Is it real?
Yes. Exemption reinstated (2025-11-15). Per the IRS revocation list. Latest filing on record: FY2022. IRS ruling in Apr 2026.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
83 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.
Something off? Claim to add context
Who runs it and what they're paid
18 people listed on the 990; $76K paid to officers and key staff.
Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII
| Name | FY2022 | FY2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Kristin Sullivan | $75,838 | $74,600 |
Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.
See The Ward Foundation INC executive salaries →Questions the 990 asks
The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.
- Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
- Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes
Programs and updates
Promotes wildfowl carving and art.
Questions for The Ward Foundation INC
Your first name shows with your question. The Ward Foundation INC answers here, for everyone.
Museum
Through its museum, the foundation traces the wildfowl carving from utilitarian decoys to decorative sculptures, its grounds include a nature trail and sculpture garden. It furthers its purpose through publications to members, special exhibition, events, and educational programs.
Education
Expenses to support adult, youth and family educational programs at the museum and in the community. Educational programs serve over 27,000 annually primarily through field trips, afterschool programs, seminars, workshops and field excursions.
Art Events
Hosts the ward world championship in april in which master carvers from around the world gather to compete and exhibit artwork; hosts the chesapeake wildfowl expo in october to celebrate the tradition of decoy making and waterfowling in the region; hosts the art in nature photo festival in august to showcase nature photography from…
Funders
Who pays for it.
From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.
Grants
By the numbers
The FY2022 990, line by line.
Download 990
| Line | Start FY22 | End FY22 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $378K | $248K |
| Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c | $91K | $118K |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $632K | $446K |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $540K | $390K |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $92K | $56K |
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5 | $76K | $38K | $11K | $27K |
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $573K | $445K | $125K | $3K |
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $44K | $39K | $5K | |
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $66K | $48K | $16K | $3K |
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $22K | $21K | $500 | |
| Advertising and promotionLn 12 | $16K | $15K | $1K | |
| Office expensesLn 13 | $26K | $25K | $389 | $775 |
| TravelLn 17 | $5K | $5K | $24 | |
| InterestLn 20 | $6K | $6K | ||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22 | $28K | $28K | ||
| InsuranceLn 23 | $19K | $17K | $209 | $2K |
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $493K | $448K | $39K | $6K |
| All other expensesLn 24e | $127K | $118K | $2K | $8K |
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $1.5M | $1.3M | $200K | $50K |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2022 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Dec 5, 2022 | $1.5M | $1.5M | −$36K | $56K | 990 PDF |
| FY2021Filed with the IRS Nov 12, 2021 | $1.8M | $1.2M | $619K | $92K | 990 PDF |
Schedules filed Part IV
See the full FY2022 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,463,594 revenue, 12 lines filed
Part VI · Governance 17 of 17 board members independent, no flags
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,463,594 across 9 lines filed
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,499,824 across 13 lines filed
Part X · Balance sheet $446,199 assets, 17 lines filed
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $56,086 net assets at year end
Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2022 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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