Nrf Foundation FY2021 filing

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The Nrf Foundation shapes retail's future by building awareness of the industry through statistics and stories; developing talent through education, experiences and scholarships; and fostering career growth among people who work in retail.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
73¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$604K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2021 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2026
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2026, this tax year; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.1M a year · 13% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
73%
of spending
Fine: 73% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$604K
to officers and key staff · 16% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 16% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
11 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $5.0M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 11.1 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
4
named funders · $354K
Looks good: 4 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$2.0M
21% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 21% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
13
of 14 voting members
Looks good: 13 of 14 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.8M
Spent
$3.8M
To programs
73%
Net assets
$7.6M
By yearFY2021–FY2026
Revenue
$2.8M
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$2.8M
FY2022$4.4M
FY2023$10.8M
FY2024$9.3M
FY2025$11.7M
FY2026$12.5M
Expenses
$3.8M
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$3.8M
FY2022$3.8M
FY2023$5.5M
FY2024$7.4M
FY2025$14.4M
FY2026$10.1M
Net assets
$7.6M
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$7.6M
FY2022$8.0M
FY2023$12.7M
FY2024$15.4M
FY2025$13.0M
FY2026$16.5M

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending February 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2026) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2026. IRS ruling in Dec 1981.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

73 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 73% · $2.8M Management & general 27% · $1.0M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

21 people listed on the 990; $604K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
President
$343,988Pt VII · Sec A
$160,709Pt VII · Sec A
SR. Director, Retailer Eng
$99,762Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director (start 6/20)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 4 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2026FY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Adam Lukoskie$376,526$290,194$229,276$229,691$179,558$160,709
William Thorne———$349,064$333,999—
Ellen Davis—————$343,988
Robin Wagher————$112,871$99,762

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 Nrf Foundation 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 15aNo

Programs and updates

Educates and researches for the public good, supporting the retail industry.

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3 programs · $2.2M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Research and Retail Industry Projects

In order to ensure future leadership in the retail industry, the foundation actively works with current retail leaders, educational institutions and students informing and educating them about career paths within the retail industry.

$1.0Mprogram expense
02

Rise Up

Training and credentialing initiative designed by the retail industry to help people - regardless of educational background, economic means or age - acquire the skills they need to land jobs in retail and advance into promising careers.

$998Kprogram expense
03

Scholarship Programs

In support of its mission to advance the interests of the retail industry through education, the foundation sponsors several programs providing scholarships to indviduals attending eligible institutions who are interested in a variety of careers within the industry.

$171Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
Cvs FoundationFY2024$249K
Total grants receivedfrom 4 funders$354K
See all 4 funders →
Grants paid · 6 grants · $3.4M · 2020–2025
Unitemized GrantFY2025$874,824
Unitemized GrantFY2024$810,356
Unitemized GrantFY2023$641,377
Unitemized GrantFY2022$636,612
Unitemized GrantFY2021$277,250
Unitemized GrantFY2020$171,000

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.8M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$339K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$160K
Money outPt IX
$3.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.8M
Managementcol C$1.0M
Owns and owesPt X
$7.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.5M
Total assetsLn 16$9.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.0M
PeoplePt VI, VII
21
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a14
IndependentVI 1b13
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$160K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$339K
Gains on assetsLn 7$165K
Total revenueLn 12$2.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$3.5M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$3.5M
Accounts receivableLn 4$967K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$72K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$85K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$5.0M
Total assetsLn 16$9.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.0M
Net assetsLn 32$7.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 6350
Fiscal year endsHeaderFebruary
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.2M$3.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$4.8M$5.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$142K$85K
Total assetsLn 16$9.6M$9.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.5M$2.0M
Net assetsLn 32$8.0M$7.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$171K$171K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$354K$322K$32K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$997K$816K$181K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$446K$365K$81K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$86K$70K$15K
Legal feesLn 11b$1K$1K
Accounting feesLn 11c−$3K−$3K
Investment management feesLn 11f$9K$9K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$811K$762K$49K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$72K$72K
Office expensesLn 13$111K$96K$15K
Information technologyLn 14$6K$6K
TravelLn 17$1K$91$930
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$124K$37K$87K
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$500K$500K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$57K$57K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$50K$50K
All other expensesLn 24e$2K$2K$341
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.8M$2.8M$1.0M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2026 LatestFiled with the IRS Jun 25, 2026 $12.5M$10.1M$2.4M$16.5M 990 PDF
FY2025Filed with the IRS Jul 11, 2025 $11.7M$14.4M−$2.7M$13.0M 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Jun 25, 2024 $9.3M$7.4M$1.8M$15.4M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Jul 5, 2023 $10.8M$5.5M$5.3M$12.7M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Jul 12, 2022 $4.4M$3.8M$604K$8.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 ViewingFiled with the IRS Jun 15, 2021 $2.8M$3.8M−$975K$7.6M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,819,890 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,000,348$159,690
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $2,771,783$2,320,761
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $182,956$339,439
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$1,386,814$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $5,568,273$2,819,890
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $442,957$171,000
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,712,529$1,882,741
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $4,056,364$1,740,718
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $6,211,850$3,794,459
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$643,577−$974,569
Part VI · Governance 13 of 14 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body14
VI-1b Independent voting members13
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $2,819,890 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1d Related organizations$24,690
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$135,000
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$159,690
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,320,761$2,320,761
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $174,680$174,680
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $164,759$164,759
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,320,761 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $339,439$2,819,890
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,794,459 across 18 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $171,000$171,000
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $322,102 · Management $31,856$353,958
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $815,537 · Management $181,231$996,768
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $365,061 · Management $81,125$446,186
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $70,380 · Management $15,449$85,829
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $1,485$1,485
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement −$3,496−$3,496
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $9,083$9,083
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $762,156 · Management $48,750$810,906
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $71,603$71,603
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $96,310 · Management $14,941$111,251
IX-14 Information technologyManagement $5,796$5,796
IX-17 TravelPrograms $91 · Management $930$1,021
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $36,848 · Management $87,068$123,916
IX-21 Payments to affiliatesManagement $500,000$500,000
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $56,660$56,660
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $50,000$50,000
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $2,152 · Management $341$2,493
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,763,240 · Management $1,031,219 · Fundraising $0$3,794,459
Part X · Balance sheet $9,598,498 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $3,181,915$3,501,864
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,263,406$966,622
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $219,991$72,219
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $141,665$85,005
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $4,750,363$4,972,788
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $9,557,340$9,598,498
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $310,427$133,061
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,057,630$1,872,814
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $169,874$14,087
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,537,931$2,019,962
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $5,883,159$5,244,425
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $2,136,250$2,334,111
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $8,019,409$7,578,536
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $9,557,340$9,598,498
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $7,578,536 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,819,890
XI-2 Total expenses$3,794,459
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$974,569
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$8,019,409
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$533,696
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$7,578,536

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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