EIN 04-2632526

Road Scholar

IRS 501(c) type
501(c)(3)
Num. employees
544
City
Year formed
1975
Most recent tax filings
2024-06-01
Description
Road Scholar is an American not-for-profit organization that provides educational travel tours primarily geared to older adults. They inspires adults to learn, discover and travel.
Also known as...
Elderhostel Inc
Total revenues
$383,709,603
2024
Total expenses
$344,125,759
2024
Total assets
$300,003,397
2024
Num. employees
544
2024

Program areas at Road Scholar

Road Scholar's unique non ship-based educational programs held outside the United States (ranging in length from one to six weeks or more for on-site programs, and one to five days for web-based programs) 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 of on-site programs. In fiscal year 2024, 40,503 enrollees participated in on-site programs, and 19,707 enrollees participated in web-based programs and lectures.
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 2024, 8,207 enrollees participated in Adventures Afloat programs.
Road Scholar's unique non ship-based educational programs in the United States (ranging in length from four days to three weeks for on-site programs, and one to five days for web-based programs and lectures), 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 2024, 40,674 enrollees participated in on-site programs, and 23,362 enrollees participated in web-based programs and lectures.
Nearly 14 million publications, including 2.5 million catalogs were produced and mailed to over 1.4 million households on Road Scholar's mailing list. Road Scholar's website, which provides program information, had 61 million page views from over 8 million unique visitors. In FY24, over 3 billion unique visitors explored numerous media sites, publications and articles where Road Scholar was mentioned.
Over 175 workers in the United States and internationally collaborated with over 1,200 providers and vendors to develop, operate, oversee, and evaluate 4,314 departure dates of 678 unique programs, and 188 virtual programs and lectures.
Our 110-seat Participant Services Center handled over 290,000 inbound telephone calls and made approximately 38,000 outbound telephone calls to inquirers and enrollees that resulted in over 82,000 enrollment, cancellation, transfer and contribution transactions. They also responded to over 78,000 emails. In addition, the 55-seat Travel Services Center handled over 50,000 inbound telephone calls and made over 19,000 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 8,000 emails and booked over 130,000 flight segments for enrolled participants.

Who funds Road Scholar

Grants from foundations and other nonprofits
GrantmakerDescriptionAmount
DAFgiving360Human Services$43,900
Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor Grant Recipient's Exempt Purposes$31,625
Vanguard Charitable Endowment ProgramFor Recipient's Exempt Purpose$15,000
...and 12 more grants received

Financials for Road Scholar

RevenuesFYE 06/2024
Total grants, contributions, etc.$2,892,923
Program services$360,062,625
Investment income and dividends$7,122,236
Tax-exempt bond proceeds$0
Royalty revenue$-87,169
Net rental income$184,568
Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets$330,053
Net income from fundraising events$0
Net income from gaming activities$0
Net income from sales of inventory$0
Miscellaneous revenues$13,204,367
Total revenues$383,709,603
Data update history
March 27, 2025
Received grants
Identified 1 new grant, including a grant for $5,000 from Madison Charitable Foundation
February 27, 2025
Posted financials
Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2024
January 20, 2025
Updated personnel
Identified 1 new personnel
January 20, 2025
Received grants
Identified 1 new grant, including a grant for $14,882 from Supporting Kids Athletics and Education (SKATE)
January 6, 2025
Used new vendors
Identified 1 new vendor, including
Nonprofit Types
SchoolsEducational service providersAdult education providersHeadquarter / parent organizationsCharities
Issues
EducationHuman services
Characteristics
LobbyingPartially liquidatedOperates internationallyNational levelEndowed supportCommunity engagement / volunteeringTax deductible donationsAccepts online donations
General information
Address
PO Box 56033
Boston, MA 02205
Metro area
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
County
Suffolk County, MA
Website URL
roadscholar.org/ 
Phone
(800) 454-5768
Facebook page
rsadventures 
Twitter profile
@roadscholarorg 
IRS details
EIN
04-2632526
Fiscal year end
June
Taxreturn type
Form 990
Year formed
1975
Eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions (Pub 78)
Yes
Categorization
NTEE code, primary
B60: Adult, Continuing Education
NAICS code, primary
611710: Educational Support Services
Parent/child status
Independent
California AB-488 details
AB 488 status
May Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes
Charity Registration status
Current
FTB status revoked
Not revoked
AG Registration Number
112658
FTB Entity ID
2744471
AB 488 data last updated ("as-of") date
2025-07-02
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