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American Society for Horticultural Science

EIN 38-1574442 · Alexandria, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE ENCOURAGE NATL INTL INTEREST IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH & EDUCATION IN ALL BRANCHES OF HORTICULTURE.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
-0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 95%
Employees
13
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$219,464, chief executive officer

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $562,606 spent. ANNUAL CONFERENCE- BRINGS TOGETHER 1,000-1,200 MEMBERS AND SCHOLARS IN THE FIELD OF HORTICULTURE TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR RESEARCH REPORTING LECTURES AND PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON HORTICULTURAL RESEARCH. STUDENT PROGRAMS PROVIDE GRANTS TO STUDENTS TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND PRESENT ABSTRACTS.
  2. $526,598 spent. PUBLICATIONS- ASHS PUBLISHES THE FOLLOWING: HORTTECHNOLOGY- A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION OF APPLIED HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE FOR THE PROFESSIONAL HORTICULTURIST EXTENSION WORKER AND PRACTICIONER. HORTSCIENCE- A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF HORTICULTURAL INFORMATION OF INTEREST TO A BROAD ARRAY OF HORTICULTURISTS. ITS GOALS ARE TO APPRISE HORTICULTURAL SCIENTISTS AND OTHERS INTERSTED IN HORTICULTURE ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS IN SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH EDUCATION INDUSTRY AND EXTENSION FINDINGS OR METHODS. THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE- A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE RESULTS OF ORIGINAL RESEARCH ON HORTICULTURAL PLANTS AND THEIR PRODUCTS OR ON DIRECTLY RELATED RESEARCH.
  3. $131,108 spent. MEMBERSHIP- ACTIVITIES PROMOTING MEMBERSHIP AND EDUCATION OF MEMBERS ON CURRENT HORTICULTURAL NEWS AND NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES CAREER SERVICES AND TEACHING TOOLS. ON-LINE MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY ALLOWS A MEMBER ONLY NETWORKING SYSTEM TO PROMOTE COOPERATION IN RESEARCH AND TEACHING METHODS.
  4. $50,085 spent. CERTIFICATIONS LEADERSHIP GROUPS

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 July 1976.

    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.