National Turfgrass Evaluation Program Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
PURPOSE - TO EVALUATE TURFGRASSES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA FOR DIFFERENT USES SUCH AS ATHLETIC FIELDS, GOLF COURSES, HOME LAWNS, ETC. INFORMATION IS COLLECTED ON COLOR, DENSITY, LEAF TEXTURE, RESISTANCE TO DISEASE, INSECTS, DROUGHTS, ETC. IN VARIOUS CLIMATES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
- Income
- $689,564
- Spending
- $547,157
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- -2.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 79%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $151,505, exec director
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
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 134% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 44% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $489,399 spent. A) PURPOSE - TO EVALUATE TURFGRASSES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA FOR DIFFERENT USES SUCH AS ATHLETIC FIELDS, GOLF COURSES, HOME LAWNS, ETC. INFORMATION IS COLLECTED ON COLOR, DENSITY, LEAF TEXTURE, RESISTANCE TO DISEASE, INSECTS, DROUGHTS, ETC. IN VARIOUS CLIMATES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. B) FREQUENCY AND DURATION - ANNUALLY NEW TESTS ARE INITIATED TO EVALUATE EXPERIMENTAL AND COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE GRASSES. EACH OF THE TESTS RUN FOR FOUR TO FIVE YEARS. C) TESTS ARE CONDUCTED AND DATA IS COLLECTED BY STATE UNIVERSITIES AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY BY THEIR EMPLOYEES. THE TESTS ARE EVALUATED THROUGHOUT THE GROWING SEASON IN EACH PARTICULAR CLIMATE. D) IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TESTING PROGRAM THE OWNER OF EACH GRASS MUST PAY A TESTING FEE OF $6,000 PER GRASS. NO OTHER REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET. THERE ARE NO REQUIREMENTS FOR ANYONE TO RECEIVE A BENEFIT FROM THE TESTS. DATA FROM TESTS ARE PUBLISHED VIA ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORTS AND ALSO IN VARIOUS TRADE JOURNALS. INFORMATION RELEASED IS PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. E) THE FEES FOR THE TESTS ARE $6,000 SPREAD OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD FOR EACH GRASS. THE BASIS FOR THE CHARGES ARE BASED UPON OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE ORGANIZATION AND COSTS OF PERFORMING THE TESTS AS CONTRACTED WITH EACH OF THE UNIVERSITIES. F) THE ACTIVITY HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO PROTECT AND INFORM DISTRIBUTORS AND CONSUMERS BY PROVIDING AN UNBIASED EVALUATION OF VARIOUS GRASSES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. G) 90% OF THE TOTAL TIME AND EFFORT OF THE ORGANIZATION IS DEVOTED TO CARRYING OUT THIS TESTING ACTIVITY.SUPPORT FOR SCHEDULE A - FORM 990, PAGE 1, PART III4) ORGANIZATION - STATE AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES ARE THE ONLY ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE TESTING PROGRAM. THEY ARE DETERMINED TO QUALIFY IF THEY HAVE AN AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM AT THEIR INSTITUTION AND THEY MUST SIGN A RESEARCH CONTRACT TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE NATIONAL TURFGRASS EVALUATION PROGRAM, INC.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1993.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.