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Thomas Jefferson Foundation
Thomas Jefferson Foundation reported $51.7 million in revenue and $41.1 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $73.92 went to program services, $21.54 to management and general costs and $4.54 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 34.5% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $693,130 (FORMER PRESIDENT). 23 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 26% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $41MFor 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 $52MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 73.9% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 21.5% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 4.5% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.10 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 34.5% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.2% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 21.4% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $693,130 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.69% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 23 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 104.9 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 16 of 16 | 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 expenseThe Thomas Jefferson Foundation operates monticello, the home of the nation's third president and author of the american declaration of independence. Over the past ten years, an average of 307,600 people have visited monticello annually. Admission includes an interpretive guided tour of his home, one of our country's foremost architectural masterpieces and the only home in america named to the united nations world heritage list. In addition to admission revenue, the above total also includes gifts and grants, and sales from the retail operations of the museum shops, catalog, and online store.…
The Thomas Jefferson Foundation operates the robert h. Smith international center for jefferson studies, which houses the Thomas Jefferson library. The center is also devoted to education of the general public as well as scholarly research and publication, through the jefferson library, archaeological research and publication, and other adult education programs. The robert h. Smith international center for jefferson studies also is responsible for the research and publication of 24 volumes of research, the papers of Thomas Jefferson, embracing the period from jefferson's retirement from the…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FORMER PRESIDENT Former, 0.0 hrs/week | $693,130 | $0 | $0 | $693,130 |
| PRESIDENT & CEO (FROM 1/15) Officer, 50.0 hrs/week | $604,164 | $0 | $11,759 | $615,923 |
| VP & CFO Officer, 50.0 hrs/week | $320,148 | $0 | $24,639 | $344,787 |
| INTERIM PRESIDENT (1/1 - 1/14) Officer, 50.0 hrs/week | $259,726 | $0 | $23,713 | $283,439 |
| EDITOR, THOMAS JEFFERSON PAPER Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $177,417 | $0 | $15,731 | $193,148 |
| DIRECTOR OF IT Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $151,722 | $0 | $20,531 | $172,253 |
| VP EXTERNAL RELATIONS Key employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $155,175 | $0 | $1,759 | $156,934 |
| DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT (THRU 12/27/2024) Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $143,326 | $0 | $3,714 | $147,040 |
23 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Thomas Jefferson Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.4M (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–1b16 · 16 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 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5454
- Volunteers Part I, line 697
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| GWWO INC Architecture | $1,111,211 |
| GALLAGHER & ASSOCIATES LLC Construction | $593,462 |
| FREEPORT PRESS Printing | $402,272 |
| FGS GLOBAL LLC Marketing advisor | $311,440 |
| DESIGN CUISINE Catering | $282,708 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 16 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
59 private foundations reported grants to Thomas Jefferson Foundation totaling $4.2M 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 Thomas Jefferson 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 Thomas Jefferson Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Thomas Jefferson Foundation spent in 2024, $73.92 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art Science & HistoryDaytona Beach, FL · revenue $52M · programs 66.1% · 2025
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- Boston BalletBoston, MA · revenue $52M · programs 85.1% · FY2025
- The Franklin InstitutePhiladelphia, PA · revenue $51M · programs 84.6% · 2024
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Virginia
Questions people ask
How much of Thomas Jefferson Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Thomas Jefferson Foundation reported that 73.9% of its $41.1 million in expenses went to program services, 21.5% to management and general and 4.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Thomas Jefferson Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Thomas Jefferson Foundation reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $693,130, for the role of FORMER PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Thomas Jefferson Foundation get its money?
Of $51.7 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 34.5% came from contributions and grants (including 0.2% from government grants) and 21.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Thomas Jefferson Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 54-0505959 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 202533209349301733 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202423199349317292 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202343199349324019 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202213199349304566 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202133199349331033 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019 (amended), object 202033239349301503 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 54-0505959: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.