Common Sense Institute

Analysis

Common Sense Institute is a registered charity in United States, based in Greenwood VLG, CO. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in September 2011, 15 years ago. Its declared purposes cover social science, 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 December 2023, Common Sense Institute reported income of $3.9m and spending of $3.5m, spending 89% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $674k to $3.9m (+484%), an average of +55% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 91%. Over the whole period it spent 94% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Common Sense Institute sits at the 95th percentile: it is larger than about 95% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 91st percentile, and in the 91st percentile within CO. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra Inc ($3.9m), East-West Players Inc ($3.9m) and City Theatre Company Inc ($3.9m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 101% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $332k (9.5% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $1.7m. At year end it held assets of $837k against liabilities of $178k, net assets of $659k. It reported 17 employees.