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Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation reported $149.4 million in revenue and $120.1 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $71.88 went to program services, $20.85 to management and general costs and $7.27 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 34.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $800,881 (President & CEO). 64 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 25% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $120MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $149MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 71.9% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 20.8% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.3% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.17 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 34.9% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.9% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 21.9% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $800,881 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.67% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 64 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 131.0 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 24 of 25 | 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
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseEducation, Research and Historical Interpretation-The Historic Area is a 301-acre outdoor history museum with over 600 original and reconstructed houses, outbuildings, shops, taverns, and public buildings. Interpretation by costumed employees engage visitors in dialogue with historical residents of Colonial Williamsburg and at trade sites. Tours are offered through the houses, taverns and public buildings. Specialized tours are available that focus on African-Americans, the role of women in the 18th-century, and the origins of the U.S. Constitution
Taverns and Colonial Houses-Ideal for guests who wish to fully immerse themselves in the 18th-century, Colonial Williamsburg offers authentic period accomodations in the Historic Area where our founding families once lodged. Servers in taverns are in period dress and interpret the 18th-century dining experiences
Museums, Preservation and Historic Resources-Colonial Williamsburg's wide-ranging collections, acquired over the past 90 years, provide the art, objects, artifacts, and buildings necessary to accurately recreate the environment of 18th-century Williamsburg. The archaeological and architectural collection include 500,000 whole archaeological artifacts from excavations in and around Williamsburg as well as 60 million fragments (probably the largest single archaeological holding relating to 18th-century America), and some 19,000 architectural fragments
Highest reported compensation
2024 · 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 Director/trustee, officer, 65.00 hrs/week | $748,550 | $0 | $52,331 | $800,881 |
| CFO & Treasurer Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $491,764 | $0 | $32,234 | $523,998 |
| CLC & Secretary Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $416,864 | $0 | $59,807 | $476,671 |
| Vice President Listed in Part VII, 50.00 hrs/week | $323,479 | $0 | $147,239 | $470,718 |
| Vice President Listed in Part VII, 50.00 hrs/week | $316,664 | $0 | $109,539 | $426,203 |
| CMO Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $386,599 | $0 | $30,319 | $416,918 |
| Vice President Listed in Part VII, 50.00 hrs/week | $332,641 | $0 | $71,378 | $404,019 |
| Treasurer Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $295,557 | $0 | $70,456 | $366,013 |
64 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.6M (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
2024 · 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–1b25 · 24 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 2Yes
- 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 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 51,178
- Volunteers Part I, line 6660
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| HES Intermediate Holdings LLC Facilities maintenance | $1,586,806 |
| Digital Pulp Web design | $1,151,136 |
| iCivics Inc Game development | $600,000 |
| Clark Nexsen Inc Architects & Engineers | $542,483 |
| Drewmedia Inc Web design | $500,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 20 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
134 private foundations reported grants to Colonial Williamsburg Foundation totaling $11M 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 Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Colonial Williamsburg Foundation spent in 2024, $71.88 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications AssociationArlington, VA · revenue $148M · programs 72.8% · FY2025
- Boston Symphony OrchestraBoston, MA · revenue $155M · programs 81.8% · FY2025
- Dallas Museum of ArtDallas, TX · revenue $147M · programs 66.4% · FY2025
- Henry E Huntington Library and Art GallerySan Marino, CA · revenue $161M · programs 80.0% · FY2025
- Robert W Woodruff Arts CenterAtlanta, GA · revenue $135M · programs 74.0% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Virginia
Questions people ask
How much of Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation reported that 71.9% of its $120.1 million in expenses went to program services, 20.8% to management and general and 7.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Colonial Williamsburg Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Colonial Williamsburg Foundation reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $800,881, for the role of President & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Colonial Williamsburg Foundation get its money?
Of $149.4 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 34.9% came from contributions and grants (including 0.9% from government grants) and 21.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Colonial Williamsburg Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 54-0505888 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
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202523179349301807 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202443179349307659 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202323179349302897 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202213199349318601 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202133199349308343 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202033179349304123 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 54-0505888: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.