Lens Foundation

Analysis

Lens Foundation is a registered charity in United States, based in Mt Pleasant, SC. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in August 2021, 5 years ago. Its declared purposes cover community improvement and capacity building, which this site groups under community and economic development. 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 December 2023, Lens Foundation reported income of $279k and spending of $376k, spending 135% of what it took in. Across the 3 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2023, income grew from $228k to $279k (+22%), an average of +11% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 78%. Over the whole period it spent 75% of the income it received.

Among 19,475 United States charities whose main cause is community and economic development and that reported income, Lens Foundation sits at the 57th percentile: it is larger than about 57% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 60th percentile, and in the 65th percentile within SC. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Polk Ecumenical Action Council for Empowerment Inc ($279k), The South City Foundation Inc ($279k) and Durham Central Park ($279k).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 95% and program service revenue 2.4% of the total. It paid $16k in professional fundraising fees. At year end it held assets of $233k against liabilities of $6,532, net assets of $226k.