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Hardy Plant Society of Oregon

EIN 93-0884453 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE HARDY PLANT SOCIETY OF OREGON IS TO NURTURE THE GARDENING COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP, AND SUPPORT OF ITS MEMBERS AND OF OTHER GARDENING AND HORTICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS.

Income
$250,234
Spending
$232,921
Spent on programs
59%
Reserves
17.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 65%
Employees
4
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$26,185, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 68% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    59% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 September 30, 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 (3)
  1. $109,265 spent. MEMBERSHIP AND PUBLICATIONS: THE HARDY PLANT SOCIETY OF OREGON (HPSO) CONNECTS MEMBERS TO EACH OTHER WITH THE OPEN GARDENS PROGRAM, 12 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, AND A READING ROOM; TO PLANT EXPERTS THROUGH WORKSHOPS AND IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL LECTURES; AND TO LOCAL SPECIALIST NURSERIES THROUGH PRIVATE ON-SITE NURSERY EVENTS THAT INCLUDE PRESENTATIONS AND FACILITY TOURS. THE OPEN GARDENS PROGRAM LOGGED APPROX. 3,000 VISITS TO 76 MEMBER GARDENS IN FISCAL YEAR 2023/24. HPSO PRODUCES A FULL-COLOR MAGAZINE FOUR TIMES A YEAR WITH ORIGINAL CONTENT GERMANE TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST IN BOTH PAPER AND DIGITAL FORMATS. HPSO EMAILS MEMBERS A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER FROM FEBRUARY THROUGH NOVEMBER, FURTHER CONNECTING PEOPLE TO HPSO'S OWN PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS AND TO OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT GARDENING PRACTICES, PLANTS, SOIL, INSECTS, PRUNING, AND PESTS PROVIDED BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.
  2. $21,109 spent. HORTLANDIA AND SEASONAL PLANT SALES: THE HARDY PLANT SOCIETY OF OREGON (HPSO) HOLDS PLANT SALES IN THE EARLY SPRING (HORTLANDIA) AND LATE FALL (PLANTFEST), HOSTING REGIONAL NONPROFITS WITH SIMILAR MISSIONS, SPECIALTY NURSERIES, AND ARTISTS WHO PRODUCE GARDEN ART LOCALLY. THESE EVENTS ARE HELD AT A LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE WITH A HORTICULTURE PROGRAM ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PORTLAND METRO AREA AND AT A COUNTY-OWNED VENUE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE PORTLAND METRO AREA, SERVING OUR BROAD BASE OF MEMBERSHIP. THESE TWO EVENTS ENGAGE OVER ONE HUNDRED VOLUNTEERS, FROM TEENAGERS TO MATURE ADULTS, AND INVOLVE HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF PLANNING. THE PLANT SALES INVOLVE OVER 70 VENDORS AND ATTRACT MORE THAN 2,000 ATTENDEES IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2023/2024.
  3. $6,705 spent. PLANTNERD NIGHT: PLANT NERD NIGHT IS AN ANNUAL EVENT FEATURING SPEAKERS AND NURSERIES. NO ADMISSION IS CHARGED, INCOME IS FROM SPONSORS. THE 2024 EVENT ATTRACTED SIX SPEAKERS AND APPROX. 500 PEOPLE FROM THE GREATER PORTLAND AREA.SPEAKER PROGRAMS: HPSO'S SPEAKER PROGRAMS EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT GARDENING. HPSO HOST VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON PROGRAMS TO ENABLE BROAD ACCESS. IN THE 23/24 FISCAL YEAR, SPEAKERS INCLUDED SUE GOETZ, BILL THOMAS, HENRIK SJOMAN, LORE SAMPSON, MARK AKIMOFF, AND NORM JACOBS. ATTENDANCE ESTIMATED AT 1,000.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 2025.

    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 April 2007.

    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.