Shelter Box USA

Analysis

Shelter Box USA is a registered charity in United States, based in Santa Barbara, CA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in March 2004, 22 years ago. Its declared purposes cover human services, which this site groups under poverty relief. 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 December 2023, Shelter Box USA reported income of $14.1m and spending of $13.4m, spending 95% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $8.6m to $14.1m (+64%), an average of +13% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 24%. Over the whole period it spent 94% of the income it received.

Among 62,758 United States charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, Shelter Box USA sits at the 96th percentile: it is larger than about 96% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 96th percentile, and in the 96th percentile within CA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Childrens Place at Home Safe Inc ($14.1m), Hospice of Lubbock Inc ($14.1m) and Thornwell ($14.1m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 99% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $735k (5.5% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $1.3m. At year end it held assets of $6.2m against liabilities of $162k, net assets of $6.1m. It reported 26 employees.