Berkeley Existential Risk Initiative

Analysis

Berkeley Existential Risk Initiative is a registered charity in United States, based in San Diego, CA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in February 2017, 9 years ago. Its declared purposes cover public safety, disaster preparedness and relief, which this site groups under armed forces, emergency and public safety. 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, Berkeley Existential Risk Initiative reported income of $7.3m and spending of $7.0m, spending 96% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $861k to $7.3m (+745%), an average of +70% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 145%. Over the whole period it spent 97% of the income it received.

Among 9,128 United States charities whose main cause is armed forces, emergency and public safety and that reported income, Berkeley Existential Risk Initiative sits at the 99th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 94th percentile, and in the 94th percentile within CA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Butte County Fire Safe Council ($7.2m), Northeast Uas Airspace Integration Research Alliance Inc ($7.3m) and Ers International ($7.0m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 95% and program service revenue 3.8% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $979k (14% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $915k. At year end it held assets of $7.0m against liabilities of $876k, net assets of $6.1m. It reported 30 employees.