Chicago Architecture Foundation

Analysis

Chicago Architecture Foundation is a registered charity in United States, based in Chicago, IL. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in October 1966, 60 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts, culture and humanities, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. 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 December 2023, Chicago Architecture Foundation reported income of $16.3m and spending of $19.0m, spending 117% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income fell from $21.2m to $16.3m (-23%), an average of -6.5% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2021, when income rose by 162%. Over the whole period it spent 111% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Chicago Architecture Foundation sits at the 99th percentile: it is larger than about 99% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 97th percentile, and in the 96th percentile within IL. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include South Carolina Research Authority ($16.2m), Theatre Under the Stars Inc ($16.3m) and Frist Art Museum ($16.2m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 18% and program service revenue 80% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $1.2m (6.2% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $3.9m. At year end it held assets of $26.4m against liabilities of $18.1m, net assets of $8.3m. It reported 98 employees.

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.