Attach to Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.
Go to
www.irs.gov/Form990 for instructions and the latest information.
| (i) Name of supported organization | (ii) EIN | (iii) Type of organization (described on lines 1- 10 above (see instructions)) | (iv) Is the organization listed in your governing document? | (v) Amount of monetary support (see instructions) | (vi) Amount of other support (see instructions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | |||||
|
Total |
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Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
![]() |
(a) 2020 | (b) 2021 | (c) 2022 | (d) 2023 | (e) 2024 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grant.") .. | ||||||
| 2 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf .... | ||||||
| 3 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge.. | ||||||
| 4 | Total. Add lines 1 through 3 | ||||||
| 5 | The portion of total contributions by each person (other than a governmental unit or publicly supported organization) included on line 1 that exceeds 2% of the amount shown on line 11, column (f) .. | ||||||
| 6 | Public support. Subtract line 5 from line 4. | ||||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
![]() |
(a) 2020 | (b) 2021 | (c) 2022 | (d) 2023 | (e) 2024 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Amounts from line 4.. | ||||||
| 8 | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources... | ||||||
| 9 | Net income from unrelated business activities, whether or not the business is regularly carried on.. | ||||||
| 10 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.).. | ||||||
| 11 | Total support. Add lines 7 through 10 | ||||||
Calendar year (or fiscal
year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2020 | (b) 2021 | (c) 2022 | (d) 2023 | (e) 2024 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grants.") . | 6,076,680 | 4,238,585 | 8,060,314 | 2,892,923 | 3,041,921 | 24,310,423 |
| 2 | Gross receipts from admissions, merchandise sold or services performed, or facilities furnished in any activity that is related to the organization's tax-exempt purpose | 3,269,945 | 149,017,413 | 321,379,459 | 360,677,232 | 420,664,150 | 1,255,008,199 |
| 3 | Gross receipts from activities that are not an unrelated trade or business under section 513 ..... | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf... | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Total. Add lines 1 through 5 | 9,346,625 | 153,255,998 | 329,439,773 | 363,570,155 | 423,706,071 | 1,279,318,622 |
| 7a | Amounts included on lines 1, 2, and 3 received from disqualified persons | 79,271 | 115,726 | 260,475 | 153,972 | 149,011 | 758,455 |
| b | Amounts included on lines 2 and 3 received from other than disqualified persons that exceed the greater of $5,000 or 1% of the amount on line 13 for the year. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| c | Add lines 7a and 7b.. | 79,271 | 115,726 | 260,475 | 153,972 | 149,011 | 758,455 |
| 8 | Public support. (Subtract line 7c from line 6.) | 1,278,560,167 | |||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
![]() |
(a) 2020 | (b) 2021 | (c) 2022 | (d) 2023 | (e) 2024 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Amounts from line 6... | 9,346,625 | 153,255,998 | 329,439,773 | 363,570,155 | 423,706,071 | 1,279,318,622 |
| 10a | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources.. | 1,786,137 | 4,555,178 | 7,551,433 | 7,219,635 | 8,817,785 | 29,930,168 |
| b | Unrelated business taxable income (less section 511 taxes) from businesses acquired after June 30, 1975. | 56,985 | 40,600 | 3,968,458 | 8,035,504 | 7,682,596 | 19,784,143 |
| c | Add lines 10a and 10b. | 1,843,122 | 4,595,778 | 11,519,891 | 15,255,139 | 16,500,381 | 49,714,311 |
| 11 | Net income from unrelated business activities not included on line 10b, whether or not the business is regularly carried on. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.) .. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Total support. (Add lines 9, 10c, 11, and 12.).. | 11,189,747 | 157,851,776 | 340,959,664 | 378,825,294 | 440,206,452 | 1,329,032,933 |
| Section A - Adjusted Net Income | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Net short-term capital gain | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Other gross income (see instructions) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Add lines 1 through 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Depreciation and depletion | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Portion of operating expenses paid or incurred for production or collection of gross income or for management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for production of income (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Other expenses (see instructions) | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Adjusted Net Income (subtract lines 5, 6 and 7 from line 4) | 8 | ||||
| Section B - Minimum Asset Amount | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Aggregate fair market value of all non-exempt-use assets (see instructions for short tax year or assets held for part of year): | 1 | ||||
| a | Average monthly value of securities | 1a | ||||
| b | Average monthly cash balances | 1b | ||||
| c | Fair market value of other non-exempt-use assets | 1c | ||||
| d | Total (add lines 1a, 1b, and 1c) | 1d | ||||
| e |
Discount claimed for blockage or other factors (explain in detail in Part VI): |
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| 2 | Acquisition indebtedness applicable to non-exempt use assets | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Subtract line 2 from line 1d | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Cash deemed held for exempt use. Enter 0.015 of line 3 (for greater amount, see instructions). | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Net value of non-exempt-use assets (subtract line 4 from line 3) | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Multiply line 5 by 0.035 | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Minimum Asset Amount (add line 7 to line 6) | 8 | ||||
| Section C - Distributable Amount | Current Year | |||||
| 1 | Adjusted net income for prior year (from Section A, line 8, Column A) | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Enter 85% of line 1 | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Minimum asset amount for prior year (from Section B, line 8, Column A) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Enter greater of line 2 or line 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Income tax imposed in prior year | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Distributable Amount. Subtract line 5 from line 4, unless subject to emergency temporary reduction (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| Section D - Distributions | Current Year | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Amounts paid to supported organizations to accomplish exempt purposes | 1 | |
|
2
Amounts paid to perform activity that directly furthers exempt purposes of supported organizations, in excess of income from activity |
2 | |
| 3 Administrative expenses paid to accomplish exempt purposes of supported organizations | 3 | |
| 4 Amounts paid to acquire exempt-use assets | 4 | |
| 5 Qualified set-aside amounts (prior IRS approval required - provide details in Part VI) | 5 | |
| 6 Other distributions (describe in Part VI). See instructions | 6 | |
| 7Total annual distributions. Add lines 1 through 6. | 7 | |
|
8
Distributions to attentive supported organizations to which the organization is responsive (provide details in Part VI). See instructions |
8 | |
| 9 Distributable amount for 2024 from Section C, line 6 | 9 | |
| 10 Line 8 amount divided by Line 9 amount | 10 | |
| Section E - Distribution Allocations (see instructions) |
(i) Excess Distributions |
(ii) Underdistributions Pre-2024 |
(iii) Distributable Amount for 2024 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Distributable amount for 2024 from Section C, line 6 | ||||
|
2
Underdistributions, if any, for years prior to 2024 (reasonable cause required-- explain in Part VI).
See instructions. |
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| 3 Excess distributions carryover, if any, to 2024: | ||||
| a From 2019....... | ||||
| b From 2020....... | ||||
| c From 2021....... | ||||
| d From 2022....... | ||||
| e From 2023....... | ||||
| fTotal of lines 3a through e | ||||
| g Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| h Applied to 2024 distributable amount | ||||
|
i
Carryover from 2019 not applied (see instructions) |
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| j Remainder. Subtract lines 3g, 3h, and 3i from line 3f. | ||||
| 4Distributions for 2024 from Section D, line 7: | ||||
| $ | ||||
| a Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| b Applied to 2024 distributable amount | ||||
| c Remainder. Subtract lines 4a and 4b from line 4. | ||||
|
5
Remaining underdistributions for years prior to 2024, if any. Subtract lines 3g and 4a from line 2. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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|
6
Remaining underdistributions for 2024. Subtract lines 3h and 4b from line 1. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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7 Excess distributions carryover to 2025. Add lines 3j and 4c. |
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| 8 Breakdown of line 7: | ||||
| a Excess from 2020..... | ||||
| b Excess from 2021..... | ||||
| c Excess from 2022..... | ||||
| d Excess from 2023..... | ||||
| e Excess from 2024..... | ||||
| Facts And Circumstances Test |
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| Return Reference | Explanation |
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| Software ID: | 24021167 |
| Software Version: | v1.00 |
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| Software ID: | 24021167 |
| Software Version: | v1.00 |