Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Analysis

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is a registered charity in United States, based in Chicago, IL. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in August 1950, 76 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 June 2023, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists reported income of $1.5m and spending of $3.0m, spending 195% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to June 2023, income fell from $2.3m to $1.5m (-32%), an average of -9.3% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to June 2022, when income rose by 805%. Over the whole period it spent 85% of the income it received.

Among 72,936 United States charities whose main cause is other charitable purposes and that reported income, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists sits at the 82nd percentile: it is larger than about 82% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 84th percentile, and in the 83rd percentile within IL. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include St Annes Guest Home ($1.5m), Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life ($1.5m) and Maine Appalachian Trail Club Inc ($1.5m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending June 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 86% and program service revenue 12% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $216k (7.2% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $1.5m. At year end it held assets of $3.4m against liabilities of $183k, net assets of $3.2m. It reported 23 employees.