Mount Washington Observatory

Analysis

Mount Washington Observatory is a registered charity in United States, based in North Conway, NH. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in October 1951, 75 years ago. Its declared purposes cover science and technology, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (gross receipts test) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending March 2024, Mount Washington Observatory reported income of $2.6m and spending of $2.3m, spending 88% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from April 2020 to March 2024, income grew from $1.8m to $2.6m (+45%), an average of +9.8% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 195%. Over the whole period it spent 66% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Mount Washington Observatory sits at the 93rd percentile: it is larger than about 93% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 88th percentile, and in the 89th percentile within NH. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Foundation for Traditional Cultureinc ($2.6m), Taproot Theatre ($2.6m) and Organization of American Historians ($2.6m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending March 2024, revenue came from contributions and grants 78% and program service revenue 6.0% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $225k (9.8% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $911k. At year end it held assets of $10.4m against liabilities of $810k, net assets of $9.6m. It reported 32 employees.