Discovery Center Great Lakes

Analysis

Discovery Center Great Lakes is a registered charity in United States, based in Traverse City, MI. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in September 2008, 18 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 (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 2024, Discovery Center Great Lakes reported income of $1.5m and spending of $745k, leaving 51% of income unspent that year. Across the 6 years on record, from June 2019 to June 2024, income grew from $44k to $1.5m (+3297%), an average of +102% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to June 2020, when income rose by 4893%. Over the whole period it spent 32% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Discovery Center Great Lakes sits at the 89th percentile: it is larger than about 89% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 83rd percentile, and in the 84th percentile within MI. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Fresno Art Museum ($1.5m), Coalition of Asian American Leaders ($1.5m) and Choral Arts Society of Washington ($1.5m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending June 2024, revenue came from contributions and grants 88% and program service revenue 11% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $132k (18% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $91k. At year end it held assets of $9.3m against liabilities of $327k, net assets of $9.0m.