American Battlefield Trust
Preserve. Educate. Inspire.
American Battlefield Trust
EIN: 54-1426643
Programs and results
Reports and documents
Download annual reportsWhat we aim to solve
The American Battlefield Trust's mission is to preserve America's endangered Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War battlefields. The Trust also promotes educational programs and heritage tourism initiatives to inform the public of the wars' history and the fundamental conflicts that sparked it. Each year the Trust saves thousands of acres of hallowed ground where soldiers fought and died during the American Revolution, War of 1812, and Civil War. Once we save the land it will be preserved in perpetuity because we put easements on all property we save, and generally we turn the land over to a responsible long-term steward such as the National Park Service. We also work to protect battlefield land that is saved, but may be threatened by nearby development pressures such as a big box store or casino that would be detrimental to hallowed nature of the battlefield. In addition to preserving battlefield land, the Trust conducts programs designed to inform the public about history.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Land Preservation
The American Battlefield Trust's main program is land preservation: our mission is to save endangered Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War Battlefields from development by buying the land and protecting it through easements. Much of the land that these wars were fought on is endangered due to development pressures. We only purchase land at fair market value from landowners who are willing sellers; by purchasing the land outright we can ensure that it is preserved and will never be developed. We have already saved more than 50,000 acres of battlefield land, and we aim to save many more acres before it is too late.
Education
In addition to saving hallowed ground, we also believe that there is a great need to educate the public about the importance of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War. We are dedicated to interpreting the wars and its significant battles, and do so for teachers, students, and the public through technological resources and innovative methods such as our state-of-the-art website and Battle Apps. The Trust is the premier organization working to educate the public about the wars and their battlefields. Major recent advances in the Trust's education programs include the release of the Civil War Curriculum, the expansion of the Teacher Institute series, and continuing work on interpretation and content for the Trust's new Battle Apps for smart phones. The Trust focuses its educational efforts on five major areas: battlefield interpretation, in classrooms, on the web, at events, and in print.
Membership
The Trust is a membership-based organization. Each quarter, every member receives our 48-page magazine Hallowed Ground, as a free educational membership benefit. The magazine highlights how their direct support helps preserve endangered battlefield land, advances the cause of education about the key period in our nation's history, and educates them directly on historical elements of importance about the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War land preservation. We depend on our members to raise the money we need to preserve the battlefield land.
Where we work
Awards
Wise Giving Alliance Accreditation 2012
Better Business Bureau
4 Star Rating 2013
Charity Navigator
Wise Giving Alliance Accredidation 2014
Better Business Bureau
Wise Giving Alliance Accredidation 2014
Better Business Bureau
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of acres of land protected
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Land Preservation
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
In 2023, the organization saved 2,088 acres in 11 U.S. states. There were 49 separate land transactions at 29 battlefields.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The American Battlefield Trust's mission is to preserve America's endangered Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War battlefields. The Trust also promotes educational programs and heritage tourism initiatives to inform the public of the wars' history and the fundamental conflicts that sparked it.
Each year the Trust saves thousands of acres of hallowed ground where soldiers fought and died during the American Revolution, War of 1812, and Civil War. Once we save the land it will be preserved in perpetuity because we put easements on all property we save, and generally we turn the land over to a responsible long-term steward such as the National Park Service. We also work to protect battlefield land that is saved, but may be threatened by nearby development pressures such as a big box store or casino that would be detrimental to hallowed nature of the battlefield. In April 2022, we made a public pledge to save 2,500 acres of Revolutionary War battlefields to mark the upcoming 250th anniversary of that conflict, and proceeded to make progress through fundraising campaigns, acquisitions and land transfers.
In addition to preserving battlefield land, the Trust conducts programs designed to inform the public about the events and consequences of the wars, foster an understanding of the need for preservation, and create a personal connection to the past. The goal of our education program is to assist teachers across the country so they can make their lessons about American history more engaging and informative for their students.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
To preserve battlefield land, the Trust works with willing landowners to purchase their property at fair market value. In order to determine what to buy and what preservation strategy best suits the project we first consult with the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report (“CWSAC"). The CWSAC Report was completed in 1993 by a 15-member Commission established by Congress to identify the most historically significant Civil War sites. Out of the nearly 10,000 battles and skirmishes of the war the report identified 384 principle battlefields worthy of preservation. For Revolutionary War and War of 1812 battlefields, we consult the American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) 2007 Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Historic Preservation Study.
Once the American Battlefield Trust determines whether a prospective property is listed as a CWSAC eligible site, we utilize our Geographic Information System (“GIS") computerized mapping capabilities to locate the potential property in relation to the historic landscape. If a property is within the recognized boundary of a CWSAC eligible battlefield we must next determine how best to preserve the property. Generally, the Trust either purchases a permanent conservation easement or purchases the property outright in order to preserve the integrity of the land.
The Trust has been one of the most successful non-profit organizations in America in securing federal, state, local and private matching funds to save battlefields. We then multiply those funds with money raised from our members around the world to raise the money needed to preserve these historic parcels of land.
Our education department reaches out to teachers, students, and the public by creating first-rate content on our website, interpretive signage, classroom resources, and on a suite of exciting technological educational tools.
When we need to stand up to developers and other pressures that would negatively affect battlefields, we work closely with lawmakers and the local community through grassroots efforts to ensure nothing is done to damage the hallowed nature of the battlefield.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Since 1987 the American Battlefield Trust and its predecessor organizations have saved more than 58,000 acres of significant battlefield land in 25 states. This makes the Trust the most effective and successful land heritage preservation organization in the country. We have successfully pulled together federal and state funds, as well as significant donations from our membership base of 50,000 members. This membership base is so generous that they provide the support we need to successfully save the land we have identified as significant that has come on the market.
Our education program has the capacity to create numerous new educational resources that teachers, students, and the public can access from our website. We have expanded this suite of offerings in the last few years, and have created new resources such as our Battle Apps, Animated Maps, and Battlefield 360 offerings. We work with the best historians and experts to have excellent material in these resources.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Working closely with landowners and preservation partners during 2023, the Trust completed 49 transactions at 29 battlefields in 11 states, amounting to 2,088 acres. This included high profile projects such as the Jacob Avey Farm and House at Antietam. The Trust also launched a $3 million national fundraising campaign to acquire the remainder of the former Gettysburg Country Club, continuing a preservation process begun nearly 15 years ago in partnership with The Conservation Fund and National Park Service. Located along the Chambersburg Pike between McPherson Ridge and Herrs Ridge, and just past Willoughbys Run, this 15-acre property saw intense fighting in the opening phase of battle on July 1, 1863.
A key component of the Trusts mission is educating the public about what happened on the hallowed battlegrounds we preserve and why it matters today. In 2023, the Trusts virtual and in-person teacher institutes professionally developed more than 1,335 teachers from nearly every state and multiple countries. The History Field Trip Grant Program made it possible for 6,000 students and teachers to visit battlefields and historic sites in 2023, pushing the total number of students and chaperones who have benefited from the program to more than 45,000. Five new virtual tour field trips took some 425,000 learners to Charleston, Boston, New Orleans, Baltimore and Vicksburg. Weve also added online hundreds of new articles, biographies, battle pages and more than 235 new videos, including our all-wars map, anniversary videos and our new Step Into History series, which has been nominated for a 2023 Anthem Award.
New digital offerings include an improved Civil War Battle Maps App that now offers GPS-enabled maps to allow users to locate their position on the map and follow in the footsteps of those who fought in Americas defining conflicts. The Trusts new Fort Watson AR App also allows users to travel back in time to the American Revolution and to a pre-contact Santee Indian village with augmented reality. We combine augmented reality and GPS to enable highly accurate placement of a 3D model of the Tavern in the place it originally sat at Cold Harbor Crossroads outside of Mechanicsville, Va. Using photogrammetry, a cutting-edge video capture technology, the Trusts website now provides visitors with a photo realistic virtual tour of the exterior and interior of Lees Headquarters.
In 2023, the Trust also ventured into new territory, launching two exciting new ventures, including a traveling exhibit in partnership with the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the Trusts inaugural Prize for History. The American Revolution Experience is a pop-up exhibit based on the Trusts award-winning digital experience of the same name. Starting in January 2024, it will travel to scores of libraries, historical societies and museums through the winter of 2025.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection
Financials
Financial documents
Download audited financialsRevenue vs. expenses: breakdown
Liquidity in 2023 info
2.89
Months of cash in 2023 info
10.9
Fringe rate in 2023 info
27%
Funding sources info
Assets & liabilities info
Financial data
American Battlefield Trust
Balance sheetFiscal Year: Apr 01 - Mar 31
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.
Fiscal Year: Apr 01 - Mar 31
This snapshot of American Battlefield Trust’s financial trends applies Nonprofit Finance Fund® analysis to data hosted by GuideStar. While it highlights the data that matter most, remember that context is key – numbers only tell part of any story.
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Business model indicators
Profitability info | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unrestricted surplus (deficit) before depreciation | $157,055 | $937,945 | -$4,168,787 | $8,945,976 | $3,191,607 |
As % of expenses | 0.7% | 6.1% | -31.3% | 57.0% | 17.3% |
Unrestricted surplus (deficit) after depreciation | -$301,223 | $464,066 | -$4,655,044 | $8,328,360 | $2,407,198 |
As % of expenses | -1.4% | 2.9% | -33.7% | 51.1% | 12.5% |
Revenue composition info | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total revenue (unrestricted & restricted) | $33,614,481 | $36,562,863 | $34,249,054 | $30,710,321 | $32,698,089 |
Total revenue, % change over prior year | -12.7% | 8.8% | -6.3% | -10.3% | 6.5% |
Program services revenue | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.3% |
Membership dues | 10.6% | 10.0% | 11.3% | 11.9% | 11.7% |
Investment income | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.3% |
Government grants | 21.0% | 8.9% | 37.7% | 30.3% | 29.6% |
All other grants and contributions | 67.9% | 80.3% | 51.8% | 64.6% | 68.7% |
Other revenue | -0.1% | 0.1% | -0.9% | -6.8% | -10.6% |
Expense composition info | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total expenses before depreciation | $21,727,414 | $15,300,497 | $13,334,418 | $15,695,390 | $18,489,383 |
Total expenses, % change over prior year | 19.2% | -29.6% | -12.8% | 17.7% | 17.8% |
Personnel | 21.7% | 34.8% | 38.6% | 33.7% | 31.4% |
Professional fees | 7.1% | 8.3% | 7.7% | 13.0% | 21.3% |
Occupancy | 4.4% | 2.9% | 4.1% | 5.9% | 5.0% |
Interest | 0.6% | 1.2% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 0.7% |
Pass-through | 40.6% | 18.0% | 12.2% | 15.5% | 7.1% |
All other expenses | 25.5% | 34.7% | 36.0% | 30.8% | 34.5% |
Full cost components (estimated) info | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total expenses (after depreciation) | $22,185,692 | $15,774,376 | $13,820,675 | $16,313,006 | $19,273,792 |
One month of savings | $1,810,618 | $1,275,041 | $1,111,202 | $1,307,949 | $1,540,782 |
Debt principal payment | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,857,530 |
Fixed asset additions | $19,070,322 | $17,594,104 | $17,816,822 | $14,098,629 | $8,418,738 |
Total full costs (estimated) | $43,066,632 | $34,643,521 | $32,748,699 | $31,719,584 | $31,090,842 |
Capital structure indicators
Liquidity info | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Months of cash | 3.5 | 7.8 | 12.0 | 11.7 | 10.9 |
Months of cash and investments | 3.5 | 7.8 | 12.0 | 11.7 | 10.9 |
Months of estimated liquid unrestricted net assets | -68.9 | -110.7 | -146.1 | -128.1 | -112.6 |
Balance sheet composition info | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cash | $6,280,668 | $9,960,894 | $13,380,617 | $15,270,712 | $16,810,835 |
Investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $26,311 |
Receivables | $224,765 | $242,613 | $223,361 | $74,098 | $914,713 |
Gross land, buildings, equipment (LBE) | $140,650,032 | $158,191,029 | $175,954,870 | $190,047,973 | $197,186,979 |
Accumulated depreciation (as a % of LBE) | 1.4% | 1.5% | 1.6% | 1.8% | 2.1% |
Liabilities (as a % of assets) | 5.4% | 4.8% | 4.4% | 4.2% | 2.8% |
Unrestricted net assets | $8,766,026 | $9,230,092 | $4,575,048 | $12,903,408 | $16,337,107 |
Temporarily restricted net assets | $130,520,116 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Permanently restricted net assets | $0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Total restricted net assets | $130,520,116 | $151,148,634 | $176,049,448 | $182,003,632 | $191,701,448 |
Total net assets | $139,286,142 | $160,378,726 | $180,624,496 | $194,907,040 | $208,038,555 |
Key data checks
Key data checks info | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Material data errors | No | No | No | No | No |
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Documents
Principal Officer
Mr. David Duncan
A native Virginian, Duncan’s lifelong interest in American history was cultivated from childhood by his father, a public school social studies teacher. He joined the battlefield preservation movement as a dues-paying member of the Civil War Trust in the mid-1990s, volunteering his fundraising expertise for the cause before becoming an employee of the organization in March 2000. Since then, he has been intimately involved in virtually every aspect of the Trust’s management and operations, helping it grow into the national leader in historic land preservation and place-based education.
Number of employees
Source: IRS Form 990
American Battlefield Trust
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
American Battlefield Trust
Highest paid employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
American Battlefield Trust
Board of directorsas of 03/01/2024
Board of directors data
Ms. Mary Abroe
Mr. William Hupp
Robert Daum
Private Investor
J. Dennis Sexton
All Children's Health System-retired
O. James Lighthizer
American Battlefield Trust
Mary Abroe
College of Lake County
Jeffrey McClanathan
CPA
Stephen Newhouse
Morgan Stanley-retired
Don Barrett
Barrett Law Group P.A.
William Hupp
Adams Street Partners, LLC
Thomas Lauer
Advent International
Susan Whitaker
Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development
John Nau
Silver Eagle Distributors
William Vodra
Retired
Travis Anderson
Gilder, Gagnon, Howe & Co
Terry Beaty
Brown Advisory
Richard Mills
Retired Lt. General, USMC
John Culberson
Retired, U.S. Congressman
Richard Etzkorn
Formally with Cushman & Wakefield
Thomas Hand
Americana Corner
Van Hipp
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Army
Noah Mehrkam
Self Storage Plus
Thomas Nusz
Former CEO, Oasis Petroleum Inc
Marshal Oldman
Former Chairman of the San Fernando Valley Bar Probate Section
J. Dennis Sexton
Former President and CEO, All Childrens Health System
John Sivolella
Barbara Stewart
Bowe Stewart Foundation
Madhu Tadikonda
bolttech
John Taylor
Greenleaf Health
Charles Trefzger
CEO, Affinity Living Group
Christopher Welton
CEO, Georgia Fitness Solutions
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
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Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
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Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
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Contractors
Fiscal year endingProfessional fundraisers
Fiscal year endingSOURCE: IRS Form 990 Schedule G