Sesame Workshop

Analysis

Sesame Workshop is a registered charity in United States, based in New York, NY. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in April 1970, 56 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts, culture and humanities, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending June 2023, Sesame Workshop reported income of $186.9m and spending of $192.3m, spending 103% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from June 2019 to June 2023, income grew from $169.9m to $186.9m (+10%), an average of +2.4% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to June 2020, when income rose by 45%. Over the whole period it spent 92% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Sesame Workshop sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 100th percentile, and in the 99th percentile within NY. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include American Type Culture Collection ($177.1m), The Hawaii Pacific Foundation Inc ($187.9m) and Salk Institute for Biological Studies ($173.7m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending June 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 27% and program service revenue 53% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $4.4m (2.3% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $54.1m. It paid $142k in professional fundraising fees. At year end it held assets of $558.5m against liabilities of $119.5m, net assets of $439.0m. It reported 851 employees.