Houston Museum of Natural Science

Analysis

Houston Museum of Natural Science is a registered charity in United States, based in Houston, TX. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in May 1948, 78 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, Houston Museum of Natural Science reported income of $82.1m and spending of $66.0m, spending 80% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $51.6m to $82.1m (+59%), an average of +12% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 78%. Over the whole period it spent 82% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Houston Museum of Natural Science 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 TX. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining ($82.1m), Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation ($82.6m) and The Edison Institute Inc ($81.9m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 55% and program service revenue 39% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $1.6m (2.4% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $18.4m. At year end it held assets of $308.2m against liabilities of $56.3m, net assets of $252.0m. It reported 984 employees.