Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Analysis

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a registered charity in United States, based in Williamsburg, VA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in April 1938, 88 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts, culture and humanities, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (gross receipts test) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation reported income of $125.8m and spending of $121.5m, spending 97% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income fell from $199.4m to $125.8m (-37%), an average of -11% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income dropped by 30%. Over the whole period it spent 71% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile, and in the 99th percentile within VA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Urban Institute ($124.7m), Epoch Times Association Inc ($128.0m) and Segerstrom Center for the Arts ($124.1m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 51% and program service revenue 26% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $3.4m (2.8% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $43.5m. At year end it held assets of $1.67bn against liabilities of $391.5m, net assets of $1.28bn. It reported 1,235 employees.