Scintillon Institute

Analysis

Scintillon Institute is a registered charity in United States, based in San Diego, CA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in July 2014, 12 years ago. Its declared purposes cover science and technology, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. 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, Scintillon Institute reported income of $3.9m and spending of $3.7m, spending 96% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $1.1m to $3.9m (+236%), an average of +35% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2020, when income rose by 98%. Over the whole period it spent 109% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Scintillon Institute sits at the 95th percentile: it is larger than about 95% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 91st percentile, and in the 91st percentile within CA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Van Cliburn Foundation Inc ($3.9m), Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women ($3.9m) and South Coast Chinese Cultural Asso ($3.8m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 98% and program service revenue 1.6% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $278k (7.5% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $1.4m. At year end it held assets of $1.2m against liabilities of $1.6m, net assets of -$400k. It reported 32 employees.