2/17/26 Update: In February 2026 CharityWatch was able to obtain a copy of Wreaths Across America's fiscal 2024 audited financial statements from a public source. According to audit note 9, Related Party Transactions, "During the year ending December 31, 2024 the Organization paid Worcester Resources, Inc. for wreaths, balsam products, shipping and other services. The husbands of an officer and a non-paid staff are majority owners of Worcester Resources, Inc. Total payments to Worcester Resources, Inc during the year ended December 31, 2024 were approximately $28,512,303 for wreaths, other balsam products and flags. At December 31, 2024, $5,034,923 was owed to Worcester Resources, Inc for goods or services provided. According to audit note 10, Concentrations, "Worcester Resources, Inc, as the sole supplier of wreaths for the Organization, accounted for approximately 98% or $28,285,308 of the sponsorship and several other related costs for the year ended December 31, 2024. The Organization is committed to maintain the relationship disclosed with this vendor in Note 9 through the December 31, 2026 wreath laying event. The next RFP [Request for Proposal] will be performed in 2026." "Wreath sponsorships, as the major source of revenue, accounted for approximately 92% or $39,945,397 of total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024. The Organization continually looks for ways to diversify its revenues to support all of the programs." The audit did not include information about the Organization's efforts, if any, to diversify its revenues. |
CharityWatch analyzed the fiscal year ended 12/31/2024 IRS Form 990 of Wreaths Across America and has assigned the charity a "?" rating. CharityWatch has specific concerns about the charity's governance and the reliability of its financial reporting, as outlined below. CharityWatch contacted Wreaths Across America in an email dated November 20, 2025, to request a complete copy of its audited financial statements for its fiscal year-ended December 31, 2024. We asked the charity to provide the requested documents by December 4th, 2025. We received a response on December 4, 2025, from Amber Caron, Director of Communications: "...Wreaths Across America's audit ending December 31, 2024, is in process. We will make it available after it is finalized..."
In fiscal 2024, Wreaths Across America reports bringing in $42,543,723 of total revenue, of which $39,945,397 is reported as "Wreath Sponsorship." The same fiscal year it reports total expenses of $43,934,566, of which $30,576,579 is reported as "Sponsorships, Trucking & Other Sponsorship costs." (IRS Form 990, Parts VIII & IX) Wreaths Across America reports "Transactions With Interested Persons" in fiscal 2024 (IRS Form 990, Schedule L) in the amount of $28,512,303. The "Name of interested person" is reported as "Worcester Resources DBA Worcester W[reath];" the "Relationship between interested person and the organization" is reported as "Vendor - Owners are Rela[ted];" the "Description of transaction" is reported as "Wreaths, other balsam prod[ucts], flags,"
According to Form 990, Schedules L & O, and Form 990 Part VII. - Renee Worcester and Sarah Worcester are officers and employees of Worcester Wreaths. Renee Worcester is reported as a Director, Officer, and "Secretary" of Wreaths Across America, and Sarah Worcester is reported as a Director of Wreaths Across America.
- The husbands of Renee Worcester and Sarah Worcester, who are reported as Morrill Worcester II (Rob) and Michael Worcester, own the majority interest in Worcester Wreath.
- The Executive Director of Wreaths Across America, Karen Worcester, who is reported as having worked an average of 40 hours per week for Wreaths Across America while receiving a reported compensation of $0, is also "the mother of Rob and Michaell who as stated own the majority interest in Worcester Resources DBA Worcester Wreath."
- Renee Worcester, a Director and Officer, and Sarah Worcester, a Director, are sisters-in-law. Karen Worcester, the Executive Director, is the mother-in-law to both Renee Worcester and Sarah Worcester. Pamela Slaven-Lee, a Director of Wreaths Across America, is reported as "daughter to Karen Worcester."
The members of a charity's board of directors have a fiduciary duty to make decisions in the best interest of the charity. In its fiscal 2024 IRS Form 990, Wreaths Across America reports having a board of directors comprised of 18 total members, of which 15 are reported as being "independent." It also reports having basic governance policies in place such as a conflict of interest policy, a whistleblower policy, and a document retention and destruction policy. However, CharityWatch remains concerned that the family relationships and the significant financial interests of certain board members in the charity's primary vendor may impact the independence with which the charity's board can make decisions. Due to these concerns, CharityWatch has assigned Wreaths Across America a "?" rating for its fiscal 2024 reporting year. |
