2025-11-13T12:33:26-07:00 2025-06-30 990 2024-07-01 042632526 ELDERHOSTEL INC ELDE 6174267788 PO Box 56033 Boston MA 022056033 Lowell Partridge CFO and Assistant Treasurer 6174267788 2025-11-13 1 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z ROAD SCHOLAR Lowell Partridge PO Box 56033 Boston MA 022056033 505362001 0 X www.roadscholar.org X 1975 MA Elderhostel Inc., doing business as Road Scholar, sponsors, arranges or conducts educational programs around the world primarily for adults age 55 and older. 12 12 574 150 12155371 9724767 2892923 3041921 360062625 419817237 7452289 9945921 13301766 13154708 383709603 445959787 118469 195156 0 0 45976551 59022397 0 0 830041 298030739 341786929 344125759 401004482 39583844 44955305 300003397 384003668 184786870 199949686 115216527 184053982 X Elderhostel, Inc., which operates under the name Road Scholar, is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1975 for the purpose of sponsoring, arranging or conducting educational programs primarily for adults age 55 and older. Its mission is to inspire adults to learn, discover and travel. Road Scholar's learning adventures engage expert instructors, provide extraordinary access, and stimulate discourse and friendship among people who value lifelong learning. (Continued on Schedule O) 0 0 180636519 13593 254060018 Road Scholar's unique non ship-based educational programs held outside the United States (ranging in length from one to six weeks or more) provide a stimulating academic experience introducing participants to the arts, history, literature, culture, architecture and natural environment of their locations. They are designed to further cross-cultural understanding by forging direct connections between participants and local residents, experts and lecturers. Community service and multi-generational programs are also offered. Room, board and in most cases airfare are included in the cost. In fiscal year 2025, 46,556 enrollees participated in these programs. 95803939 179169 118311523 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. 33393606 46704971 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. 312188 2394 740725 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. 30055347 0 195624 Nearly 17 million publications, including 15 million catalogs and brochures were produced and mailed to over 1.5 million households on Road Scholar's mailing list. Road Scholar's website, which provides program information, had 57.8 million page views from over 7.5 million unique visitors. In FY25, Road Scholar appeared on media sites and in publications and articles that receive more than 19.5 billion unique visitors monthly. 16622945 0 186655 Over 175 workers in the United States and internationally collaborated with over 1,500 providers and vendors to develop, operate, oversee, and evaluate 4,679 departure dates of 696 unique programs, and 191 virtual programs and lectures. 14305669 0 464635 Our 110-seat Participant Services Center handled over 285,000 inbound telephone calls and made approximately 34,000 outbound telephone calls to inquirers and enrollees that resulted in over 76,000 enrollment, cancellation, transfer and contribution transactions. They also responded to over 76,000 emails. In addition, the 56-seat Travel Services Center handled over 62,000 inbound telephone calls and made over 26,000 outbound calls to enrollees who desired assistance in making, changing or cancelling their travel flight arrangements to Road Scholar programs. This team also responded to over 6,000 emails and booked over 129,000 flight segments for enrolled participants. 61296149 2394 1587639 371130213 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 395 0 1 574 1 1 1 1 AS CA EI NZ UK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 X 12 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 AK AL AR CA CO CT DC FL GA HI IL KS KY MA MD ME MI MN MO MS NC ND NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC TN UT VA WA WI WV X X Lowell Partridge Elderhostel Inc d/b/a Road Scholar 6174575411 PO Box 56033 Boston MA 022056033 X James Moses President & CEO 40 0 X 1334926 0 51591 Maeve Hartney Chief Programs Officer 40 0 X 467825 0 62376 Lowell Partridge Ass't Treasurer & CFO 40 0 X 480681 0 47131 Eric Bird Chief Operating Officer 40 0 X 473512 0 38963 Mary Marks Chief Tuition Officer 40 0 X 453026 0 56761 Joseph LoDato VP, Human Resources 40 0 X 336954 0 60473 Stephen August VP, Marketing 40 0 X 335445 0 53165 Christopher Heppner VP, Communications 40 0 X 322126 0 58013 John McCarthy Chief Information Officer 40 0 X 336286 0 33917 Katie Ingalls VP, Strategy & Operations 40 0 X 321572 0 42649 Rachel Louis Hamilton Clerk 40 0 X 182496 0 18145 Alexander Toth Ass't Clerk 40 0 X 136372 0 13955 Ralph Fuccillo Chair & Director 4 0 X X 0 0 0 Judith Allen Ferretti Vice Chair & Director 2.00 0 X X 0 0 0 Sharon M Matthews Vice Chair & Director 2 0 X X 0 0 0 Kate Walker Treasurer (eff 06/25) & Director 3 0 X X 0 0 0 Sandra Willen Treasurer & Director (thru 6/25) 3 0 X X 0 0 0 Michael Crotty Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Jennifer Elizabeth Main Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 George Moose Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Paul Nelson Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Susan D Page Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Jane Reardon Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Morrison DeSoto Webb Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 5181221 0 537139 89 0 1 0 Holbrook Travel Inc 3540 NW 13th St Gainesville FL 32609 Arrange & conduct edu pgms 28752982 Ontario Limited 4 Cataraqui St Kingston ON CA K7K 1Z7 Arrange & conduct edu pgms 13838701 Trustees of Trinity College 300 Summitt Street 86-88 Vernon Hartford CT 06106 Arrange & conduct edu pgms 9382206 Center for Educational Advn 106 Plantation Ridge Drive Americus GA 31709 Arrange & conduct edu pgms 8178474 Northern Arizona University PO Box 5604 Flagstaff AZ 86011 Arrange & conduct edu pgms 7234808 276 0 0 0 0 0 3041921 168521 3041921 International program revenue 611600 254060018 254060018 0 0 Domestic program revenue 611600 118311523 118311523 0 0 Adventures Afloat program revenue 611600 46704971 46704971 0 0 Virtual program revenue 611600 740725 740725 0 0 0 0 0 0 419817237 8665362 0 0 8665362 0 0 0 0 11406 0 0 11406 141017 0 0 0 141017 0 141017 0 0 141017 60682773 0 59402214 0 1280559 0 1280559 0 0 1280559 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Trip protection plan fees 520000 11796468 0 11796468 0 Marketing support 900099 358903 0 358903 0 846914 846914 0 0 13002285 445959787 420664151 12155371 10098344 0 0 195156 195156 0 0 0 0 3934285 513919 3405050 15316 0 0 0 0 45367722 34272735 10712372 382615 2929742 2024743 877831 27168 4013556 3137614 828602 47340 2777092 1773793 979600 23699 0 0 0 0 143494 62203 81291 0 140785 0 140785 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 436705 0 436705 0 2169633 1603888 517805 47940 8498613 8498613 0 0 508489 175318 304790 28381 5790352 1246487 4529975 13890 0 0 0 0 435243 152741 280281 2221 1034071 946454 77696 9921 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1141444 442605 692506 6333 2368711 1995939 372772 0 Payments to program providers and vendors 287089265 287089265 0 0 Printing, postage and mailing 12173347 11983888 22874 166585 Credit card, hedging and bank fees 11467147 10548667 883655 34825 Unrelated business income taxes 2956625 0 2956625 0 5433005 4466185 943013 23807 401004482 371130213 29044228 830041 2549561 806215 95835996 77452472 0 0 1101055 1337103 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 28181991 38196147 28825966 22457526 4569098 6368440 164106334 245348302 3659362 8734440 0 0 0 0 0 5760549 300003397 384003668 17661892 15933681 0 0 161339721 180864004 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5785257 3152001 184786870 199949686 X 110591594 178956599 4624933 5097383 115216527 184053982 300003397 384003668 X 44955305 15652941 0 0 0 8229209 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 6076680 4238585 8060314 2892923 3041921 24310423 3269945 149017413 321379459 360677232 420664150 1255008199 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9346625 153255998 329439773 363570155 423706071 1279318622 79271 115726 260475 153972 149011 758455 0 0 0 0 0 0 79271 115726 260475 153972 149011 758455 1278560167 1786137 4555178 7551433 7219635 8817785 29930168 56985 40600 3968458 8035504 7682596 19784143 1843122 4595778 11519891 15255139 16500381 49714311 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11189747 157851776 340959664 378825294 440206452 1329032933 0.96202 0.966 0.03741 0.033 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 0 0 401004482 401004482 1000000 250000 0 0 1000000 1000000 1000000 1000000 4000000 6000000 0 0 0 0 0 250000 250000 250000 250000 1000000 1500000 0 0 0 0 0 108979579 42536680 17087283 128319 1100960 1198 167373065 59288390 37913295 13053788 77258 1194686 3950 108979579 12732969 42198145 5573938 51363 1161418 3881 59288390 31796769 -15203880 -2369998 81030 1422352 -13460 12732969 22580083 4197000 6485284 15843 1589746 -139991 31796769 0.97 0.03 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 58144 56091 2053 0 28767822 22401435 6366387 6368440 0 Post employment obligations 2322808 Lease liabilities 479820 Obligations under split interest agreements 349373 3152001 X 469267415 15652941 0 0 8229209 23882150 445385265 433505 141017 574522 445959787 400429960 0 0 0 -141017 -141017 400570977 433505 0 433505 401004482 Schedule D, Part V, Line 1f The amounts disclosed on the "Administrative expenses" line are the changes in actuarially determined liability of split-interest agreements given by donors for endowment purposes. No administrative expenses are deducted from the endowment funds. Schedule D, Part V, Line 4 The Organization's endowment consists of 51 donor-restricted funds established to provide scholarships, grants and other support, and a Board-designated fund to provide operating support. Schedule D, Part X, Line 2 The Organization is a qualified tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the "Code"), and is generally exempt from income taxes pursuant to Section 501(a) of the Code. The Organization provides for income taxes in accordance with the Code on unrelated business activities, and in accordance with the regulations of countries in which Road Scholar operates. Income tax expense totaled $2,972,514 for fiscal 2025 and $3,042,677 for fiscal 2024, which is included in administration expense in the accompanying statements of activities. The Organization received income tax refunds totaling $0 and $23,594 during fiscal 2025 and 2024 and paid income taxes of $2,821,767 and $2,968,129 during fiscal 2025 and 2024, respectively. Schedule D, Part XI, Line 2d Change in fair value of currency derivatives of $8,203,581 and change in actuarial liability of split interest agreements of $25,628 are included in Financial Statement revenue but reported as other changes in net assets on the Form 990. Schedule D, Part XI, Line 4a Investment management fees of $433,505 are included in Financial Statement revenue net of interest and dividends but reported as a component of investment management expense on the Form 990. Schedule D, Part XI, Line 4b COVID-19 extraordinary revenue of $141,017 is netted against COVID-19 extraordinary expenses in the Financial Statement expenses but reported as a component of revenue on the Form 990. Schedule D, Part XII, Line 2d COVID-19 extraordinary revenue of $141,017 is netted against COVID-19 extraordinary expenses in the Financial Statement expenses but reported as a component of revenue on the Form 990. Schedule D, Part XII, Line 4a Investment management fees of $433,505 are included in Financial Statement revenue net of interest and dividends but reported as a component of investment management expense on the Form 990. Europe (including Iceland and Greenland) 1 20 Program Services Educational programs 95355581 North America (including Canada and Mexico, but not the United States) 0 1 Program Services Educational programs 24883727 Central America and the Caribbean 0 0 Program Services Educational programs 20702499 South America 0 4 Program Services Educational programs 20328439 East Asia and the Pacific 1 66 Program Services Educational programs 18193418 Sub-Saharan Africa 0 0 Program Services Educational programs 10179533 Middle East and North Africa 0 0 Program Services Educational programs 4579519 South Asia 0 0 Program Services Educational programs 1541669 Central America and the Caribbean Investments 8734440 2 91 204498825 1 0 1 0 0 0 Schedule F, Part I, Line 3 Expenditures are reported on an accrual basis in accordance with GAAP as reported in the financial records. 1 Financial need-based assistance 76 119031 Financial need-based assistance for family caregivers 44 76125 Schedule I, Part I, Line 2 Road Scholar posts awarded scholarships and grants as credits to recipients' accounts which can be applied by recipients against the cost of Road Scholar programs in the United States. Scholarships and grants are never paid in cash and expire if they are not used. Schedule I, Part III As part of a continuing mission to ensure that its educational programs are widely accessible to older adults, Road Scholar provides financial aid on a nondiscriminatory basis in the form of scholarships to those who demonstrate financial need and grants for family caregivers who provide unpaid daily care and support for an ill or disabled family member and face financial barriers to attend a Road Scholar program. By increasing the economic and situational diversity of participants, scholarships and grants help enrich the Road Scholar experience for all who take part in our programs. Qualified applicants, ages 50+, are entitled to financial assistance every two years. Scholarships and grants may be up to $2,000 per award and are provided for enrollment in programs in the United States and Canada. X X X X X 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 James Moses President & CEO 789365 0 489731 0 55830 0 34500 0 17091 0 1386517 0 0 0 Maeve Hartney Chief Programs Officer 303077 0 150920 0 13828 0 34500 0 27876 0 530201 0 0 0 Lowell Partridge Ass't Treasurer & CFO 310846 0 132231 0 37605 0 34500 0 12631 0 527813 0 0 0 Eric Bird Chief Operating Officer 327918 0 113508 0 32086 0 34500 0 4463 0 512475 0 0 0 Mary Marks Chief Tuition Officer 290385 0 149692 0 12949 0 34500 0 22261 0 509787 0 0 0 Joseph LoDato VP, Human Resources 249615 0 75000 0 12338 0 32876 0 27596 0 397425 0 0 0 Stephen August VP, Marketing 226615 0 75000 0 33830 0 30992 0 22173 0 388610 0 0 0 Christopher Heppner VP, Communications 236538 0 75000 0 10588 0 31346 0 26667 0 380139 0 0 0 John McCarthy Chief Information Officer 249615 0 75000 0 11671 0 32836 0 1080 0 370202 0 0 0 Katie Ingalls VP, Strategy & Operations 236538 0 75000 0 10033 0 31346 0 11303 0 364220 0 0 0 Rachel Louis Hamilton Clerk 166808 0 13987 0 1701 0 17422 0 724 0 200642 0 0 0 Alexander Toth Ass't Clerk 122770 0 11981 0 1622 0 13406 0 549 0 150328 0 0 0 Schedule J, Part I, Line 4 In July 2022, Road Scholar established a non-qualified deferred compensation plan under Internal Revenue Code Section 457(f) for the CFO. The Plan is subject to certain vesting requirements. The amount funded in 2022 vested in July 2025. Schedule J, Part I, Line 7 The Board and the President authorized and the Organization paid variable compensation to regular (non-seasonal) employees in June 2024. Amounts were determined by role and compensation earned during FY24. Schedule J, Part II In the event of termination of employment other than for cause, Road Scholar will continue to pay the President's base salary for 24 months from date of involuntary termination and conditioned upon signing a release of claims within 21 days. In the event of voluntary termination of employment, Road Scholar will retain the President's services as a consultant for a period of two years or longer, at the discretion of the Board. In no event will consultation hours exceed 20/week or 40/month. X 49 168521 Market value on date of receipt 0 0 1 0 Schedule M, Part I, Line 9 Column (b) is the number of stock, exchange traded fund, and mutual fund gift contributions received during fiscal year 2025. Form 990, Part III (Cont. 1) The Organization sponsors educational programs throughout the United States and nearly 100 other countries. The Organization publishes comprehensive program catalogs, provides extensive information on the Web about every program offered, and provides a registration system to match interested participants with available programs. During fiscal 2025, the Organization operated 4,679 on-site programs attended by 97,493 participants, 49 multi-day, on-line programs attended by 1,242 participants, and 142 on-line lectures attended by 81,883 participants. Form 990, Part III (Cont. 2) All online programs and lectures and some onsite programs are offered at tuition levels that do not generate a financial surplus after operating and overhead expenses are applied. This is done to extend the rich content of these learning experiences to large numbers of older adults, including those of modest means. These offerings attracted 21,122 program participants and 81,833 lecture attendees in fiscal year 2025 at a net cost to Road Scholar of $2.9 million. Additionally, Road Scholar endeavors to operate programs that fall short of breakeven to avoid disappointing enrolled participants. In fiscal year 2025, the organization incurred $2.4 million to operate low-enrolled programs that were attended by 10,515 participants. Road Scholar provides financial aid to caregivers and participants of modest means, and assistance to participants facing mobility, vision or hearing challenges that impede their ability to participate in a program independently. In fiscal year 2025, Road Scholar spent $300,000 to administer the financial aid program, including awarding $195,000 to 120 recipients, and paid $65,000 to accommodate participants with special needs on programs. The organization champions sustainable travel and spent nearly $265,000 in fiscal year 2025 to offset and reduce carbon emissions and reduce plastic and food waste on programs. Finally, Road Scholar works with colleges and universities to support more than 400 Lifelong Learning Institutes across the country and expended $110,000 in fiscal year 2025 toward these efforts. In all, Road Scholar underwrites expenses of nearly $6 million in service to older adults of modest means, caregivers, attendees of virtual lectures and programs, and to its older adult participants. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b The Form 990 is reviewed by the CFO, President/CEO, tax advisors from the national advisory firm of Grant Thornton Advisors LLC, the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors before it is filed. Changes from any of these reviews are incorporated before the 990 is reviewed at the next level and ultimately filed. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c Road Scholar has a Conflict of Interest Policy to govern arrangements and activities between the Organization, and Road Scholar's Board of Directors, officers, senior staff, management employees and other "Interested Persons" as defined in the policy. This policy defines and identifies possible conflicts of interest, details the duty to disclose conflicts, and establishes procedures for addressing any conflict, including the recusal of directors, officers or employees from decisions regarding their potential conflict. Annually, all directors, officers, senior staff and management employees sign a statement that affirms their understanding of the policy and discloses any potential conflicts of interest. All disclosed potential conflicts are reviewed by the CEO with the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for awareness and if necessary, for additional actions. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15 The Executive Committee serves as the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors and votes on and approves compensation for the President/CEO annually, and reviews and approves compensation as recommended by the CEO for the senior leaders who report to the CEO. The Executive Committee reviews compensation for the CEO and senior leaders against compensation data for similarly situated organizations for functionally comparable positions. The compensation review process has been conducted annually since 2002 and data is utilized from a number of sources including compensation surveys, Forms 990 and an independent compensation consultant. The deliberation and decisions regarding compensation arrangements are contemporaneously documented and recorded in the minutes of the Executive Committee and the results are presented to the full Board. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 Road Scholar provides its governing documents, Conflict of Interest Policy and Audited Financial Statements upon request in either print or electronic form. Form 990, Part VII, Section B, Line 1(A) The top five independent contractors reported on the Form 990 are program providers and vendors. Payments to these entities are shown on a gross basis for calendar year 2024. A substantial portion of those payments is for costs incurred in arranging and conducting Road Scholar programs including accommodations, transportation, and meals for program participants, which cannot be easily segregated. The top five independent contractors that are not program providers or vendors are as follows: ROI Solutions, LLC (Call center outsourcing) - $2,689,830; Conversant, LLC (Digital media and marketing services) - $2,406,112; Perficient, Inc. (Software development) - $2,293,698; Fry Communications, Inc. (Produce and mail catalogs and brochures) - $997,515; and EP Graphics, Inc. (Produce and mail catalogs and brochures) - $849,368. Form 990, Part XI, Line 9 Change in fair value of currency derivatives totaled $8,203,581 and change in actuarial liability of split interest agreements totaled $25,628.