Sound Experience

Analysis

Sound Experience is a registered charity in United States, based in Port Townsend, WA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in May 1990, 36 years ago. Its declared purposes cover science and technology, 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 December 2023, Sound Experience reported income of $891k and spending of $1.1m, spending 126% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income fell from $1.0m to $891k (-13%), an average of -3.3% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2020, when income dropped by 45%. Over the whole period it spent 125% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Sound Experience sits at the 85th percentile: it is larger than about 84% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 78th percentile, and in the 77th percentile within WA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include First Amendment Museum at the Gannett House ($891k), Ariel Cultural & Performing Arts Centre Inc ($891k) and Portland Baroque Orchestra ($891k).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 62% and program service revenue 39% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $94k (8.4% of expenses). At year end it held assets of $1.5m against liabilities of $174k, net assets of $1.3m. It reported 25 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.