Buckminster Fuller Institute

Analysis

Buckminster Fuller Institute is a registered charity in United States, based in San Francisco, CA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in March 1984, 42 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, Buckminster Fuller Institute reported income of $2.9m and spending of $4.2m, spending 142% of what it took in. Across the 4 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $1.5m to $2.9m (+92%), an average of +24% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 117%. Over the whole period it spent 122% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Buckminster Fuller Institute sits at the 94th percentile: it is larger than about 94% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 89th percentile, and in the 89th percentile within CA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Art League Inc ($2.9m), Fells Point Creative Alliance Inc ($2.9m) and Kentucky Opera Association Inc ($2.9m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 100% and program service revenue 0.2% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $176k (4.2% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $33k. At year end it held assets of $704k against liabilities of $40k, net assets of $663k. It reported 3 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.