Thousand Currents

Analysis

Thousand Currents is a registered charity in United States, based in San Francisco, CA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in November 1985, 41 years ago. Its declared purposes cover international, foreign affairs and national security, which this site groups under overseas aid and international. 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, Thousand Currents reported income of $23.8m and spending of $23.9m, spending 100% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from June 2019 to June 2023, income grew from $6.6m to $23.8m (+259%), an average of +38% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to June 2020, when income rose by 1209%. Over the whole period it spent 86% of the income it received.

Among 10,317 United States charities whose main cause is overseas aid and international and that reported income, Thousand Currents 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 97th percentile, and in the 98th percentile within CA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Women for Women International ($23.7m), Books for Africa Inc ($23.9m) and Baitulmaal Inc ($23.7m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending June 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 99% and program service revenue 0.2% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $411k (1.7% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $2.8m. At year end it held assets of $28.9m against liabilities of $714k, net assets of $28.2m. It reported 20 employees.