Arizona Sonora Desert Museum

Analysis

Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is a registered charity in United States, based in Tucson, AZ. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in October 1954, 72 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 September 2023, Arizona Sonora Desert Museum reported income of $15.2m and spending of $13.5m, spending 88% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from September 2019 to September 2023, income grew from $11.7m to $15.2m (+31%), an average of +6.9% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to September 2021, when income rose by 70%. Over the whole period it spent 67% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Arizona Sonora Desert Museum sits at the 99th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 96th percentile, and in the 96th percentile within AZ. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation ($15.2m), Western New York Public Broadcasting Association ($15.2m) and Salt Lake Tribune Inc ($15.2m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending September 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 34% and program service revenue 55% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $507k (3.8% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $6.0m. At year end it held assets of $56.7m against liabilities of $1.9m, net assets of $54.9m. It reported 236 employees.