PRODUCER OF THE PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW, THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND LONGEST-RUNNING HORTICULTURAL EVENT.

Income
$40.9 million
Spending
$38.3 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 37%
Employees
213
Volunteers
15,198
Highest pay
$487,755, president

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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 22 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 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 (4)
  1. $9.9 million spent. THE PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW IS A NINE-DAY EVENT FEATURING HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. IT IS THE OLDEST AND LARGEST ANNUAL INDOOR FLOWER SHOW IN THE WORLD ATTRACTING OVER 235,000 PEOPLE, IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. PROCEEDS FROM THE SHOW HELP SUPPORT THE SOCIETY'S PROGRAMS.
  2. $15.1 million spent. PHS USES AN ARRAY OF PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO LEVERAGE HORTICULTURE TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES, CREATE HEALTHY LIVING ENVIRONMENTS, FACILITATE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, AND INCREASE ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD. PARTNERING WITH THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, WE CLEAN, GREEN AND MAINTAIN NEARLY 12,000 LOTS ACROSS THE CITY, TURNING BLIGHTED LOTS INTO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSETS. THROUGH OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, WE'VE TRAINED OVER 250 PEOPLE TO PREPARE THEM FOR JOBS IN THE HORTICULTURAL AND LANDSCAPE INDUSTRIES. WE'VE TRAINED OVER 6,500 TREE TENDERS TO PLANT AND TAKE CARE OF TREES. TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNERS AND VOLUNTEERS WE PLANT OVER 2,200 TREES EACH YEAR. WE WORK TO INCREASE ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD BY SHARING OVER 287,000 VEGETABLE SEEDINGS ANNUALLY AND SUPPORTING XXX COMMUNITY GARDENS TO GROW AND SHARE PRODUCE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE PHILADELPHIA WATER DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE INSTALLED 5,000 RAIN BARRELS AND PROVIDED STORMWATER MANAGEMENT EDUCATION TO 12,000 RESIDENTS.
  3. $3.7 million spent. PHS'S PUBLIC LANDSCAPES AND PUBLIC GARDENS PROGRAM HELPS BUILD STRONGER SOCIAL CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. WE FUND, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN 10 PUBLIC GREEN SPACES ACROSS PHILADELPHIA. WITH OUR PARTNERS WE MANAGE AN ADDITIONAL 11 GARDENS IN THE CITY.
  4. $163,272 spent. PHS'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS PROVIDE HORTICULTURAL INFORMATION AND TRAINING TO MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS AND OTHER CONSTITUENTS IN THE PHILADELPHIA REGION THROUGH WORKSHOPS, LECTURES, TOURS, EVENTS AND PUBLICATIONS. IT INCLUDES ONE OF THE LARGEST HORTICULTURAL LIBRARIES IN THE COUNTRY WITH NEARLY 15,000 VOLUMES.

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 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 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 July 1952.

    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.

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