Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
See Schedule O for information.
- Income
- $149.4 million
- Spending
- $120.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 49.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 34%
- Employees
- 1,178
- Volunteers
- 660
- Highest pay
- $800,881, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 49.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 23% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2524 of 25 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
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, 2024, 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)
- $53.5 million spent. Education, 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.
- $16.6 million spent. 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.
- $16.2 million spent. 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.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1938.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.