irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $2.33MPRESERVATION OF HISTORIC SITES:GRANTS TO SUPPORT PRIORITIES OF THE NATIONAL TRUST AND OTHER PRESERVATION SOCIETIES TO PRESERVE IMPORTANT AND HISTORIC SITES, AND GRANTS TO PRESERVE THE ENVIRONMENT. ALSO INCLUDES FELLOWSHIPS FOR AMERICANS TO STUDY WITH THE NATIONAL TRUST IN THE PRESERVATION OF DECORATIVE OBJECTS AND GARDENS.
- #2 $318KMEMBERSHIP:PUBLIC RELATIONS PROGRAM TO MAKE THE GENERAL PUBLIC AWARE OF AND EXPERIENCE THE HISTORIC AND NATURAL SPACES IN ENGLAND, WALES AND NORTHERN IRELAND. FREE ENTRY TO OVER 350 PROPERTIES OF THE NATIONAL TRUST OF ENGLAND, WALES AND NORTHERN IRELAND AND OVER 100 PROPERTIES BELONGING TO THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR SCOTLAND, AND REDUCED ADMISSION PRICE FOR U.S. LECTURES AND TOURS.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Decorative Arts Conservation Studio at Knole
Provides $4 million in funding over five years for the conservation of significant historic objects across National Trust properties, including paintings, furniture, and decorative arts.
Garden Apprenticeship Program
Funds salaried apprenticeships for training the next generation of gardeners in heritage horticulture and biodiversity at National Trust gardens.
Sponsored Projects Program
Provides fundraising assistance in the U.S. for non-National Trust heritage organizations such as the Charleston Trust and the Holbourne Museum.
The Damaris Horan Fellowship
Offers a fellowship for U.S. citizens to study historic landscape and garden conservation with the National Trust, including a stipend, travel support, and hands-on experience.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Historic Preservation Support Grants 1 activity
- Awarding grants to external heritage and arts organizationsMakes targeted grants to independent heritage institutions, including $35,000 to The Charleston Trust for art collection preservation, $17,050 to the Furniture History Society for research, and $12,576 to the Holbourne Museum in Bath for fine and decorative arts collections.
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Historic Garden Preservation and Support 1 activity
- Delivering educational programming and training in historic landscape managementProvides training and educational opportunities in the history, management, and conservation of historic landscapes and gardens, complementing fellowship and scholarship initiatives.
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Professional Membership and Association Benefits 1 activity
- Facilitating access to British-themed publicationsOffers discounted subscriptions to British-themed magazines including Country Life, The Art Newspaper, Discover Britain, and The English Garden as a membership benefit.
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Youth Outdoor & Conservation Education Scholarships 1 activity
- Funding heritage education and training programsProvides financial support for workforce development and education in heritage conservation, including a $10,000 grant to fund the Garden Apprentice Program, which offers salaried placements for emerging gardeners in National Trust gardens, and full and partial scholarships to the Attingham Summer School Program, with responsibility for recipient selection.
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Membership Program Administration 1 activity
- Operating a membership program with access to historic propertiesManages a membership program that provides free entry to over 350 properties of the National Trust of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and over 100 properties of the National Trust for Scotland, along with discounted admission to U.S.-based lectures and tours.
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Research and Scholarly Fellowship Support 1 activity
- Providing research fellowships for Americans in British heritageOffers fellowships supporting American scholars in the study of British heritage, including a $10,000 stipend and $1,500 travel subsidy for research on historic walled gardens, and sponsors participation in programs like the Attingham Summer School. Also funds fellowships focused on the preservation of decorative objects and historic gardens in partnership with the National Trust.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Publishing newsletters and member communicationsProduces two editions annually of the Royal Oak newsletter and provides three issues per year of the National Trust magazine for members, enhancing engagement with British heritage and conservation efforts.
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Uncategorized 6 activities
- Funding conservation of historic sites and artifacts through the National TrustFunds major conservation projects at National Trust properties, including a $4 million contribution to the Decorative Arts Conservation Studio at Knole for the preservation of hundreds of significant objects over five years, a $1.9 million effort to restore the Bath Assembly Rooms, and support for the conservation of over 100 works of art, furniture, books, and textiles. Also provided targeted grants such as $67,000 for Mount Stewart’s garden, $50,000 for North Devon conservation, $25,475 for Red House (William Morris’s home), and $23,000 for community engagement at 575 Wandsworth Road.
- Funding restoration of specific historic interiors and buildingsSupports the conservation and restoration of historically significant interiors, including expert research and paint analysis for the authentic restoration of Saltram’s Velvet Drawing Room, scheduled for 2027, and funding for the Knole ballroom conservation ($1.25 million in 2012).
- Offering exclusive cultural and heritage travel experiencesOrganizes luxury group tours to explore the cultural and natural heritage of Great Britain and beyond, including an 11-day tour of royal palaces in England, an 11-day Shakespeare-themed tour from Stratford-upon-Avon to the Globe Theatre, a 14-day tour of southern Ireland focusing on castles and folklore, a 12-day Scottish tour highlighting art and royal history, and seasonal Christmas tours in the Cotswolds, Chilterns, and Kent. These are offered in partnership with Arrangements Abroad, providing special access to extraordinary places in over 50 countries.
- Organizing U.S.-based lectures, events, and digital outreach on British heritageHosts lectures, day trips, and special events across the U.S., having presented over 1,220 lectures by more than 288 speakers in 67 cities since 1974. Also engages audiences in all 50 states through digital lectures and online “armchair” tours of locations in London and the UK.
- Stewarding historic sites and natural landscapesStewards over 350 historic sites, 610,000 acres of countryside, and 775 miles of coastline across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, receiving over 17 million annual visitors at admission-charged properties and an estimated 50 million visits at open-air sites.
- Supporting land acquisition and property maintenance in the Lake DistrictEstablished The Grace and Thomas William Thompson Fund to finance property maintenance and land acquisitions by the National Trust in the English Lake District.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$4.89M
Contributions & grants$3.44M70%
Program service revenue$477K10%
Investment income$943K19%
Other revenue$33K
expenses
Total expenses$4.19M
Program expenses82%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising8%
Salaries & benefits$862K
Grants paid out$2.33M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$12.26M
Cash$236K
Investments$10.12M
Liabilities$1.17M
Net assets$11.09M
Liquid reserves29.6 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +41.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| IAN MURRAY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 35 | $199K |
| JOSEPH CAIRL | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND ADMIN | 35 | $103K |
board members · 19
- ANNE BLACKWELL ERVIN — DIRECTOR
- CONSTANCE CINCOTTA — DIRECTOR
- DAVID BEAL — DIRECTOR
- ELISE MESLOW RYAN — DIRECTOR (UNTIL 07/2024)
- ERIC NILSON — DIRECTOR
- GARRETT HARDEE O'NEAL — DIRECTOR
- HILLARY MCGRADY — DIRECTOR
- LAURA TREVELYAN — DIRECTOR (UNTIL 07/2024)
- LAUREN BRISKY — TREASURER
- LYNNE RICKABAUGH — DIRECTOR
- MADELINE SCHACHTER — DIRECTOR (UNTIL 07/2024)
- MICHAEL BOYD — CHAIRMAN
- MICHAEL BROWN — DIRECTOR
- ROBERT C DAUM — DIRECTOR
- ROBERT SACKVILLE-WEST — VICE- CHAIRMAN
- SALLIE BAILEY — DIRECTOR
- SARAH EAMES — DIRECTOR
- SUSAN CHAPMAN — SECRETARY
- SUSAN SAMUELSON — DIRECTOR (UNTIL 11/2024)
relationships · 37
Who they work with
- Allison Quaid Partner — Launched a Coronation Collection benefiting the Royal Oak Foundation.
- Arrangements Abroad Partner — Luxury travel partner offering special access to extraordinary places in more than 50 countries.
- Attingham Summer School Program Partner — Receives scholarships from The Royal Oak Foundation to support American participants in preservation education.
- Constance C. McPhee Funder — Supporter of Royal Oak programs.
- Country Life Partner — Offers discounted subscriptions to Royal Oak members.
- Discover Britain Partner — Offers discounted subscriptions to Royal Oak members.
- Furniture History Society Partner — Sponsored Project supported in the study and preservation of historical furniture.
- Holbourne Museum Partner — Sponsored Project receiving funding for its fine and decorative arts collection in Bath.
- Linda Pedro Funder — Adopter-level supporter of Royal Oak programs.
- Lynne R. Pickens Funder — Adopter-level supporter of Royal Oak programs.
- Marian Meaker Apteker Foundation Funder — Supporter of Royal Oak programs.
- Mark Pigott KBE Funder — Primary underwriter for Royal Oak's educational programs.
- National Trust Partner — Collaborates on the Damaris Horan Fellowship to provide training in historic garden conservation, including site access, staff supervision, and logistical support.
- National Trust Partner — Longstanding partner organization receiving funding for conservation of art and historic objects across multiple properties.
- National Trust Partner — Longstanding partnership supporting the preservation of historic sites and gardens.
- National Trust Partner — Partner organization offering holiday accommodations in iconic UK locations, with stays supporting conservation.
- National Trust Partner — Primary beneficiary of Royal Oak Foundation's grantmaking and fundraising efforts.
- National Trust Partner — Primary partner organization for property preservation and garden apprenticeship programs in the UK.
- National Trust Partner — Receives grants from The Royal Oak Foundation to support preservation of historic sites and environments in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
- National Trust for Scotland Partner — Partners with the National Trust for Scotland to include Scottish historic properties in tours
- National Trust for Scotland Partner — Provides property access benefits to members of The Royal Oak Foundation and collaborates on public engagement with historic and natural spaces.
- National Trust for Scotland Partner — Provides reciprocal access to 100 properties managed by the National Trust for Scotland for Royal Oak members.
- National Trust of England Wales & Northern Ireland Partner — Collaborates to support conservation projects and provides reciprocal membership benefits including access to over 350 properties.
- National Trust of England, Wales & Northern Ireland Partner — Provides reciprocal access to over 500 historic sites managed by the National Trust of England, Wales & Northern Ireland for Royal Oak members.
- National Trust of England, Wales and Northern Ireland Partner — Collaborates with the National Trust to provide access to historic estates in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland
- National Trust of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland Partner — Collaborates to introduce Americans to the National Trust's portfolio and support its preservation initiatives.
- Roberta and Robert Young Funder — Adopter-level supporter of Royal Oak programs.
- Royal Over-Seas League Partner — Not-for-profit private members’ organization promoting international friendship and understanding across the Commonwealth.
- Stephen and Karen Tyler Funder — Donor supporting Royal Oak programs.
- The Art Newspaper Partner — Offers discounted subscriptions to Royal Oak members.
+ 7 more
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Immersive Cultural Engagement to Build Transatlantic Communitymethodology: immersive_cultural_tourismBy offering behind-the-scenes access, expert-led travel, and direct engagement with heritage sites, we deepen support for preservation because immersive experiences foster emotional connection and sustained membership engagement.
- Legacy-Driven Grantmaking for Sustained Cultural Preservationmethodology: legacy-driven grantmakingBy channeling donor legacies and endowments into long-term conservation initiatives, we enable transformative, multi-year funding cycles because restricted, patient capital supports large-scale preservation that annual grants cannot sustain.
- Long-Term Conservation Through Perpetual Stewardshipmethodology: perpetual_stewardshipBy acquiring and legally protecting threatened natural and historic properties in perpetuity, we ensure permanent preservation because legal inalienability prevents future disposal or degradation.
- Research-Led Conservation for Historically Accurate Restorationmethodology: research-led_conservationBy integrating expert consultation, historical research, and scientific analysis into conservation practice, we achieve historically accurate restoration of heritage interiors because evidence-based decision-making reduces speculative interventions.
- Transatlantic Fundraising to Leverage U.S. Philanthropy for UK Heritagemethodology: transatlantic fundraisingBy enabling tax-deductible contributions from American donors, we fund National Trust conservation priorities because U.S. charitable incentives unlock otherwise inaccessible private capital for British heritage preservation.