Washington Native Plant Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To promote the appreciation and conservation of Washington's native plants and their habitats through study, education, and advocacy.
- Income
- $603,232
- Spending
- $635,926
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 11 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 63%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 274
- Highest pay
- $81,138, executive dir.
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
Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2526 of 26 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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 (6)
- $189,957 spent. Native Plant Public Education and Publications: WNPS provides a broad array of educational services to the public through its 12 chapters and 2,750 members statewide. Our online training offers a wide variety of subjects such as native pollinators, virtual plant walks, forest fire ecology, climate change, botanical drawing and many more. Study Weekend is a member event that focuses on botanical field trips, speakers, dinners and more. Each event is sponsored by a different chapter(s), allowing this event to be held in diversified areas throughout the state. Another popular event is Botany Washington, co-sponsored with the University of Washington Herbarium at the Burke Museum (WTU). Botany Washington provides botanists, ecologists, and other professionals with access to experts and an in-depth study of selected taxonomic groups.
- $104,971 spent. Youth Ecology Education Restoration (YEER): YEER started as a two-year pilot program in 2021, and was so successful was extended to school years 2023-25. It is an innovative educational program including stewards, teachers, students, and land managers to teach restoration in real life experiences for the students. In two primary components; a five-week unit where students take on the role of restoration ecologists and a field experience, where the students partner with restoration experts to implement restoration components typically over two days work on public land. PY 2024-2025 will serve 928 students, with 10 teachers and 19 stewards supporting the program. Students planted 1,303 native plants covering over 17,000 square feet of restoration area.
- $96,794 spent. Stewardship Training: WNPS educates community volunteers about our regions native plants and plant communities, and teaches how to use this knowledge to protect and restore Washingtons natural ecosystems. WNPS has committed over twenty years of steward training to conserve, protect and sustain the biodiversity of the native flora of Washington. Participants agree to return service hours at least equivalent to their training hours in efforts such as habitat restoration in forests and woodlands, shrub-steppe, prairies, riparian and wetlands. By using stewardship training to support our YEER program above, both programs benefit each other. Continuing education is also offered to Veteran Plant Stewards.
- $37,054 spent. Native Plant Grants Program: The standing committees of the Washington Native Plant Society award grants annually for conservation, education, and research. In 2024, they awarded $23,570 in grants. WNPS chapters contributed an additional grants of $15,234. And for the seventh year in a row, WNPS was a sponsor of University of Washingtons annual Botany Symposium. Customers for these grants include state agencies, other non-profit organizations, K-12 schools, grad students, and general member volunteers.
- $16,403 spent. Native Plant Sales: WNPS hosts plant sales are held as online/in-person events at the chapter level for highly sought after native plants around the state. Customers like the at-home online shopping experience, along with knowing which plants are available. These sales provide extensive education of plant materials to home gardeners and landscapers utilizing native species in their landscapes. In 2024, the chapters have improved availability by propagation (and training) of some selections to increase availability. Any remaining plants not sold online are offered during the time of plant pickup. Three chapter plant sale stores were active in 2024, providing chapter revenue to support programs, and resources in the community to support native plant gardening. Hundreds of customers have obtained plants through this program.
- $12,272 spent. Other Program Expenses
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1976.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.