Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Totals

Total revenue: $3,054,261
Total expenses: $3,526,705
Contributions and grants received: $777,782
Grants paid: $0
Program service revenue: $1,658,424
Investment income: $109,555
Other revenue: $508,500
Total assets, end of year: $6,984,259
Total liabilities, end of year: $895,307
Net assets or fund balances, end of year: $6,088,952
Program services expenses (Part IX): $2,569,556
Management and general expenses: $688,125
Fundraising expenses: $269,024
Program service expenses (Part III): $2,569,556

Program services were 72.9% 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.

1c · Fundraising events

$32,991
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

$744,791
1g · Noncash contributions included above

$5,206
2a · Program service revenue: FACILITIES RENTALS

total $915,551 · related or exempt $915,551
2b · Program service revenue: EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND

total $418,874 · related or exempt $418,874
2c · Program service revenue: MEMBERSHIP REVENUE

total $293,237 · related or exempt $293,237
2d · Program service revenue: COMMISSIONS

total $30,762 · unrelated business $30,762
3 · Investment income

total $38,074 · excluded $38,074
6a · Gross rents

real property $225,472
6b · Less rental expenses

real property $0
6c · Rental income or loss

real property $225,472
6d · Net rental income or loss

total $225,472 · excluded $225,472
7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

securities $278,722
7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

securities $207,241
7c · Gain or loss

securities $71,481
7d · Net gain or loss

total $71,481 · excluded $71,481
8a · Fundraising events: gross income

$346,093
8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

$32,991
8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

$65,000
8c · Net income from fundraising events

total $281,093 · excluded $281,093
11a · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS

total $1,935 · related or exempt $1,935
11e · Other revenue, total

$1,935

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

total $337,582 · program services $80,158 · management and general $208,439 · fundraising $48,985
7 · Other salaries and wages

total $1,046,808 · program services $864,356 · management and general $79,929 · fundraising $102,523
8 · Pension plan contributions

total $19,915 · program services $17,755 · management and general $263 · fundraising $1,897
9 · Other employee benefits

total $102,495 · program services $77,423 · management and general $12,729 · fundraising $12,343
10 · Payroll taxes

total $124,497 · program services $85,903 · management and general $24,899 · fundraising $13,695
11b · Fees: legal

total $275 · management and general $275
11c · Fees: accounting

total $26,400 · management and general $26,400
11f · Fees: investment management

total $13,565 · management and general $13,565
11g · Fees: other

total $199,819 · program services $166,061 · management and general $30,194 · fundraising $3,564
12 · Advertising and promotion

total $42,209 · management and general $31,871 · fundraising $10,338
13 · Office expenses

total $242,823 · program services $73,198 · management and general $153,311 · fundraising $16,314
16 · Occupancy

total $708,792 · program services $680,209 · management and general $21,600 · fundraising $6,983
17 · Travel

total $26,305 · program services $17,588 · management and general $4,402 · fundraising $4,315
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

total $267,851 · program services $257,136 · management and general $8,036 · fundraising $2,679
23 · Insurance

total $135,342 · program services $116,362 · management and general $15,024 · fundraising $3,956
24a · Other expenses: PROGRAM MATERIALS AND E

total $182,254 · program services $130,161 · management and general $10,661 · fundraising $41,432
24b · Other expenses: MISCELLANEOUS

total $37,298 · management and general $37,298
24c · Other expenses: MEMBERSHIP EXPENSES

total $12,475 · program services $3,246 · management and general $9,229

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

beginning of year $662,354 · end of year $466,499
2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

beginning of year $25,764 · end of year $873,682
4 · Accounts receivable

beginning of year $34,935 · end of year $34,112
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

beginning of year $74,861 · end of year $149,670
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

$6,989,494
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

$5,071,141
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

beginning of year $2,080,671 · end of year $1,918,353
11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

beginning of year $3,324,885 · end of year $2,535,087
15 · Other assets

beginning of year $818,788 · end of year $1,006,856
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

beginning of year $147,814 · end of year $235,772
19 · Deferred revenue

beginning of year $652,762 · end of year $656,918
23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

beginning of year $5,397
25 · Other liabilities

beginning of year $5,000 · end of year $2,617
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

beginning of year $3,715,229 · end of year $3,660,108
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

beginning of year $2,496,056 · end of year $2,428,844

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY SEEKS TO HELP PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR LIVES AND COMMUNITIES FOR THE BETTER THROUGH GROWING PLANTS TOGETHER. FOR 196 YEARS, MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY HAS HAD A MISSION TO PROMOTE THE ART AND SCIENCE OF HORTICULTURE, WHILE STAYING TRUE TO ITS FOUNDING MOTTO, `COMMUNE BONUM,' FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD.

THE GARDEN AT ELM BANK:MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY (MHS) IS LOCATED ON 36 ACRES IN THE HISTORIC ELM BANK RESERVATION. ELM BANK IS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES FOR ITS MANOR HOUSE, DESIGNED BY CARRERE AND HASTINGS, THE ARCHITECTS WHO DESIGNED THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY; ITS ORIGINAL OWNER, BENJAMIN CHENEY, ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF AMERICAN EXPRESS; AND THE LANDSCAPES CREATED BY THE OLMSTED BROTHERS FIRM IN THE EARLY 1900S.WITH 20 ACRES UNDER CULTIVATION, THE GARDEN AT ELM BANK OFFERS ADULTS AND CHILDREN FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE, ENJOY AND LEARN ABOUT PLANTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THERE ARE A WIDE VARIETY OF DISTINCT GARDEN AREAS INCLUDING THE HISTORIC ITALIANATE GARDEN DESIGNED BY THE OLMSTED BROTHERS, THE NEW ENGLAND TRIAL GARDEN THAT TESTS PLANT VARIETIES FOR HARDINESS IN OUR ZONE, THE WHIMSICAL WEEZIE'S GARDEN FOR CHILDREN, AND BRESSINGHAM GARDEN, WHICH DEMONSTRATES PERENNIAL PLANTS FOR THE NEW ENGLAND GARDEN, DESIGNED BY ADRIAN BLOOM.MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY IS OPEN YEAR-ROUND FOR CLASSES, WORKSHOPS AND SYMPOSIA HELD IN THE EDUCATION BUILDING, THE HUNNEWELL CARRIAGE HOUSE, AND THE PUTNAM BUILDING WITH WET LAB. THE GARDEN AT ELM BANK IS OPEN FOR GARDEN VISITORS, APRIL THROUGH DECEMBER, 5-7 DAYS A WEEK, FROM 10 A.M. TO 7 P. M. MEMBERS ENTER WITHOUT CHARGE AND OTHER GUESTS PAY ADMISSION.THE GARDEN FUNCTIONS AS THE PROGRAMMATIC FOUNDATION FOR ALL OTHER PROGRAMS OF MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. IN SEEKING TO HELP PEOPLE LIVE BETTER, HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER LIVES IN COMMUNITY, WE BOTH MODEL THIS IN THE GARDEN OURSELVES AND PROVIDE THE PRACTICAL CLASSROOM FOR THESE ACTIVITIES. OUR PROGRAMS ARE ACTIVATED BOTH THROUGH THE BEAUTIFUL 'COMPLETED' GARDEN AREAS, AND THROUGH THE ONGOING AND OFTEN LESS BEAUTIFUL PROCESS OF GARDEN DEVELOPMENT. NOTABLY, MHS IS CURRENTLY UNDERTAKING A LONG-TERM RESTORATION OF THE HISTORIC OLMSTED BROS DESIGNED TEMPLE GARDEN AREA.GARDEN EVENTS:THE GARDEN AT ELM BANK PROVIDES AN EVENT VENUE THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE BEAUTIFUL GARDENS AND HORTICULTURAL WONDERS OF THE UNIQUE SETTING. WITH A FOCUS ON THE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE OF THE GARDEN, MHS SEEKS TO PROMOTE THE ROLE OF HORTICULTURE IN CREATING AND ENHANCING LIFE'S MOST IMPORTANT MEMORIES. OVER 25,000 GUESTS ARE INTRODUCED TO THE GARDENS IN THIS WAY.HORTICULTURAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL EDUCATION:ADULT EDUCATION: ADULT EDUCATION INCLUDES A COMPREHENSIVE CATALOG OF HORTICULTURAL, GARDENING AND ENVIRONMENTAL LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS TO EDUCATE ADULTS, SUCH AS YEAR-ROUND CLASSES IN HORTICULTURE, LANDSCAPE DESIGN, AND BOTANY TO NAME A FEW, FOR THE NOVICE TO EXPERT PRACTITIONER. A PROGRAM OF GARDEN TOURS BOTH IN MHS GARDENS AND OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE GARDENS IS HOSTED AND EXTENSIVE VOLUNTEER GARDENING TRAINING IS DELIVERED. IN SPRING 2023, MHS TOOK OVER LEADERSHIP OF THE FORMER WELLESLEY COLLEGE BOTANIC GARDEN CERTIFICATE IN BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION AND THIS FORMS A LARGE AND GROWING COMPONENT OF ACCREDITED EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS RECOGNIZED AT A NATIONAL LEVEL.YOUTH EDUCATION: MHS'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH FOCUS ON THE SCIENCE OF GROWING PLANTS, HEALTHY NUTRITION, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THE PLANTMOBILE IS A TRAVELING PLANT SCIENCE WORKSHOP THAT PROVIDES EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN IN GRADES K-8. A MEMBER OF MHS EDUCATIONAL STAFF WILL COME TO YOUR CLASSROOM TO PRESENT EACH PROGRAM. OUR EMPHASIS IS ON HANDS-ON INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP ACTIVITIES. OUR PROGRAM IS BASED ON THE MASSACHUSETTS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FRAMEWORKS, STEM. EACH WORKSHOP IS DESIGNED TO DELIVER A POSITIVE AND UNIQUE LEARNING EXPERIENCE TO STUDENTS. ADDITIONALLY, PROGRAMMING FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AT MHS TAKES PLACE DURING THE SEASON IN WEEZIE'S GARDEN FOR CHILDREN.LIBRARY:MHS'S HORTICULTURAL LIBRARY IS THE OLDEST HORTICULTURAL LIBRARY IN THE COUNTRY AND IS RENOWNED FOR ITS COLLECTION OF BOOKS RELATED TO EARLY AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND LANDSCAPE DESIGN. THE CIRCULATING LIBRARY IS COMPRISED OF OVER 20,000 BOOKS AND 5,000 RARE BOOKS AND A MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION STORED OFFSITE.MHS HAS AN ONGOING PROGRAM OF DIGITIZATION, INCLUDING ITS COLLECTION OF EDWIN HALE LINCOLN PLANT PHOTOGRAPHY PLATES, MAKING THEM AVAILABLE ONLINE TO STUDENTS, SCHOLARS, WRITERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. VISITING THE DIGITAL COMMONWEALTH SITE, ONE CAN FIND THE LINCOLN COLLECTION, AS WELL AS OUR COLLECTION OF BOTANICAL PRINTS DATING FROM 1620 TO 1969. UPDATING CATALOGS AND SEARCH TOOLS ARE A PRIMARY FOCUS OF OUR WORK AS WE SEEK TO MAKE THE COLLECTION ACCESSIBLE TO SCHOLARS AND RESEARCHERS GLOBALLY.MEMBERSHIP:MEMBERSHIP IN MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY PROVIDES ACCESS TO INFORMATION, LEARNING AND HORTICULTURAL EXPERIENCES, WHILE SUPPORTING AMERICA'S OLDEST HORTICULTURAL INSTITUTION. MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS INCLUDE FREE ADMISSION TO THE GARDEN AT ELM BANK, AS WELL AS A MONTHLY ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER, THE LEAFLET, BORROWING PRIVILEGES AT OUR CIRCULATING LIBRARY, DISCOUNTS TO OUR HORTICULTURAL LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS, NURSERY CERTIFICATES, FREE/DISCOUNTED ADMISSION TO GARDENS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY RECIPROCAL PROGRAM, AND DISCOUNTS AT OVER SEVENTY OF OUR GREEN PARTNER NURSERIES.HONORARY MEDALS HORTICULTURAL AWARDS:AT THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY, MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY BEGAN THE PRACTICE OF CONFERRING HONORARY MEDALS ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS IT REGARDED AS IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTORS TO THE ART AND SCIENCE OF HORTICULTURE. THIS 120-YEAR-OLD TRADITION HONORS EXCELLENCE IN HORTICULTURE. OVER TEN AWARDEES RECEIVED VARIOUS MEDALS: GEORGE ROBERT WHITE MEDAL OF HONOR, JACKSON DAWSON MEMORIAL AWARD, THOMAS ROLAND MEDAL, AND GOLD AND SILVER MEDALS. THE KEYNOTE LECTURE IN 2023 WAS BY THE THOMAS ROLAND MEDAL HONOREE TONY KIRKHAM, MBE, VMH, FORMERLY OF KEW GARDENS, LONDON, UK.FESTIVAL OF TREES:MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S FESTIVAL OF TREES IS NOT ONLY AN IMPORTANT FUNDRAISER, IT IS THE MOST FESTIVE OCCASION AT THE GARDEN AT ELM BANK. STARTING THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING, WE DISPLAY OVER 60 BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED TREES, WHICH ARE RAFFLED OFF AT THE END OF THE FESTIVAL. DURING THE FESTIVAL, VISITORS PURCHASE TICKETS FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THE TREE(S) OF THEIR CHOICE. IT'S FUN, AND FOR MANY IT HAS BECOME A FAMILY TRADITION. WHILE THE BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED TREES ARE THE CENTERPIECE OF THE EVENT, THE FESTIVAL OF TREES ALSO INCLUDES GARDEN LIGHTS, THE SNOW VILLAGE MODEL RAILROAD DISPLAY, AND A FIRE PIT WITH S'MORES. OVER 14,500 GUESTS VISIT THE FESTIVAL ANNUALLY.

Expenses $2,569,556 · Revenue $1,629,597

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

James HearsumJAMES HEARSUM

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$153,137

From this org

$147,396

From related orgs

$0

Other

$5,741

Hours/week

40

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$147,396

Bonus

$0

Other

$0

Deferred

$5,741

Nontaxable benefits

$0

Filer's total

$153,137
Jennifer JonesJENNIFER JONES

DIR OF FINANCE AND ADMIN

Total calculated

$105,955

From this org

$93,114

From related orgs

$0

Other

$12,841

Hours/week

40
Karen DaubmannKAREN DAUBMANN

DIRECTOR OF GARDEN AND PROGRAMS

Total calculated

$118,200

From this org

$108,725

From related orgs

$0

Other

$9,475

Hours/week

40
Gretel AnspachGRETEL ANSPACH

CHAIR/BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

5
Craig KleinCRAIG KLEIN

TREASURER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

5
Carrie WatermanCARRIE WATERMAN

CLERK

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

5
Finley PerryFINLEY PERRY

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
William McConnell IVWILLIAM MCCONNELL IV

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Dr Barbara MillenDR BARBARA MILLEN

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Susan S MooneySUSAN S MOONEY

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Darrol RobertsDARROL ROBERTS

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Graham LuceGRAHAM LUCE

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Terry WindhorstTERRY WINDHORST

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Helen R StriederHELEN R STRIEDER

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Daniel W DalyDANIEL W DALY

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Thaddeus ThompsonTHADDEUS THOMPSON

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
George SchneeGEORGE SCHNEE

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Carol SpinelliCAROL SPINELLI

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Suzanne B McCanceSUZANNE B MCCANCE

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Bob SmithBOB SMITH

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1

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

1a · Housing allowance or residence for personal use
1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
3 · Compensation committee
3 · Form 990 of other organizations
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

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 1A: THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RECEIVED A RESIDENCE FOR PERSONAL USE AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT.

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: 2023
Filed: 14 August 2025
IRS schema version: 2023v6.0
Source object: 202512269349300931

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