International Spy Museum

Analysis

International Spy Museum is a registered charity in United States, based in Washington, DC. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in April 2014, 12 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, International Spy Museum reported income of $29.0m and spending of $26.2m, spending 90% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $14.4m to $29.0m (+101%), an average of +19% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2021, when income rose by 283%. Over the whole period it spent 110% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, International Spy Museum sits at the 99th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 98th percentile, and in the 95th percentile within DC. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio ($29.0m), Count Basie Theatre Inc ($29.1m) and 5th Avenue Theatre Association ($29.0m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 13% and program service revenue 73% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $544k (2.1% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $9.3m. At year end it held assets of $142.4m against liabilities of $47.5m, net assets of $94.9m. It reported 253 employees.