The Heron Institute

Analysis

The Heron Institute is a registered charity in United States, based in Greenville, SC. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in April 2017, 9 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education, which this site groups under education and training. 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 June 2023, The Heron Institute reported income of $37.4m and spending of $40.7m, spending 109% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from June 2019 to June 2023, income grew from $14.8m to $37.4m (+153%), an average of +26% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to June 2021, when income rose by 96%. Over the whole period it spent 109% of the income it received.

Among 66,972 United States charities whose main cause is education and training and that reported income, The Heron Institute sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 98th percentile, and in the 99th percentile within SC. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Early Learning Coalition of Marion County Inc ($37.4m), Malvern Preparatory School ($37.5m) and Waterford School Holding Corporation ($37.4m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending June 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 100% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $324k (0.8% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $8.7m. At year end it held assets of $37.7m against liabilities of $50.5m, net assets of -$12.8m. It reported 248 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.