John C Campbell Folk School

Analysis

John C Campbell Folk School is a registered charity in United States, based in Brasstown, NC. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in August 1943, 83 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 school under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, John C Campbell Folk School reported income of $7.8m and spending of $7.8m, spending 100% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $6.6m to $7.8m (+17%), an average of +4.1% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 64%. Over the whole period it spent 107% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, John C Campbell Folk School sits at the 97th percentile: it is larger than about 97% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 94th percentile, and in the 95th percentile within NC. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Powerhouse Science Center ($7.8m), Music and Dance Theater Chicago Inc ($7.8m) and Arte Americas the Mexican Arts Center ($7.8m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 22% and program service revenue 68% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $314k (4.0% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $2.6m. At year end it held assets of $18.7m against liabilities of $2.2m, net assets of $16.5m. It reported 106 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.