Sphere Institute

Analysis

Sphere Institute is a registered charity in United States, based in Burlingame, CA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in July 1997, 29 years ago. Its declared purposes cover social science, 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 December 2023, Sphere Institute reported income of $755k and spending of $541k, leaving 28% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income fell from $29.2m to $755k (-97%), an average of -60% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income dropped by 98%. Over the whole period it spent 98% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Sphere Institute sits at the 83rd percentile: it is larger than about 83% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 76th percentile, and in the 77th percentile within CA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Music Is Extraordinary Inc ($755k), Sanctuary of the Arts ($756k) and Bishop Reverdy C & Emma S Ransom Foundation Inc ($755k).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 76% of the total. Other salaries and wages came to $74k. At year end it held assets of $27.1m against liabilities of $8.6m, net assets of $18.5m. It reported 499 employees.