Paths to Understanding

Analysis

Paths to Understanding is a registered charity in United States, based in Anacortes, WA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in June 1968, 58 years ago. Its declared purposes cover recreation and sports, which this site groups under amateur sport and recreation. 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 December 2023, Paths to Understanding reported income of $246k and spending of $509k, spending 207% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $138k to $246k (+79%), an average of +16% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2021, when income rose by 49%. Over the whole period it spent 171% of the income it received.

Among 30,892 United States charities whose main cause is amateur sport and recreation and that reported income, Paths to Understanding sits at the 73rd percentile: it is larger than about 73% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 58th percentile, and in the 55th percentile within WA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Junior Cup Golf ($246k), Montana Skatepark Association ($246k) and Isle Area Pickleball Association ($246k).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 66% and program service revenue 0.6% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $119k (23% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $219k. At year end it held assets of $2.1m against liabilities of $19k, net assets of $2.1m. It reported 4 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.