The Wharton Esherick Museum

Analysis

The Wharton Esherick Museum is a registered charity in United States, based in Paoli, PA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in April 1973, 53 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 (gross receipts test) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, The Wharton Esherick Museum reported income of $257k and spending of $853k, spending 332% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income fell from $445k to $257k (-42%), an average of -13% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2020, when income rose by 2282%. Over the whole period it spent 26% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, The Wharton Esherick Museum sits at the 65th percentile: it is larger than about 65% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 59th percentile, and in the 57th percentile within PA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Impact Arts Inc ($257k), Garland Summer Musicals Inc ($257k) and Chicago Independent Radio Project ($257k).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 39% and program service revenue 31% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $105k (12% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $334k. At year end it held assets of $14.9m against liabilities of $380k, net assets of $14.5m. It reported 11 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.