Discovery Institute

Analysis

Discovery Institute is a registered charity in United States, based in Seattle, WA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in June 1996, 30 years ago. Its declared purposes cover unknown, which this site groups under other charitable purposes. 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, Discovery Institute reported income of $10.2m and spending of $9.8m, spending 96% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $7.6m to $10.2m (+34%), an average of +7.6% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2021, when income rose by 26%. Over the whole period it spent 92% of the income it received.

Among 72,936 United States charities whose main cause is other charitable purposes and that reported income, Discovery Institute sits at the 95th percentile: it is larger than about 95% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 95th percentile, and in the 96th percentile within WA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries Inc ($10.2m), Childrens School Inc ($10.2m) and Loretto Literary & Benevolent Institution ($10.2m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 92% and program service revenue 6.1% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $965k (9.8% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $2.8m. At year end it held assets of $11.7m against liabilities of $724k, net assets of $11.0m. It reported 43 employees.