Elderhostel Inc
93% goes to programs $27 to raise $100 Growing revenue
Elderhostel Inc is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Boston, Massachusetts, registered in 1978, with $445,959,787 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 93% of spending to programs.
Po Box 56033, Boston, MA, 02205 EIN 04-2632526 Since 1978
Revenue (FY2024)
$446.0M
▲ 16.2% vs prior year
Recreation median: $129K
Expenses (FY2024)
$401.0M
Net assets
$184.1M
Employees
574
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A
AProgram efficiency40% of the rating93% to programs · $27 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For Elderhostel Inc: 93% to programs · $27 to raise $100 earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating6 mo reserves · +10% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For Elderhostel Inc: 6 mo reserves · +10% margin earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For Elderhostel Inc: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Transparency10% of the rating5 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For Elderhostel Inc: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
Elderhostel inc., doing business as road scholar, sponsors, arranges or conducts educational programs around the world primarily for adults age 55 and older.
What they do
Road scholar's unique non ship-based educational programs in the united states (ranging in length from four days to three weeks) provide a stimulating academic experience exploring the arts, literature, sciences, history, culture, and environment of the united states. some programs provide community service and others are designed to be multi-generational, allowing grandchildren, or adult children and their children, to attend. room and board are included in the cost. in fiscal year 2025, 42,100 enrollees participated in these programs.
Road scholar's adventures afloat programs (ranging in length from one week to four months) are ship-based learning adventures that allow participants to experience the educational wonders of broad regions connected by the world's oceans and waterways. experts and professors provide stimulating educational programs on board, which are enhanced by field trips to experience the culture of local communities through related land components and lectures. multi-generational programs are offered, and room and board are included in the cost, as is airfare for most programs. in fiscal year 2025, 8,837 enrollees participated in adventures afloat programs.
Road scholar offers programs and lectures online through zoom that match the educational content of on-site programs. the programs range from 10 to 30 hours over three to five days, while lectures, some of which are offered at no cost, run one to two hours, including opportunities to ask questions. in fiscal year 2025, 1,242 enrollees participated in multi-day online programs and 81,883 enrollees attended online paid and free lectures.
Contact & location
- Address
- Po Box 56033, Boston, MA, 02205
- City
- Boston
- State
- Massachusetts
- Category
- Recreation & Sports
- Subcategory
- Community Recreation Centers
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $230.7M (FY2013) to $446.0M (FY2024) across 12 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2024)
Liabilities $199.9MNet assets $184.1M
Operating margin
10.1%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$384.0M
Total liabilities
$199.9M
Net assets
$184.1M
Salaries & benefits
$59.0M
15% of expenses
Board members
12
12 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $445,959,787▲16.2% | $401,004,482▲16.5% | $184,053,982▲59.7% | $384,003,668▲28.0% | 990 |
| 2023 | $383,709,603▲11.2% | $344,125,759▲12.1% | $115,216,527▲75.4% | $300,003,397▲30.4% | 990 |
| 2022 | $344,940,076▲120% | $307,047,297▲94.2% | $65,670,125▲317% | $229,991,445▲10.4% | 990 |
| 2021 | $157,086,376▲509% | $158,077,826▲326% | $15,749,194▼54.2% | $208,363,648▲54.3% | 990 |
| 2020 | $25,807,817▼89.9% | $37,131,476▼86.7% | $34,392,064▲8.1% | $135,068,845▲4.0% | 990 |
| 2019 | $254,323,739▼34.8% | $278,166,818▼28.0% | $31,803,152▼43.7% | $129,859,925▼40.0% | 990 |
| 2018 | $389,880,650▲10.3% | $386,403,568▲12.4% | $56,477,221▲2.2% | $216,566,045▲11.6% | 990 |
| 2017 | $353,516,336▲16.1% | $343,663,146▲14.2% | $55,265,511▲7.4% | $194,112,304▲17.1% | 990 |
| 2016 | $304,402,256▲4.2% | $301,010,921▲2.2% | $51,477,143▲14.8% | $165,805,411▲17.0% | 990 |
| 2015 | $292,240,305▲13.7% | $294,441,968▲15.9% | $44,846,920▼0.5% | $141,732,960▲1.3% | 990 |
| 2014 | $257,010,706▲11.4% | $254,129,764▲13.2% | $45,056,071▼6.4% | $139,922,383▲7.8% | 990 |
| 2013 | $230,653,922 | $224,467,847▲23.2% | $48,124,895▲30.2% | $129,743,031▲46.0% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $182,150,503▲9.7% | $36,967,077▲18.4% | $88,866,900▲8.8% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $166,062,551▲6.4% | $31,227,631▼9.9% | $81,646,010▲2.5% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $156,101,021 | $34,655,856 | $79,637,322 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2024)
Highest-paid: James Moses — $1,334,926 (0.33% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Moses | President & Ceo | 40 | $1,334,926 |
| Lowell Partridge | Ass't Treasurer & Cfo | 40 | $480,681 |
| Eric Bird | Chief Operating Officer | 40 | $473,512 |
| Maeve Hartney | Chief Programs Officer | 40 | $467,825 |
| Mary Marks | Chief Tuition Officer | 40 | $453,026 |
| Joseph Lodato | Vp, Human Resources | 40 | $336,954 |
| John Mccarthy | Chief Information Officer | 40 | $336,286 |
| Stephen August | Vp, Marketing | 40 | $335,445 |
| Christopher Heppner | Vp, Communications | 40 | $322,126 |
| Katie Ingalls | Vp, Strategy & Operations | 40 | $321,572 |
| Rachel Louis Hamilton | Clerk | 40 | $182,496 |
| Alexander Toth | Ass't Clerk | 40 | $136,372 |
| George Moose | Director | 1 | — |
| Jane Reardon | Director | 1 | — |
| Jennifer Elizabeth Main | Director | 1 | — |
| Judith Allen Ferretti | Vice Chair & Director | 2 | — |
| Kate Walker | Treasurer (eff 06/25) & Director | 3 | — |
| Michael Crotty | Director | 1 | — |
| Morrison Desoto Webb | Director | 1 | — |
| Paul Nelson | Director | 1 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2024)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Holbrook Travel Inc | Arrange & Conduct Edu Pgms | $28,752,982 |
| Ontario Limited | Arrange & Conduct Edu Pgms | $13,838,701 |
| Trustees of Trinity College | Arrange & Conduct Edu Pgms | $9,382,206 |
| Center For Educational Advn | Arrange & Conduct Edu Pgms | $8,178,474 |
| Northern Arizona University | Arrange & Conduct Edu Pgms | $7,234,808 |
Grants received · $920K total
38 grants to Elderhostel Inc totaling $920K, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Endowment Foundation | Housing, shelter | 2024 | $19,250 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2023 | $56,111 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Human services | 2023 | $43,900 |
| Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program | For recipient's exempt purpose | 2023 | $13,500 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Human services | 2022 | $50,640 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2022 | $31,625 |
| Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program | For recipient's exempt purpose | 2022 | $15,000 |
| Greater Cincinnati Foundation | General purpose | 2022 | $10,200 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Human services | 2021 | $62,240 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2021 | $54,900 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2021 | $54,900 |
| Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program | For recipient's exempt purpose | 2021 | $26,000 |
| AARP | General support | 2021 | $20,000 |
| National Philanthropic Tr | Education | 2021 | $7,750 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2020 | $58,096 |
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Frequently asked questions
- Is Elderhostel Inc a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Elderhostel Inc is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 04-2632526, based in Boston, Massachusetts. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Elderhostel Inc's EIN?
- Elderhostel Inc's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 04-2632526.
- How much revenue does Elderhostel Inc report?
- Elderhostel Inc reported $445,959,787 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Elderhostel Inc's spending goes to programs?
- Elderhostel Inc spends about 93% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Elderhostel Inc have?
- CharityIndex grades Elderhostel Inc A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Elderhostel Inc's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Elderhostel Inc's latest Form 990 is $1,334,926, paid to James Moses (President & Ceo).
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Explore more
Data for Elderhostel Inc (EIN 04-2632526) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.