Mount Vernon Ladies Association of the Union
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE MOUNT VERNON LADIES' ASSOCIATION IS TO PRESERVE, RESTORE, AND MANAGE THE ESTATE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS AND TO EDUCATE VISITORS AND PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ABOUT THE LIFE AND LEGACIES OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, SO THAT HIS EXAMPLE OF CHARACTER AND LEADERSHIP WILL CONTINUE TO INFORM AND INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS.
- Income
- $82.2 million
- Spending
- $64.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 13.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 52%
- Employees
- 740
- Volunteers
- 280
- Highest pay
- $599,127, 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2524 of 24 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 (2)
- $27.9 million spent. EDUCATION: MOUNT VERNON CONTINUED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO EDUCATE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ABOUT THE LIFE AND LEGACIES OF GEORGE WASHINGTON THROUGH EXPANDED PUBLIC PROGRAMMING AND DIGITAL RESOURCES, WITH APPROXIMATELY 290,000 STUDENTS VISITING THE ESTATE WITH SCHOOL GROUPS. THE ESTATE UNDERWENT SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONAL CHANGES IN 2024 DUE TO LANDMARK REVITALIZATION WORK IN THE MANSION AND THE CREATION OF A NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART EDUCATION CENTER. "GEORGE WASHINGTON: A REVOLUTIONARY LIFE," REFLECTS UPDATED SCHOLARSHIP ON GEORGE WASHINGTON AND THE 18TH-CENTURY WORLD HE LIVED IN AND IS SLATED TO OPEN IN JULY 2026, AS AMERICA CELEBRATES ITS 250TH ANNIVERSARY.OVER THE COURSE OF SIX WEEKS IN THE SUMMER OF 2024, WE WELCOMED 147 TEACHERS FROM 46 STATES TO MOUNT VERNON FOR OUR 25TH YEAR OF IN-PERSON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES. EACH WEEK OF PROGRAMMING IN 2024 PROVIDED EDUCATORS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO EXCHANGE IDEAS WITH VISITING SCHOLARS AND WITH ONE ANOTHER, APPLYING THESE INSIGHTS TO THE CLASSROOM AND IMPACTING NEARLY 19,000 AMERICAN STUDENTS NATIONWIDE. ATTENDEES STAYED IN HISTORIC OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, AND ENGAGED WITH PARTNER HISTORY AND CIVICS INSTITUTIONS IN THE D.C. METRO AREA TO FOSTER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES. OTHER TEACHER-SPECIFIC PROGRAMMING, RANGING FROM STEAM WORKSHOPS TO STATE AND NATIONAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE SESSIONS, ALLOWED MOUNT VERNON TO REACH MORE THAN 550 ADDITIONAL TEACHERS. OVER 5,000 STUDENTS BENEFITED FROM DIGITAL AND IN-PERSON PROGRAMS AT THE GEORGE WASHINGTON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY, INCLUDING ONSITE LEADERSHIP SIMULATION PROGRAMS. NEARLY 500 VISITORS ATTENDED MOUNT VERNON THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH TICKETS FOR KIDS, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES TICKET DONATIONS TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. WE ALSO CONTINUE OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE MUSEUMS FOR ALL INITIATIVE, SPONSORED BY THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES, WHICH OFFERS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED ADMISSIONS TO THOSE RECEIVING FOOD ASSISTANCE. VISITORS TO MOUNT VERNON IN 2024 ENGAGED WITH A MULTITUDE OF DAILY PROGRAMS, INCLUDING DISCOVERY CARTS, EXPLORING GEORGE WASHINGTON'S ICONIC HOME; STORY TIME PROGRAMS; FAMILY DAY PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR; 18TH-CENTURY FOODWAYS DEMONSTRATIONS; AND HISTORIC TRADES DEMONSTRATIONS. A SERIES OF THEMED WEEKEND PROGRAMS, RUNNING FROM JULY THROUGH DECEMBER, OFFERED AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT 18TH-CENTURY TOPICS, RANGING FROM HEALTHCARE TO TAVERN CULTURE, ANIMALS, AND HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS. PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG, THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, AND THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY, ADDED TO THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR EXPERTISE AND PROGRAMMING.
- $25.6 million spent. HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND COLLECTIONS: IN 2024, THE PRESERVATION TEAM CONTINUED ITS LANDMARK INITIATIVE TO PRESERVE GEORGE WASHINGTON'S HOME FOR GENERATIONS OF FUTURE VISITORS. PREPARATIONS FOR THIS MULTI-YEAR "MANSION REVITALIZATION" PROJECT INCLUDED THE EXPANSION OF THE UNDERGROUND BUNKER TO HOUSE IMPROVED MECHANICAL SYSTEMS; THE REMOVAL OF 1990S-ERA DUCTWORK; AND THE ASSESSMENT AND STABILIZATION OF THE CELLAR'S DRY WELL, A 1785 ARCHITECTURAL FEATURE. THE ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM EXCAVATED ALL ROOMS OF THE MANSION CELLAR, IN PREPARATION FOR INSTALLING NEW UNDERGROUND DUCTWORK; THEY ALSO CONDUCTED A FIELD SCHOOL AT THE SITE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON'S UNION FARM, IDENTIFYING LIKELY EVIDENCE OF TWO WELLS, GARDEN PLOTS, AND DOMESTIC STRUCTURES OF THE ENSLAVED COMMUNITY ON THIS OUTLYING FARM. THE ARCHITECTURE TEAM COMPLETED THE EXTERIOR RESTORATION OF THE MANSION'S EAST FRONT; REFRESHED ITS FIRST-FLOOR BEDCHAMBER; COMPLETED FRAMING AND ROOF REPAIRS OF THE MANSION'S NORTH COLONNADE AND FRAMING AND SIDING REPAIRS OF THE WASH HOUSE; AND CONSTRUCTED A POULTRY COOP. THE FINE AND DECORATIVE ARTS (FDA) TEAM COMPLETED THE ACQUISITION OF THE PETER PRESIDENTIAL COLLECTION, INCLUDING NEARLY 100 ORIGINAL WASHINGTON ITEMS, AND REINSTALLED THE MANSION'S LITTLE PARLOR AND THE WASH HOUSE, THE LATTER INTERPRETING WORK DONE BY ENSLAVED LAUNDRESSES DOLSHY AND VINA. THE FDA TEAM ALSO INSTALLED A NEW EXHIBIT OF WASHINGTON AND MOUNT VERNON COMMEMORATIVES IN THE WASHINGTON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND CONSERVED AND REHOUSED ADDITIONAL ORIGINAL WASHINGTON TEXTILES.
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 October 13, 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 October 21, 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.