Form 990 for tax year 2023
Filed by NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER INC.
Totals
- Total revenue
- $4,523,107
- Total expenses
- $7,371,913
- Contributions and grants received
- $2,021,831
- Grants paid
- $1,000
- Program service revenue
- $1,632,764
- Investment income
- -$100
- Other revenue
- $868,612
- Total assets, end of year
- $30,491,227
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $2,457,078
- Net assets or fund balances, end of year
- $28,034,149
- Program services expenses (Part IX)
- $4,468,525
- Management and general expenses
- $1,282,092
- Fundraising expenses
- $1,621,296
- Program service expenses (Part III)
- $4,468,525
Program services were 60.6% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.
Line items
Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.
Revenue
Part VIII, the statement of revenue.
-
1d · Related organizations
$352,195
-
1e · Government grants (contributions)
$10,053
-
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants
$1,659,583
-
2a · Program service revenue: PROGRAM FEES
total $857,291 · related or exempt $857,291
-
2b · Program service revenue: MUSEUM ADMISSIONS
total $721,149 · related or exempt $721,149
-
2c · Program service revenue: MEMBERSHIPS
total $54,324 · related or exempt $54,324
-
3 · Investment income
total $17 · excluded $17
-
6a · Gross rents
real property $346,888
-
6b · Less rental expenses
real property $0
-
6c · Rental income or loss
real property $346,888
-
6d · Net rental income or loss
total $346,888 · unrelated business $234,347 · excluded $112,541
-
7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory
securities $30,169
-
7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses
securities $30,286
-
7c · Gain or loss
securities -$117
-
7d · Net gain or loss
total -$117 · excluded -$117
-
10a · Gross sales of inventory
$376,396
-
10b · Cost of goods sold
$0
-
10c · Net income from sales of inventory
total $376,396 · related or exempt $376,396
-
11a · Other revenue: CATERING
total $145,328 · related or exempt $12,679 · unrelated business $132,649
-
11e · Other revenue, total
$145,328
Functional expenses
Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.
-
1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments
total $1,000 · program services $1,000
-
5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
total $244,121 · program services $150,159 · management and general $16,332 · fundraising $77,630
-
7 · Other salaries and wages
total $1,491,758 · program services $917,585 · management and general $99,797 · fundraising $474,376
-
8 · Pension plan contributions
total $29,206 · program services $17,965 · management and general $1,954 · fundraising $9,287
-
9 · Other employee benefits
total $166,670 · program services $102,520 · management and general $11,150 · fundraising $53,000
-
10 · Payroll taxes
total $156,660 · program services $96,362 · management and general $10,480 · fundraising $49,818
-
11b · Fees: legal
total $24,390 · program services $19,013 · management and general $4,017 · fundraising $1,360
-
11c · Fees: accounting
total $37,957 · management and general $37,957
-
11e · Fees: professional fundraising services
total $419,077 · fundraising $419,077
-
11f · Fees: investment management
total $11,166 · management and general $11,166
-
11g · Fees: other
total $494,796 · program services $287,094 · management and general $51,847 · fundraising $155,855
-
12 · Advertising and promotion
total $184,634 · program services $61,286 · management and general $4,029 · fundraising $119,319
-
13 · Office expenses
total $145,500 · program services $80,611 · management and general $44,967 · fundraising $19,922
-
14 · Information technology
total $54,298 · program services $64 · management and general $46,870 · fundraising $7,364
-
16 · Occupancy
total $844,002 · program services $772,016 · management and general $63,906 · fundraising $8,080
-
17 · Travel
total $68,288 · program services $52,308 · management and general $5,734 · fundraising $10,246
-
19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings
total $7,459 · program services $4,588 · management and general $499 · fundraising $2,372
-
20 · Interest
total $22,625 · management and general $22,625
-
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization
total $982,397 · program services $780,629 · management and general $170,261 · fundraising $31,507
-
23 · Insurance
total $133,005 · program services $104,928 · management and general $28,077
-
24a · Other expenses: ADMIN OVERHEAD
total $852,700 · program services $103,027 · management and general $623,795 · fundraising $125,878
-
24b · Other expenses: REPAIR & MAINTENANCE
total $637,889 · program services $626,886 · fundraising $11,003
-
24c · Other expenses: MATERIAL & SUPPLIES
total $318,850 · program services $264,134 · management and general $23,654 · fundraising $31,062
-
24d · Other expenses: DUES & SUBSCRIPTIONS
total $23,616 · program services $14,526 · management and general $1,580 · fundraising $7,510
-
24e · All other expenses
total $19,849 · program services $11,824 · management and general $1,395 · fundraising $6,630
Balance sheet
Part X, book values.
-
1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing
beginning of year $1,370,737 · end of year $385,210
-
3 · Pledges and grants receivable
beginning of year $2,369,893 · end of year $1,519,183
-
4 · Accounts receivable
beginning of year $22,331 · end of year $31,574
-
8 · Inventories for sale or use
beginning of year $79,537 · end of year $111,974
-
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges
beginning of year $192,610 · end of year $116,456
-
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis
$32,396,575
-
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation
$13,327,445
-
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net
beginning of year $18,995,137 · end of year $19,069,130
-
11 · Investments: publicly traded securities
beginning of year $8,729,546 · end of year $9,257,700
-
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses
beginning of year $443,579 · end of year $399,520
-
19 · Deferred revenue
beginning of year $860,635 · end of year $790,367
-
23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable
end of year $1,100,000
-
25 · Other liabilities
beginning of year $99,776 · end of year $167,191
-
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions
beginning of year $16,520,561 · end of year $14,269,144
-
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions
beginning of year $13,835,240 · end of year $13,765,005
Mission and programs · 2023
Mission
TO REVEAL STORIES ABOUT FREEDOM'S HEROES, FROM THE ERA OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD TO CONTEMPORARY TIMES, CHALLENGING AND INSPIRING EVERYONE TO TAKE COURAGEOUS STEPS FOR FREEDOM TODAY.
-
MUSEUM OPERATION: TO PROVIDE A POSITIVE CONDUIT FOR THE PUBLIC DISSEMINATION ON THE IMPACT OF SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING WITHIN THE UNITED STATES. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE EFFECTIVE USE OF HIGH-TECH INTERACTIVE PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS, ROTATING TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS, AND A COLLECTION OF OWNED AND BORROWED ARTIFACTS, INCLUDING AN AUTHENTIC 19TH CENTURY SLAVE PEN FROM MASON COUNTY, KENTUCKY. THE MUSEUM ALSO FEATURES A FULL SERVICE GENEALOGICAL LIBRARY, A GIFT SHOP OFFERING FAIR-TRADE INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC GOODS, A TEACHER RESOURCE AND EDUCATION CENTER, AND MULTI-PURPOSE CLASSROOM SPACE.
Expenses $2,809,812 · Grants $1,000 · Revenue $721,149
-
EDUCATION: TO EDUCATE SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN (K-12), INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD THROUGH GUIDED TOURS, TEACHER WORKSHOPS, EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS, SCHOLARLY LECTURES, PUBLIC FORUMS, FIRST-PERSON RE-ENACTMENTS, AND DIGITAL/DISTANCE LEARNING INITIATIVES, INCLUDING PRODUCING AND DISTRIBUTING DIGITAL CONTENT NATIONWIDE.
Expenses $1,427,206 · Revenue $1,300,690
-
COMMUNITY: TO FORM PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WITH LIKE PURPOSE ENTITIES AND TO HOST COMMUNITY FORUMS AND PARTNER PROGRAMS THAT WILL BENEFIT OUR CONSTITUENTS AND FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE FREEDOM CENTER. PARTNERSHIPS WITH FOR-PROFIT AND NON-PROFIT ENTITIES ENABLE THE FREEDOM CENTER TO EXPAND THE RESOURCES AND THE REACH OF ITS PURPOSE, INCLUDING THE AWARENESS OF THE SIX CONTEMPORARY UNFREEDOMS: RACISM, ILLITERACY, GENOCIDE, HUNGER, TYRANNY, AND SLAVERY.
Expenses $231,507
As filed on the 2023 return.
Listed in Part VII
-
Barbara TurnerBARBARA TURNER
OUTGOING BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Brian SandBRIAN SAND
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Brian ThomasBRIAN THOMAS
OUTGOING BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
C Ed MasseyC ED MASSEY
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Carole WilliamsCAROLE WILLIAMS
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Charles BrownCHARLES BROWN
TREASURER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Damon JonesDAMON JONES
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Dawn GilmoreDAWN GILMORE
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Edgar Smith JrEDGAR SMITH JR
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Edwin RigaudEDWIN RIGAUD
HON CO-CHAIR, EX OFFICIO
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Elizabeth PierceELIZABETH PIERCE
CEO, EX OFFICIO
- Total calculated
- $414,575
- From this org
- $0
- From related orgs
- $355,272
- Other
- $59,303
- Hours/week
- 3 + 42 related
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $0 + $282,772 related
- Bonus
- $0 + $50,000 related
- Other
- $0 + $22,500 related
- Deferred
- $0 + $14,692 related
- Nontaxable benefits
- $0 + $44,611 related
- Filer's total
- $0 + $414,575 related
-
Hon Jeffery HopkinsHON JEFFERY HOPKINS
SECRETARY
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1 + 2 related
-
Jaia ThomasJAIA THOMAS
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Jill BerkemeierJILL BERKEMEIER
CFO, EX OFFICIO
- Total calculated
- $287,059
- From this org
- $0
- From related orgs
- $271,868
- Other
- $15,191
- Hours/week
- 3 + 42 related
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $0 + $199,368 related
- Bonus
- $0 + $50,000 related
- Other
- $0 + $22,500 related
- Deferred
- $0 + $12,500 related
- Nontaxable benefits
- $0 + $2,691 related
- Filer's total
- $0 + $287,059 related
-
John PepperJOHN PEPPER
HON CO-CHAIR, EX OFFICIO
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Kenneth RobinsonKENNETH ROBINSON
CHAIR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1 + 2 related
-
Meggan ThompsonMEGGAN THOMPSON
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Michael MooreMICHAEL MOORE
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Nicole RedusNICOLE REDUS
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Paul Booth JrPAUL BOOTH JR
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Pete StrangePETE STRANGE
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1 + 1 related
-
Phillip LanhamPHILLIP LANHAM
OUTGOING VICE CHAIR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1 + 2 related
-
Rev Damon Lynch JrREV DAMON LYNCH JR
EX OFFICIO
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Robert JonesROBERT JONES
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Robert McDonaldROBERT MCDONALD
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Roy MitchellROY MITCHELL
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Sean RuglessSEAN RUGLESS
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Sundar RamanSUNDAR RAMAN
OUTGOING BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Susan EslerSUSAN ESLER
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1 + 3 related
-
Woodrow KeownWOODROW KEOWN
PRESIDENT AND COO
- Total calculated
- $244,005
- From this org
- $240,000
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $4,005
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $205,000
- Bonus
- $25,000
- Other
- $10,000
- Deferred
- $3,450
- Nontaxable benefits
- $555
- Filer's total
- $244,005
-
Eric NewsomERIC NEWSOM
VP OF PHILANTHROPY
- Total calculated
- $150,565
- From this org
- $138,328
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $12,237
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $128,328
- Bonus
- $10,000
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $3,225
- Nontaxable benefits
- $9,012
- Filer's total
- $150,565
Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.
Schedule J
Answered yes
- 3 · Compensation committee
- 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
- 3 · Written employment contract
- 3 · Compensation survey or study
- 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
- 7 · Other non-fixed payments
Answered no
- 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
- 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
- 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
- 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
- 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
- 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
- 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
- 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception
The filer's explanations (Part III)
- PART I, LINE 7
- AMOUNTS INCLUDED ON PART II, B(II), REPRESENTS BONUSES THAT WERE APPROVED BY THE BOARD, THESE AMOUNTS WERE INCLUDED IN THE INDIVIDUAL'S W-2.
Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.
Grants on this return
No itemized grants to organizations on this return.
Related organizations on this return
Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.
-
501(C)(3) · MUSEUM · OH
-
501(C)(3) · SUPPORTING BOTH CMC & NURFC ENDOWMENTS · OH
Directly controlled by CINCINNATI MUSEUM CENTER
-
501(C)(3) · EDUCATION · OH · controlled entity
Directly controlled by NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM
Taxable family on this return
Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.
Related partnerships
Part III: related organizations taxable as a partnership, with the filer's share.
-
UNION TERMINAL LLC
RENOVATION, REHAB & PRESERVATION OF UNION TERMINAL · OH
Related corporations and trusts
Part IV: related organizations taxable as a corporation or trust.
-
UNION TERMINAL CORPORATION
C · RENOVATION, REHAB & PRESERVATION OF UNION TERMINAL · OH
-
MERCURY MUSEUM SERVICES LLC
C · RENOVATION, REHAB & PRESERVATION OF UNION TERMINAL · OH
Provenance
- Return type
- form_990
- Tax year
- 2023
- Filed
- 14 May 2025
- IRS schema version
- 2023v6.0
- Source object
- 202501359349301510
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