Copernicus Foundation

Analysis

Copernicus Foundation is a registered charity in United States, based in Chicago, IL. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in October 1972, 54 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, Copernicus Foundation reported income of $1.9m and spending of $2.3m, spending 124% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income fell from $2.0m to $1.9m (-5.8%), an average of -1.5% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2021, when income rose by 73%. Over the whole period it spent 89% of the income it received.

Among 72,936 United States charities whose main cause is other charitable purposes and that reported income, Copernicus Foundation sits at the 84th percentile: it is larger than about 84% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 85th percentile, and in the 85th percentile within IL. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Boy Scouts of America ($1.9m), Louisiana Museum Foundation ($1.9m) and Prosperity Community Outreach ($1.9m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 9.3% and program service revenue 86% of the total. Other salaries and wages came to $651k. At year end it held assets of $5.0m against liabilities of $164k, net assets of $4.9m. It reported 44 employees.