Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Forest Lawn Heritage Foundation Inc

EIN 16-1405484 · Buffalo, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 43% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

WE STEWARD CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE CONSERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF OUR CEMETERIES, PROMOTING HISTORY, SUSTAINABILITY, PRESERVATION AND EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS FOR THESE IMPORTANT LANDSCAPES.

Income
$394,231
Spending
$233,720
Spent on programs
43%
Reserves
20.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$285,437, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 41% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 116% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    43% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 68 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    3 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $101,211 spent. THE FOUNDATION SOLICITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUPPORT ITS EFFORTS TO PRESERVE THE ARCHITECTURAL, HISTORICAL, AND NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE BUFFALO CITY CEMETERY (COMMONLY KNOWN IN WESTERN NEW YORK AS "FOREST LAWN CEMETERY"). THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FOUNDATION MEET REGULARLY TO REVIEW PROPOSED CAPITAL PROJECTS ON THE GROUNDS OF FOREST LAWN CEMETERY WHICH COULD POSSIBLY RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THE FOUNDATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1992.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Heritage Foundation (Washington, DC), EIN 23-7327730. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.