Western Folklife Center

Analysis

Western Folklife Center is a registered charity in United States, based in Elko, NV. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in December 1981, 45 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, Western Folklife Center reported income of $2.2m and spending of $2.4m, spending 107% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from June 2020 to June 2024, income grew from $1.9m to $2.2m (+19%), an average of +4.5% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to June 2021, when income dropped by 46%. Over the whole period it spent 115% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Western Folklife Center sits at the 92nd percentile: it is larger than about 92% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 87th percentile, and in the 89th percentile within NV. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Spokane Public Radio ($2.2m), Bristol Bay Science & Research Institute ($2.2m) and Laumeier Sculpture Park ($2.2m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending June 2024, revenue came from contributions and grants 57% and program service revenue 42% of the total. Other salaries and wages came to $619k. At year end it held assets of $3.7m against liabilities of $70k, net assets of $3.6m. It reported 19 employees.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.