Esalen Institute

Analysis

Esalen Institute is a registered charity in United States, based in San Francisco, CA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in March 1965, 61 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 (gross receipts test) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Esalen Institute reported income of $22.7m and spending of $21.0m, spending 93% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $18.7m to $22.7m (+21%), an average of +4.9% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2021, when income rose by 139%. 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, Esalen Institute sits at the 99th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 97th percentile, and in the 98th percentile within CA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Lorraine Civil Rights Museum Foundation ($22.6m), Groton Hill Music Inc ($22.7m) and Editorial Projects in Education Inc ($22.6m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 5.3% and program service revenue 91% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $664k (3.2% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $5.6m. At year end it held assets of $68.1m against liabilities of $40.7m, net assets of $27.4m. It reported 188 employees.