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Nonprofiteer
← WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Totals

Total revenue
$8,680,272
Total expenses
$7,917,341
Contributions and grants received
$3,373,397
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$3,035,826
Investment income
$1,825,674
Other revenue
$445,375
Total assets, end of year
$59,413,619
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,180,247
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$58,233,372
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$5,367,301
Management and general expenses
$1,545,965
Fundraising expenses
$1,004,075
Program service expenses (Part III)
$5,367,301

Program services were 67.8% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1b · Membership dues

    $1,151,825

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $2,221,572

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $586,641

  • 2a · Program service revenue: GENERAL ADMISSION

    total $2,378,950 · related or exempt $2,378,950

  • 2b · Program service revenue: LECTURES

    total $486,657 · related or exempt $486,657

  • 2c · Program service revenue: CONTRACT REVENUE

    total $146,929 · related or exempt $146,929

  • 2d · Program service revenue: EVENTS

    total $23,290 · related or exempt $23,290

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $1,220,125 · excluded $1,220,125

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $856,273

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $558,785

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $297,488

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $297,488 · excluded $297,488

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $11,472,225

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $10,866,676

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $605,549

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $605,549 · excluded $605,549

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $997,328

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $882,991

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $114,337 · related or exempt $114,337

  • 11a · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS

    total $33,550 · related or exempt $33,550

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $33,550

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $574,021 · program services $65,813 · management and general $308,907 · fundraising $199,301

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $2,964,001 · program services $2,172,048 · management and general $420,969 · fundraising $370,984

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $295,994 · program services $186,324 · management and general $80,248 · fundraising $29,422

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $267,961 · program services $171,942 · management and general $51,416 · fundraising $44,603

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $57,298 · management and general $57,298

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $475,323 · program services $276,340 · management and general $155,204 · fundraising $43,779

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $272,645 · program services $8,868 · management and general $251,198 · fundraising $12,579

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $222,318 · program services $194,757 · management and general $16,092 · fundraising $11,469

  • 17 · Travel

    total $65,787 · program services $42,374 · management and general $22,706 · fundraising $707

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $15,956 · program services $4,574 · management and general $10,628 · fundraising $754

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $902,312 · program services $804,392 · management and general $54,568 · fundraising $43,352

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $188,634 · program services $169,075 · management and general $10,930 · fundraising $8,629

  • 24a · Other expenses: SUPPLIES

    total $548,681 · program services $482,195 · management and general $17,640 · fundraising $48,846

  • 24b · Other expenses: REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE &

    total $361,210 · program services $330,900 · management and general $19,647 · fundraising $10,663

  • 24c · Other expenses: PROGRAM SERVICES

    total $227,490 · program services $227,490

  • 24d · Other expenses: EQUIPMENT RENTAL

    total $171,786 · program services $169,617 · management and general $1,218 · fundraising $951

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $305,924 · program services $60,592 · management and general $67,296 · fundraising $178,036

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $672,975 · end of year $447,064

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $4,871,225 · end of year $4,655,236

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $1,875,094 · end of year $802,334

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $9,594 · end of year $57,152

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $93,256 · end of year $100,523

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $216,900 · end of year $116,061

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $41,453,771

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $15,284,807

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $24,924,206 · end of year $26,168,964

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $26,257,891 · end of year $27,066,285

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $737,979 · end of year $463,195

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $624,835 · end of year $654,944

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    end of year $28,274

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $35,836 · end of year $33,834

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $26,123,040 · end of year $27,160,848

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $31,399,451 · end of year $31,072,524

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

NEW ENGLAND BOTANIC GARDEN AT TOWER HILL CREATES EXPERIENCES WITH PLANTS THAT INSPIRE PEOPLE AND IMPROVE THE WORLD.

  • HORTICULTURE - NEW ENGLAND BOTANIC GARDEN AT TOWER HILL FEATURES SEVENTEEN DISTINCT GARDENS, TWO INDOOR CONSERVATORIES, MEADOWS, WOODLAND PLANT COLLECTIONS, TRAILS, MEADOWS, PONDS, AND CONSERVATION LAND OF 200 ACRES. IN ADDITION, THE GARDEN HAS A FOCUSED OUTREACH IN SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING WORCESTER, THE SECOND LARGEST CITY IN NEW ENGLAND. NEBG STAFF ENGAGES MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROJECTS AIMED IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN URBAN AREAS THROUGH PLANTS AND ACCESS TO NATURE. WITH GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT FROM THE OUTREACH COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, NEBG STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS ON PROJECTS SUCH AS TREE MAINTENANCE, URBAN GREENING, STORMWATER MAINTENANCE, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, AND MORE. NEBG'S OUTREACH WORK ALSO INCLUDES SERVING AS A RESOURCE FOR LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT PLANT-BASED SOLUTIONS TO ISSUES INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

    Expenses $2,345,246 · Revenue $2,640,215

  • EDUCATION - ALL OF NEBG'S EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS ARE DESIGNED TO CREATE AN INQUISITIVE, KNOWLEDGEABLE, DIVERSE COMMUNITY, INSPIRED TO STEWARD AND ADVOCATE FOR THE NATURAL WORLD. WE SEEK TO EMPOWER PEOPLE TO WORK TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE AND TO ADDRESS THE GROWING DISCONNECT BETWEEN PEOPLE AND PLANTS. BY EXPERIENCING THE NATURAL WORLD IN YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT THE GARDEN AND IN THE COMMUNITY, CHILDREN GAIN KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURAL WORLD, BECOMING ADVOCATES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND LIFELONG STEWARDS. INTERACTION WITH PLANTS THROUGH NEBG'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS ALLOWS ALL VISITORS TO STRENGTHEN THEIR CONNECTION TO THE WORLD AROUND THEM, BUILD SKILLS TO IDENTIFY AND SOLVE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES, AND GAIN AN AWARENESS AND SENSITIVITY TO THESE ISSUES.

    Expenses $3,022,055 · Revenue $543,498

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Greg Brown

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Matthew Mattus

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Ashlyn Donohue

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Jim Karadimos

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Catherine Colinvaux

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Jean Poteete

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Curtis Falzoi

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Patricia Bigelow

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Gayle Weiss

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Lisa Kirby Gibbs

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Lisa McDonough

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Samantha McDonald

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Shirley Williams

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Susan Palatucci

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Abraham Haddad

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Thomas Halpin

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Michael Machnowski

    ASSISTANT TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Kent Dur Russell

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Dennis Murphy

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Mark Shelton

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Richard Leif

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Indira Maini

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Shiamin Melville

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Emily Wood

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Taylor Beardon

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Shannon Wall

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Grace Elton

    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $305,678
    From this org
    $281,156
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,522
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $251,156
    Bonus
    $30,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $9,064
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,458
    Filer's total
    $305,678

  • Jane Ellis

    CHIEF FINANCIAL OPERATING OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $170,664
    From this org
    $163,400
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,264
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $159,900
    Bonus
    $3,500
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,010
    Nontaxable benefits
    $2,254
    Filer's total
    $170,664

  • Theresa Lee

    CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $181,890
    From this org
    $174,917
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $6,973
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $171,417
    Bonus
    $3,500
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,266
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,707
    Filer's total
    $181,890

  • Mark Richardson

    DIR OF STRATEGIC HORT PARTNERSHIPS

    Total calculated
    $129,854
    From this org
    $111,044
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,810
    Hours/week
    40

  • Lashaun Woodliff

    DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES

    Total calculated
    $137,515
    From this org
    $129,957
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,558
    Hours/week
    40

  • Marissa Gallant

    DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

    Total calculated
    $121,829
    From this org
    $117,030
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,799
    Hours/week
    40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Written employment contract
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
26 September 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202522809349301802

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