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The George Washington Foundation

EIN 54-0525507 · Fredericksbrg, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE GEORGE WASHINGTON FOUNDATION IS TO ENHANCE THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE LIVES, VALUES, AND LEGACIES OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, FIELDING AND BETTY WASHINGTON LEWIS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, PARTICULARLY IN THE BROADER CONTEXT OF THE CULTURE OF THE FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA AREA.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
22.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 47%
Employees
77
Volunteers
129
Highest pay
$212,695, president

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 50% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 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 (5)
  1. $475,456 spent. THE ARCHAEOLOGY DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CONDUCTING ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS AT FERRY FARM AND KENMORE. IT ALSO CONDUCTS HISTORICAL RESEARCH AND STUDIES THE RECOVERED MATERIAL GOODS LEFT BEHIND BY OTHERS INCLUDING THE WASHINGTON FAMILY AND THEIR ENSLAVED WORKERS, NATIVE AMERICANS, PARTICIPANTS IN THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG, AND OTHERS. THE RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY THE DEPARTMENT INFORMS EXHIBITS, THE FOUNDATION'S WEB PAGE, PUBLICATIONS, PUBLIC TALKS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING.
  2. $781,636 spent. THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR LEARNERS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES BY OFFERING DAILY TOURS FOR VISITORS TO THE PROPERTIES, STATION-BASED FIELD TRIPS FOR SCHOOL GROUPS, SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND SUMMER CAMPS FOR YOUNG LEARNERS. THE DEPARTMENT ALSO OFFERS PROGRAMS TO MAKE THE MUSEUM ACCESSIBLE AND A MORE ENRICHING LEARNING EXPERIENCE TO ALL.
  3. $240,871 spent. THE CURATORIAL DEPARTMENT DOCUMENTS, RESEARCHES, CONSERVES AND INTERPRETS THE FOUNDATION'S COLLECTIONS OF 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY OBJECTS AND MANUSCRIPTS, THE MOST IMPORTANT OF WHICH IS KENMORE, THE GEORGIAN HOUSE BUILT BY BETTY AND FIELDING LEWIS IN THE 18TH CENTURY. AS SUCH, THE CURATORIAL DEPARTMENT IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY PRESERVATION-BASED MAINTENANCE, REPAIR OR RESTORATION NECESSARY AT KENMORE, INCLUDING THE MONITORING OF THE INTERIOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEMS. THESE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE CARRIED OUT IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PROPERTIES DEPARTMENT.
  4. $455,874 spent. THE GARDEN AND HISTORIC LANDSCAPE DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS THE FORMAL GARDENS AT KENMORE UNDER THE AGREEMENT WITH THE RESTORATION COMMITTEE GUIDELINES OF THE GARDEN CLUB OF VIRGINIA. THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES SPECIAL GARDEN TOURS TO VISITORS INTERESTED IN THE HISTORY OF KENMORE GARDENS AND LANDSCAPES. THE DEPARTMENT ALSO ROUTINELY CANVASSES ALL PROPERTIES FOR ANY LANDSCAPE ISSUES THAT MAY OCCUR AND DESIGNS AND MAINTAINS SEASONAL INTERPRETIVE GARDENS AT FERRY FARM.
  5. OTHER EXPENSES TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE GEORGE WASHINGTON FOUNDATION.

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

  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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 December 1931.

    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 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.