Illuminating Engineering Society

Analysis

Illuminating Engineering Society is a registered charity in United States, based in New York, NY. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in February 1991, 35 years ago. 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, Illuminating Engineering Society reported income of $3.8m and spending of $4.4m, spending 115% of what it took in. Across the 6 years on record, from June 2019 to December 2023, income fell from $8.2m to $3.8m (-53%), an average of -14% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to June 2020, when income dropped by 38%. Over the whole period it spent 141% of the income it received.

Among 72,936 United States charities whose main cause is other charitable purposes and that reported income, Illuminating Engineering Society sits at the 90th percentile: it is larger than about 90% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 91st percentile, and in the 88th percentile within NY. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Kreider Services Foundation Inc ($3.8m), Metroparks Toledo Foundation ($3.8m) and Goodwill Industries of St Clair County Inc ($3.8m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 18% and program service revenue 67% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $274k (6.3% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $861k. At year end it held assets of $7.3m against liabilities of $1.6m, net assets of $5.7m. It reported 22 employees.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.