Circle of Life

Analysis

Circle of Life is a registered charity in United States, based in Springdale, AR. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in May 2000, 26 years ago. Its declared purposes cover philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking foundations, which this site groups under grant-making and general purposes. 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, Circle of Life reported income of $33.2m and spending of $24.8m, leaving 25% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $15.9m to $33.2m (+108%), an average of +20% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 42%. Over the whole period it spent 87% of the income it received.

Among 19,413 United States charities whose main cause is grant-making and general purposes and that reported income, Circle of Life 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 98th percentile, and in the 98th percentile within AR. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Jefferson Scholars Foundation ($33.2m), Erie Community Foundation ($33.7m) and Charityvest Inc ($33.0m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 22% and program service revenue 77% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $978k (3.9% of expenses). At year end it held assets of $35.2m against liabilities of $3.3m, net assets of $31.9m. It reported 386 employees.