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Nonprofiteer
← THANKSGIVING POINT INSTITUTE INC

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by THANKSGIVING POINT INSTITUTE INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$46,242,434
Total expenses
$34,595,229
Contributions and grants received
$19,096,912
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$19,719,302
Investment income
$880,064
Other revenue
$6,546,156
Total assets, end of year
$104,324,971
Total liabilities, end of year
$8,974,595
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$95,350,376
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$29,517,145
Management and general expenses
$3,706,409
Fundraising expenses
$1,371,675
Program service expenses (Part III)
$29,517,145

Program services were 85.3% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1b · Membership dues

    $7,881,570

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $2,130,000

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $2,244,507

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $6,840,835

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $1,210,741

  • 2a · Program service revenue: PROGRAM REVENUE

    total $11,603,113 · related or exempt $11,603,113

  • 2b · Program service revenue: NON-EXEMPT ACTIVITIES

    total $5,147,577 · unrelated business $5,147,577

  • 2c · Program service revenue: SPONSORSHIP REVENUE

    total $2,614,085 · related or exempt $2,614,085

  • 2d · Program service revenue: MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE

    total $273,871 · unrelated business $273,871

  • 2e · Program service revenue: MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE

    total $80,656 · related or exempt $80,656

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $880,064 · unrelated business $880,064

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $1,651,959

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $1,651,959

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $1,651,959 · related or exempt $571,630 · unrelated business $1,080,329

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $10,308,000

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $10,308,000

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $4,894,197

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $4,894,197 · related or exempt $4,894,197

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $14,233,138 · program services $12,091,039 · management and general $1,463,785 · fundraising $678,314

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $1,089,764 · program services $860,200 · management and general $185,061 · fundraising $44,503

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $962,690 · program services $852,691 · management and general $60,575 · fundraising $49,424

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $164,469 · program services $82,234 · management and general $82,235

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $192,681 · program services $2,272 · management and general $78,409 · fundraising $112,000

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $961,760 · program services $196,388 · management and general $756,924 · fundraising $8,448

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $164,823 · program services $164,247 · fundraising $576

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $1,469,290 · program services $1,376,303 · management and general $83,182 · fundraising $9,805

  • 17 · Travel

    total $88,703 · program services $60,696 · management and general $11,370 · fundraising $16,637

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $87,157 · program services $67,602 · management and general $16,465 · fundraising $3,090

  • 20 · Interest

    total $43,812 · program services $826 · management and general $154 · fundraising $42,832

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $3,802,289 · program services $3,498,213 · management and general $294,649 · fundraising $9,427

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $411,115 · program services $395,622 · management and general $13,972 · fundraising $1,521

  • 24a · Other expenses: COGS

    total $4,148,783 · program services $4,148,783

  • 24b · Other expenses: OUTSIDE SERVICES

    total $2,393,250 · program services $2,074,928 · management and general $125,618 · fundraising $192,704

  • 24c · Other expenses: SUPPLIES

    total $1,462,711 · program services $1,367,684 · management and general $25,701 · fundraising $69,326

  • 24d · Other expenses: BANK & CREDIT CARD CHARGE

    total $979,895 · program services $948,776 · management and general $28,044 · fundraising $3,075

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $1,938,899 · program services $1,328,641 · management and general $480,265 · fundraising $129,993

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $14,560,761 · end of year $12,014,254

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $4,493,458 · end of year $4,768,982

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $261,171 · end of year $499,385

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $460,603 · end of year $395,050

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $108,295,463

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $47,705,782

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $55,611,735 · end of year $60,589,681

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $10,335,731 · end of year $10,622,700

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $6,698,378 · end of year $15,434,919

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $2,669,018 · end of year $2,517,829

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $4,296,078 · end of year $4,541,743

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $1,038,647 · end of year $1,056,164

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $1,063,876 · end of year $858,859

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $83,354,218 · end of year $95,350,376

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

TO BRING THE JOY OF LEARNING AND WONDERS OF THE NATURAL WORLD TO LIFE.

  • THANKSGIVING POINT INSTITUTE IS A 170-ACRE MUSEUM, GARDEN AND FARM COMPLEX FOUNDED AS A GIFT TO UTAH AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. IN THE 2023-24 TAX YEAR, WE EXPERIENCED 2.5 MILLION GUEST VISITS. MOST GUESTS CAME TO VISIT ONE OF OUR MUSEUMS OR GARDEN EVENTS AND TENS OF THOUSANDS CAME AS PART OF OUR EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL EVENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE TULIP FESTIVAL HELD IN ASHTON GARDENS IS A FAVORITE OF THE COMMUNITY. A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE 300,000 TULIP BULBS ARE PLANTED BY VOLUNTEERS. IN TOTAL, VOLUNTEERS WORKED 2,654 HOURS TO HELP MAKE THE TULIP FESTIVAL A SUCCESS. IN 2023-24, 863 VOLUNTEERS GAVE 20,076 HOURS TO VARIOUS COMMUNITY-ORIENTED EFFORTS AT THANKSGIVING POINT. MUCH OF THE SUPPORTING REVENUE OF THANKSGIVING POINT IS GENERATED THROUGH OUR FIVE PRIMARY VENUES: ASHTON GARDENS, MUSEUM OF ANCIENT LIFE, THE MUSEUM OF NATURAL CURIOSITY, THE BUTTERFLY BIOSPHERE, AND FARM COUNTRY. WITHIN EACH OF THESE VENUES WE EMPLOY ASPIRING EDUCATORS WHO LEARN ON-THE- JOB HOW TO FACILITATE LEARNING AND GUIDE GUESTS IN THE EXPLORATION OF NATURAL WORLD SCIENCE. WE ALSO UTILIZE EXPERIENCED VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE SKILLED AT HELPING GUESTS DISCOVER THE WONDERS OF NATURE. INTEGRAL TO THE THANKSGIVING POINT MISSION ARE THE INTERACTIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES ORGANIZED TO AID CHILDREN IN THEIR LEARNING OF SCIENCE. LAST YEAR, OVER 24,722 3RD AND 8TH GRADE STUDENTS WERE PART OF FREE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THANKSGIVING POINT. THANKSGIVING POINT TYPICALLY HOSTS APPROXIMATELY 2,063 FIELD TRIPS AND OUTREACH CLASSES. THANKSGIVING POINT TEAMS ALSO TRAVEL TO SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT UTAH TO CONDUCT THESE HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES. LAST YEAR, 673 K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS RECEIVED FREE TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON-SITE AND ONLINE THROUGH THANKSGIVING POINT INSTITUTE. IN ADDITION, OVER 381 HOME SCHOOL STUDENTS ATTENDED HOMESCHOOL DAYS AT THANKSGIVING POINT. IN SUMMER MONTHS, THANKSGIVING POINT HOSTS APPROXIMATELY 76 SUMMER CAMPS. THESE CAMPS WELCOME CHILDREN OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS AND ARE FOCUSED ON A VARIETY OF LEARNING EXPERIENCES FROM DISCOVERING DINOSAURS TO CREATING UNIQUE ART TO EXPERIMENTING WITH STEM. THANKSGIVING POINT ALSO PARTNERS WITH A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. ONE EXAMPLE IS THE SOUTH FRANKLIN COMMUNITY CENTER BASED IN PROVO, UTAH. THIS CENTER SERVES CHILDREN ATTENDING TITLE I SCHOOLS. APPROXIMATELY 83% OF THE STUDENTS HERE ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED AND 63% COME FROM UNDER- REPRESENTED GROUPS. THANKSGIVING POINT PROVIDES VENUE TICKETS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO SOUTH FRANKLIN TO AID IN THEIR LEARNING AND LIFE.

    Expenses $25,368,362 · Revenue $19,719,302

  • COST OF GOODS SOLD ON UBIT SALES.

    Expenses $4,148,783

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • McKay F Christensen

    CEO & TRUSTE

    Total calculated
    $317,637
    From this org
    $317,367
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $270
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $317,367
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    not reported
    Nontaxable benefits
    $270
    Filer's total
    $317,637

  • Mike Washburn

    FORMER CEO

    Total calculated
    $290,471
    From this org
    $290,471
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $290,471
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    not reported
    Nontaxable benefits
    not reported
    Filer's total
    $290,471

  • Brent Lange

    VP OF DEVELO

    Total calculated
    $279,599
    From this org
    $258,661
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,938
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $258,661
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    not reported
    Nontaxable benefits
    $20,938
    Filer's total
    $279,599

  • Kendall Wimmer

    COO

    Total calculated
    $194,381
    From this org
    $174,335
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,046
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $174,335
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    not reported
    Nontaxable benefits
    $20,046
    Filer's total
    $194,381

  • Allen Ash

    CFO

    Total calculated
    $163,271
    From this org
    $158,630
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,641
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $158,630
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    not reported
    Nontaxable benefits
    $4,641
    Filer's total
    $163,271

  • Erica Vanamen

    VP MARKETING

    Total calculated
    $145,547
    From this org
    $142,427
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $3,120
    Hours/week
    40

  • Jeremy Redd

    VP OF DEVELO

    Total calculated
    $140,266
    From this org
    $132,746
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,520
    Hours/week
    40

  • Lorie Millward

    VP OF PROGRA

    Total calculated
    $116,104
    From this org
    $113,750
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $2,354
    Hours/week
    40

  • Jeanette Bennett

    CVO/TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $111,589
    From this org
    $98,006
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,583
    Hours/week
    20

  • Stephen Ashton

    TRUSTEE/SR.

    Total calculated
    $87,159
    From this org
    $69,330
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,829
    Hours/week
    40

  • Diane Acevedo

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Scott Anderson

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Alan C Ashton

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Karen Ashton

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Spencer Ashton

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Dane Runia

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Ruth Todd

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Mark Wolfert

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

None.

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Related partnerships

Part III: related organizations taxable as a partnership, with the filer's share.

  • THANKSGIVING POINT DEVELOPMENT CO

    LEASING · UT

  • N AMERICAN MUSEUM OF ANCIENT LIFE

    LEASING · UT

  • KALAN INVESTMENTS LC

    INVESTMENT · UT

Related corporations and trusts

Part IV: related organizations taxable as a corporation or trust.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
15 January 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202520159349302802

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