The Ark

Analysis

The Ark is a registered charity in United States, based in Ann Arbor, MI. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in March 1984, 42 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 August 2023, The Ark reported income of $2.2m and spending of $2.5m, spending 112% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2019 to August 2023, income fell from $3.0m to $2.2m (-25%), an average of -7.0% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2020, when income dropped by 33%. Over the whole period it spent 92% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, The Ark sits at the 92nd percentile: it is larger than about 92% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 87th percentile, and in the 87th percentile within MI. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Yellowstone Art Museum ($2.2m), Eastern Music Festival Inc ($2.2m) and Imagine Art Inc ($2.2m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending August 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 33% and program service revenue 61% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $164k (6.6% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $636k. At year end it held assets of $4.8m against liabilities of $210k, net assets of $4.6m. It reported 19 employees.