Harpers Magazine Foundation

Analysis

Harpers Magazine Foundation is a registered charity in United States, based in New York, NY. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in July 2025. Its declared purposes cover arts, culture and humanities, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. The IRS classifies it as a private operating foundation under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending February 2023, Harpers Magazine Foundation reported income of $8.2m and spending of $7.9m, spending 96% of its income. Across the 4 years on record, from February 2020 to February 2023, income grew from $7.1m to $8.2m (+16%), an average of +5.0% a year. Over the whole period it spent 100% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Harpers Magazine Foundation sits at the 97th percentile: it is larger than about 97% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 94th percentile, and in the 92nd percentile within NY. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History ($8.2m), The Museum of Language Arts Incorporated ($8.3m) and Maryland Historical Society ($8.2m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending February 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 3.5% and program service revenue 96% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $1.2m (15% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $1.2m. At year end it held assets of $2.1m against liabilities of $2.2m, net assets of -$128k. It reported 33 employees.