Clermont Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Foundation preserves the cultural landscape of historic Clermont Farm and uses it to promote public education and engagement with agriculture, history, and historic preservation, partnering with the owner (VA Dept of Historic Resources)and others.
- Income
- $648,544
- Spending
- $361,673
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 109.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 63%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 48
- Highest pay
- $76,163, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 109.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 44% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 173% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 (3)
- $201,541 spent. AGRICULTURE: The Foundation uses the 362-acre Clermont Farm site as a commercial beef cattle, sheep, and crop (corn) operation, which is the basis for preserving a 284-year old agricultural landscape and providing an agricultural education and demonstration program working with the Farm Bureau and the Virginia Cooperative Extension. Clermont also serves as a teaching farm for Clarke County Public Schools and supports working farmers through the Extension Service. In 2025, additional best practice conservation measures were added to the farm, including a 780' tree shelterbelt and 21 acres of brush management. The middle school experiential ag program was expanded, and a tour wagon was built to support more farm tours. 2.2 acres of former state highway were acquired connecting cropland as well as expanding equipment/hay storage and wildlife conservation areas.
- $59,843 spent. HISTORIC PRESERVATION: The Foundation demonstrates best historic preservation practices and conducts education programs about them using historic buildings and archaeological resources. Repairs to historic buildings are used as opportunities for demonstrations of best practices, appropriate technologies, and to conduct further research and documentation. In 2025, The Foundation was awarded $747,000 in a second National Park Service grant. The grant honors the U.S.'s 250th anniversary by rehabilitating sites associated with the nation's founding. This will repair the main house interior, five service buildings, and five structures. A similar 2022 grant was completed in 2025 on the spring house, smoke house and main house exterior. Clermont's 2005 National Register nomination was updated based on the 2013 Historic Structure Report.
- $44,826 spent. HISTORY: The Foundation conducts research and education programs related to the history of the farm, its regional and economic context, and the people who have lived and worked here. The Foundation maintains archives of family papers and research materials related to the farm, and collections of historic furnishings, objects, and archaeological materials. All are available to external researchers. In 2025, a new website was introduced, with more historical materials, as part of an expanded digital public outreach program, as well as new social media accounts with daily updates. Community events for physical access were also increased through scheduled Saturdays. The Foundation was a sponsor of the revived county Juneteenth celebration. The research on a rare 18th century chair made locally was published nationally in American Period Furniture.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2010.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 7, 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.