Mercatus Center Inc

Analysis

Mercatus Center Inc is a registered charity in United States, based in Arlington, VA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in March 1988, 38 years ago. Its declared purposes cover social science, 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 August 2023, Mercatus Center Inc reported income of $47.4m and spending of $49.3m, spending 104% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2019 to August 2023, income grew from $30.8m to $47.4m (+54%), an average of +11% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2020, when income rose by 133%. 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, Mercatus Center Inc sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile, and in the 99th percentile within VA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Woodlands Center for the Performing Arts ($47.4m), Whyy Inc ($48.1m) and The Studio Museum in Harlem ($47.2m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending August 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 96% and program service revenue 0.7% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $1.5m (3.0% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $17.3m. It paid $80k in professional fundraising fees. At year end it held assets of $43.1m against liabilities of $5.5m, net assets of $37.6m. It reported 219 employees.