Griffith Observatory Foundation

Analysis

Griffith Observatory Foundation is a registered charity in United States, based in Los Angeles, CA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in October 1979, 47 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 (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, Griffith Observatory Foundation reported income of $3.7m and spending of $2.4m, leaving 33% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income fell from $4.6m to $3.7m (-21%), an average of -5.8% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2021, when income rose by 113%. Over the whole period it spent 80% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Griffith Observatory Foundation sits at the 95th percentile: it is larger than about 95% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 90th percentile, and in the 91st percentile within CA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Southwest Dairy Museum Inc ($3.7m), Sephardic Heritage Museum Inc ($3.7m) and Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival ($3.7m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 81% and program service revenue 17% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $219k (9.0% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $683k. At year end it held assets of $3.5m against liabilities of $60k, net assets of $3.4m. It reported 11 employees.