American Battlefield Trust

CharityWatch's rating of American Battlefield Trust (ABT) is for the 501(c)(3) public charity entity, tax ID #54-1426643. Our rating does not include the financial activities of the small, related charity, Endangered Battlefield Defense Fund (EBDF), which dissolved on August 19th, 2024, subsequent to ABT's fiscal year ended March 31st, 2024. CharityWatch's rating also does not include the financial activities of the small, related nonprofit, Americans for Battlefield Preservation (AFBP) because it is 501(c)(4) social welfare nonprofit that receives different tax treatment under the IRS code. 

According to the ABT tax filing for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, ABT reports re: its "Land Preservation" Program Service Accomplishments (IRS Form 990, Schedule O re: Form 990, Part III, line 4a): "Through acquisitions and grants, the American Battlefield Trust completed 47 individual transactions, protecting a total of 1,993 acres at 30 battlefields in 11 states..." 

As part of our financial analysis, CharityWatch makes certain adjustments to figures reported by a charity in its tax filing and/or audited financial statements to better reflect for donors how efficiently a charity is spending its donations. Given the nature of ABT's battlefield land acquisition and grant activity, CharityWatch adjusts ABT's reported program services expenses by including the charity's restricted land and easements acquisition costs in the year the funds are expended, netted against the reported value of the land donated by the Trust during the year. This adjustment produces a Program Percentage that is more helpful for donors who want to know how efficiently the charity is spending public dollars in a given year. It also avoids the potential volatility that may otherwise result due to the application of accounting rules for such land transaction activities that are used in the preparation and presentation of audited financial statements and other financial reporting.

[The Our Process page provides for more information about other adjustments CharityWatch analysts make to a charity's reported financial figures during our evaluations.]

According to the American Battlefield Trust consolidated audit of March 31, 2024 (Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Subsequent Events):

"...Subsequent to year end, on July 24, 2024, the Board of Directors of ABT approved the dissolution of EBDF [Endangered Battlefield Defense Fund]. The dissolution was finalized on August 19, 2024, following the completion of all legal and regulatory requirements. 

EBDF was dissolved due to redundancy in operations. As a result of the dissolution, all assets, liabilities, and obligations of EBDF were transferred to ABT in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. 

The dissolution of EBDF does not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements of ABT for the year ended March 31, 2024..."

According to the American Battlefield Trust consolidated audit of March 31, 2024 (Note 9, Commitments and Contingencies, Employment Agreement):

"The Trust entered into an employment agreement with an officer of the Trust that expired December 31, 2020. Under the contract, the Trust was obligated to contribute $43,500 annually to a deferred compensation plan for the officer. A second deferred compensation plan was established during 2011 for the same officer, where the Trust shall credit the maximum allowable amount per law and shall become fully vested immediately. The officer retired from the Trust during the year ended March 31, 2021. The deferred compensation payments due to the retired officer began April 1, 2021 in 84 ratable installments. 

The Trust entered into an employment agreement with an additional officer of the Trust in May 2022. Under the contract, the Trust was obligated to contribute $50,000 less applicable dollar limit on elective deferrals under Section 402(g) annually to a deferred compensation plan for the officer. A second deferred compensation plan was established during 2022 for the same officer, where the Trust shall credit the maximum allowable amount per law, which shall become fully vested immediately."

According to the American Battlefield Trust consolidated audit of March 31, 2024 (Note 13, Related Party Transactions):

"The Trust receives support from members of the Board of Trustees. The support from Board members is received in the form of contributions, and is included in the accompanying consolidated statement of activities. During the years ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Trust received Board member support in the aggregate amount of $3,855,251 and $5,773,680, respectively."