Shelburne Farms

Analysis

Shelburne Farms is a registered charity in United States, based in Shelburne, VT. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in September 1973, 53 years ago. Its declared purposes cover environment, which this site groups under environment and conservation. 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 December 2023, Shelburne Farms reported income of $10.0m and spending of $7.6m, leaving 25% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income fell from $12.1m to $10.0m (-17%), an average of -4.5% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2021, when income rose by 120%. Over the whole period it spent 55% of the income it received.

Among 10,430 United States charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, Shelburne Farms sits at the 97th percentile: it is larger than about 97% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 95th percentile, and in the 95th percentile within VT. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Lomakatsi Restoration Project ($10.0m), Colorado Youth Corps Association ($10.1m) and California Native Plant Society ($9.9m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 78% and program service revenue 9.5% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $279k (3.7% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $3.4m. It paid $1,665 in professional fundraising fees. At year end it held assets of $68.4m against liabilities of $2.4m, net assets of $66.1m. It reported 149 employees.