International Potato Center

Analysis

International Potato Center is a registered charity in United States, based in Alexandria, VA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in September 1974, 52 years ago. Its declared purposes cover international, foreign affairs and national security, which this site groups under overseas aid and international. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3).

In the financial year ending December 2023, International Potato Center reported income of $49.1m and spending of $51.4m, spending 105% of its income. Across the 6 years on record, from December 2018 to December 2023, income fell from $70.2m to $49.1m (-30%), an average of -6.9% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income dropped by 26%. Over the whole period it spent 102% of the income it received.

Among 10,317 United States charities whose main cause is overseas aid and international and that reported income, International Potato Center sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile, and in the 99th percentile within VA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Summer Institute of Linguistics Inc ($49.0m), Foundation for the Global Compact ($49.2m) and Orphan Grain Train Inc ($48.9m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 97% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $769k (1.5% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $16.8m. It paid $38k in professional fundraising fees. At year end it held assets of $43.4m against liabilities of $30.2m, net assets of $13.2m.

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.