Ten Thousand Things

Analysis

Ten Thousand Things is a registered charity in United States, based in Saint Paul, MN. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in October 1995, 31 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts, culture and humanities, 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 May 2023, Ten Thousand Things reported income of $1.1m and spending of $1.0m, spending 95% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from May 2019 to May 2023, income grew from $762k to $1.1m (+40%), an average of +8.7% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to May 2023, when income rose by 25%. Over the whole period it spent 95% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Ten Thousand Things sits at the 86th percentile: it is larger than about 86% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 80th percentile, and in the 79th percentile within MN. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include San Francisco Architectural Heritage ($1.1m), Sisters Network Inc ($1.1m) and El Sistema Santa Cruz ($1.1m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending May 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 85% and program service revenue 14% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $99k (9.9% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $515k. At year end it held assets of $645k against liabilities of $13k, net assets of $632k. It reported 42 employees.