irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $35KTHE CEMETERY CONDUCTS GUIDED TOURS OF ITS HISTORIC GROUNDS TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC AND TO ULTIMATELY GENERATE REVENUE TO SUPPORT ITS MISSION.
named programs · 1 · from sources
What they call their work
Guided Historical Tours
Conducts public tours of Forest Lawn’s historic grounds, highlighting notable interments, architecture, and cultural heritage to engage the community and generate revenue
activities · 5 groups
What they do
-
Historical Cemetery and Museum Ghost Tours 1 activity
- Conduct educational and cultural programsOffers guided tours, lectures, workshops, theatrical performances, concerts, and exhibitions to educate the public about the history, art, architecture, and preservation of Forest Lawn Cemetery and its associated sites, including award-winning tours and special events.
-
-
Ecological Habitat Restoration 1 activity
- Manage natural and ecological resources on cemetery groundsMaintains an arboretum with over 3,500 trees representing 100 species, supports bird biodiversity through birdhouse installations, and conducts long-term landscape renewal and creek restoration projects, including a $7 million restoration of Scajaquada Creek and a 12-year tree replanting initiative.
-
-
Cemetery and Cremation Services 1 activity
- Operate and maintain multiple cemeteries and burial groundsManages 14 cemeteries and a crematory across Western New York, providing burial and interment services for over 165,000 individuals at Forest Lawn Cemetery alone, and maintaining continuous operation as a rural cemetery since 1849. Sites include Forest Lawn, Clarence Fillmore, Evergreen Lawn, Freedom Cemeteries, Gethsemane, Griffins Mills, Lakeside, Lancaster Rural, Oakwood, Quaker Settlement, St. Matthew’s, Williamsville, and others.
-
-
Local History Archival Access 1 activity
- Preserve and provide access to historical archives and documentsOperates the Margaret L. Wendt Archive and Resource Center to protect and conserve over 1.2 million historic documents, including genealogical records and the most comprehensive family archives in Western New York, and has made historic images of Forest Lawn available online via the New York Heritage website.
-
-
Uncategorized 1 activity
- Regulate photography and videography on cemetery groundsAllows personal photography and videography for visitors while requiring advance written permission, insurance, and fees for commercial or professional use; permits wedding photography in designated areas with prior approval and encourages donations to support preservation.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$13.34M
Contributions & grants$1.26M9%
Program service revenue$10.47M79%
Investment income$1.41M11%
Other revenue$193K
expenses
Total expenses$10.10M
Program expenses55%
Admin / overhead45%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$4.95M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$62.41M
Cash$1.80M
Investments$44.86M
Liabilities$2.77M
Net assets$59.65M
Liquid reserves55.5 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -1.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 14
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JULIA R SNYDER | CEO | 40 | $285K |
| CRAIG WOLCOTT | VP - OPERATIONS | 40 | $173K |
| CHRISTOPHER CONVERSE | VP - ADMIN | 40 | $158K |
| JAMIE L LOTZ | VP - FINANCE | 40 | $154K |
| JOSEPH DISPENZA | FORMER PRESIDENT - FINAL SEVERANCE | 0 | $142K |
| JAMES WADSWORTH | CHAIRMAN | 20 | $55K |
| CHARLES F KREINER JR | TREASURER | 1 | $7K |
| HUGH M RUSS | TRUSTEE | 1 | $7K |
| JANE HOPKINS | TRUSTEE | 1 | $7K |
| PASTOR DWAYNE JONES | TRUSTEE | 1 | $7K |
| RUTH BRYANT | SECRETARY | 1 | $7K |
| STEPHEN BELL | TRUSTEE | 1 | $6K |
| GEORGE MORRIS | TRUSTEE | 1 | $5K |
| KURT L RICH | TRUSTEE | 1 | $5K |
relationships · 10
Who they work with
- CemeteriesofWNY.com Network — Member of the Forest Lawn Cemetery Group, with details available on CemeteriesofWNY.com.
- Forest Lawn Cemetery Group Network — Member organization within the Forest Lawn Cemetery Group, operating multiple cemeteries under its stewardship.
- Forest Lawn Heritage Foundation Funder — Receives donations to support the preservation of Forest Lawn cemetery grounds.
- Haudenosaunee people Government — Recognizes the Haudenosaunee people as the traditional stewards of the land on which Forest Lawn Cemetery is located.
- Lewis F. Allen Partner — Trusted leader and Vice President of The Buffalo City Cemetery who helped govern the organization during the 19th century.
- New York Heritage Partner — Partnered to host a collection of historic images of Forest Lawn online.
- New York State Department of State Division of Cemeteries Government — Regulatory body overseeing the organization
- Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities Partner — Former owner of Gethsemane Cemetery, which was entrusted to the organization in 2018.
- Six Nations Confederacy Government — Honors the Six Nations Confederacy as sovereign nations and traditional stewards of the land where the cemetery is situated.
- The John R. Oishei Foundation Funder — Provided a generous grant to support the development and implementation of the Forest Lawn Landscape Renewal Plan.
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.
- Experience-Linked Donations to Sustain Preservationmethodology: experience-linked-donationsBy inviting donors to contribute after personally experiencing the grounds, the organization strengthens the emotional connection between visitor experience and stewardship, increasing donation likelihood because personal use creates a sense of ownership and gratitude that motivates financial giving.
- Inclusive Service Model to Broaden Community Access and Supportmethodology: inclusive_service_modelBy offering cemetery and cremation services to individuals of all faiths, ethnicities, and ancestries, the organization increases community participation and visitation, which in turn drives broader financial and social support, because inclusivity expands stakeholder ownership and engagement across diverse populations.
- Integrated Historic Preservation with Active Use and Educationmethodology: historical-preservation-with-active-useBy combining ongoing cemetery operations and affordable burial services with long-term conservation of landscapes, archives, and art, the organization ensures financial and ecological sustainability while maintaining cultural relevance, because active use reinforces stewardship and public education strengthens community ownership of heritage resources.
- Rural Cemetery Model as Cultural and Recreational Resourcemethodology: rural_cemetery_modelBy designing cemeteries as park-like, landscaped environments away from urban centers, the organization fosters public visitation and engagement, which supports historical appreciation and generates sustained financial support through visitation-linked donations and inclusive use, because the serene, multi-use setting invites both remembrance and recreation.
- Storytelling and Legacy Preservation to Drive Public Engagementmethodology: storytelling_for_legacy_preservationBy sharing the personal and historical stories of interred individuals through public programming and archival access, the organization deepens public connection to the site, increasing visitation and donor support, because narrative engagement transforms cemeteries from burial grounds into living memorials that resonate across generations.