Elderhostel
Also known as Road Scholar
Elderhostel reported $446.0 million in revenue and $401.0 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $92.55 went to program services, $7.24 to management and general costs and $0.21 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 94.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $1,386,517 (President & CEO). 89 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 75% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $401MFor context, the median across 237 covered recreation & sports charities: $88.05 programs, $10.89 management, $1.06 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $446MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 92.6% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 7.2% | 10.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.2% | 1.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.27 | $0.05 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 0.7% | 25.2% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 94.1% | 61.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $1,386,517 | $365,322 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.35% | 2.14% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 89 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 5.5 | 14.9 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 12 of 12 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseRoad Scholar's unique non ship-based educational programs held outside the United States (ranging in length from one to six weeks or more) provide a stimulating academic experience introducing participants to the arts, history, literature, culture, architecture and natural environment of their locations. They are designed to further cross-cultural understanding by forging direct connections between participants and local residents, experts and lecturers. Community service and multi-generational programs are also offered. Room, board and in most cases airfare are included in the cost. In…
Road Scholar's unique non ship-based educational programs in the United States (ranging in length from four days to three weeks) provide a stimulating academic experience exploring the arts, literature, sciences, history, culture, and environment of the United States. Some programs provide community service and others are designed to be multi-generational, allowing grandchildren, or adult children and their children, to attend. Room and board are included in the cost. In fiscal year 2025, 42,100 enrollees participated in these programs
Road Scholar's Adventures Afloat programs (ranging in length from one week to four months) are ship-based learning adventures that allow participants to experience the educational wonders of broad regions connected by the world's oceans and waterways. Experts and professors provide stimulating educational programs on board, which are enhanced by field trips to experience the culture of local communities through related land components and lectures. Multi-generational programs are offered, and room and board are included in the cost, as is airfare for most programs. In fiscal year 2025, 8,837…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President & CEO Officer, 40 hrs/week | $1,334,926 | $0 | $51,591 | $1,386,517 |
| Chief Programs Officer Key employee, 40 hrs/week | $467,825 | $0 | $62,376 | $530,201 |
| Ass't Treasurer & CFO Officer, 40 hrs/week | $480,681 | $0 | $47,131 | $527,812 |
| Chief Operating Officer Key employee, 40 hrs/week | $473,512 | $0 | $38,963 | $512,475 |
| Chief Tuition Officer Key employee, 40 hrs/week | $453,026 | $0 | $56,761 | $509,787 |
| VP, Human Resources Highest compensated employee, 40 hrs/week | $336,954 | $0 | $60,473 | $397,427 |
| VP, Marketing Highest compensated employee, 40 hrs/week | $335,445 | $0 | $53,165 | $388,610 |
| VP, Communications Highest compensated employee, 40 hrs/week | $322,126 | $0 | $58,013 | $380,139 |
89 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Elderhostel (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.9M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b12 · 12 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5574
- Volunteers Part I, line 6150
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Holbrook Travel Inc Arrange & conduct edu pgms | $28,752,982 |
| Ontario Limited Arrange & conduct edu pgms | $13,838,701 |
| Trustees of Trinity College Arrange & conduct edu pgms | $9,382,206 |
| Center for Educational Advn Arrange & conduct edu pgms | $8,178,474 |
| Northern Arizona University Arrange & conduct edu pgms | $7,234,808 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 276 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
6 private foundations reported grants to Elderhostel totaling $5,896 on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Elderhostel's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Elderhostel, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Elderhostel spent in FY2025, $92.55 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Legacy CaresScottsdale, AZ · revenue $333M · programs 0.0% · 2024
- Atlantic Coast ConferenceCharlotte, NC · revenue $826M · programs 96.2% · FY2025
- United States Golf AssociationLiberty Corner, NJ · revenue $297M · programs 82.2% · 2024
- Southeastern ConferenceBirmingham, AL · revenue $1.11B · programs 95.2% · FY2025
- United States Soccer FederationFayetteville, GA · revenue $268M · programs 71.3% · FY2025
All recreation & sports charities · Largest charities in Massachusetts
Questions people ask
How much of Elderhostel's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Elderhostel reported that 92.6% of its $401.0 million in expenses went to program services, 7.2% to management and general and 0.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Elderhostel pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Elderhostel reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $1,386,517, for the role of President & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Elderhostel get its money?
Of $446.0 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 0.7% came from contributions and grants and 94.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Elderhostel a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 04-2632526 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202543189349304959 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202433189349302933 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202323179349309897 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202233139349304013 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202123159349301502 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202043179349304369 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 04-2632526: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.