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Nonprofiteer
← THANKSGIVING POINT INSTITUTE INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by THANKSGIVING POINT INSTITUTE INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$99,872,507
Total expenses
$37,802,487
Contributions and grants received
$69,600,894
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$19,112,138
Investment income
$2,886,690
Other revenue
$8,272,785
Total assets, end of year
$168,075,778
Total liabilities, end of year
$12,271,470
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$155,804,308
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$32,615,525
Management and general expenses
$3,991,748
Fundraising expenses
$1,195,214
Program service expenses (Part III)
$32,615,525

Program services were 86.3% 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

    $8,364,814

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $29,458,938

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $5,225,691

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $26,551,451

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $50,113,491

  • 2a · Program service revenue: PROGRAM REVENUE

    total $12,457,928 · related or exempt $12,457,928

  • 2b · Program service revenue: VISITOR SERVICES

    total $5,097,018 · unrelated business $5,097,018

  • 2c · Program service revenue: SPONSORSHIP REVENUE

    total $825,601 · related or exempt $825,601

  • 2d · Program service revenue: MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE

    total $379,333 · related or exempt $379,333

  • 2e · Program service revenue: MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE

    total $352,146 · unrelated business $352,146

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $112 · unrelated business $112

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $725,261 · excluded $725,261

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $1,534,602

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $1,534,602

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $1,534,602 · related or exempt $596,742 · unrelated business $937,860

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $5,212,675 · other assets $3,585,943

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

    securities $5,037,189 · other assets $1,600,000

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $175,486 · other assets $1,985,943

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $2,161,429 · related or exempt $1,973,877 · unrelated business $12,066 · excluded $175,486

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $6,738,183

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $6,738,183 · related or exempt $6,738,183

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,151,144 · program services $984,426 · management and general $117,576 · fundraising $49,142

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $13,582,813 · program services $11,615,635 · management and general $1,387,330 · fundraising $579,848

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $1,435,232 · program services $1,196,110 · management and general $201,216 · fundraising $37,906

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $1,120,958 · program services $1,017,824 · management and general $59,969 · fundraising $43,165

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $39,127 · program services $19,563 · management and general $19,564

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $134,570 · program services $2,500 · management and general $65,160 · fundraising $66,910

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $1,098,266 · program services $159,476 · management and general $938,631 · fundraising $159

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $216,166 · program services $215,248 · management and general $40 · fundraising $878

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $1,612,874 · program services $1,504,552 · management and general $96,275 · fundraising $12,047

  • 17 · Travel

    total $78,365 · program services $69,204 · management and general $7,943 · fundraising $1,218

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $125,381 · program services $108,704 · management and general $16,677

  • 20 · Interest

    total $183,019 · program services $118,451 · fundraising $64,568

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $4,691,491 · program services $4,344,153 · management and general $335,133 · fundraising $12,205

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $423,313 · program services $401,349 · management and general $20,396 · fundraising $1,568

  • 24a · Other expenses: COGS

    total $4,729,862 · program services $4,729,862

  • 24b · Other expenses: OUTSIDE SERVICES

    total $2,208,799 · program services $2,045,998 · management and general $119,473 · fundraising $43,328

  • 24c · Other expenses: SUPPLIES

    total $1,794,710 · program services $1,727,770 · management and general $44,452 · fundraising $22,488

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

    total $975,849 · program services $944,093 · management and general $29,843 · fundraising $1,913

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $2,200,548 · program services $1,410,607 · management and general $532,070 · fundraising $257,871

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $12,014,254 · end of year $9,742,931

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $4,768,982 · end of year $30,106,605

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $499,385 · end of year $2,870,946

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $395,050 · end of year $408,157

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

    $149,329,887

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

    $52,225,566

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $60,589,681 · end of year $97,104,321

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $10,622,700 · end of year $10,884,211

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $15,434,919 · end of year $16,958,607

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $2,517,829 · end of year $3,310,252

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $4,541,743 · end of year $5,031,089

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $1,056,164 · end of year $2,672,984

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $858,859 · end of year $1,257,145

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $95,350,376 · end of year $155,804,308

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

OUR MISSION IS TO IGNITE CURIOSITY AND BUILD CONFIDENCE IN CHILDREN FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS THROUGH HANDS-ON STEM PROGRAMS AND EXPERIENCES. AS A JOYFUL GATHERING PLACE FOR FAMILIESACROSS THE RENOWNED ASHTON GARDENS, MUSEUMS, EVENTS, AND FESTIVALSWE CULTIVATE WONDER, STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS, AND INSPIRE A LIFELONG LOVE OF LEARNING.

  • THANKSGIVING POINT INSTITUTE IS A 110-ACRE MUSEUM, GARDEN AND FARM COMPLEX FOUNDED AS A GIFT TO UTAH AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. OUR MISSION IS TO IGNITE CURIOSITY AND BUILD CONFIDENCE IN CHILDREN FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS THROUGH HANDS-ON STEM PROGRAMS AND EXPERIENCES. AS A JOYFUL GATHERING PLACE FOR FAMILIES-ACROSS THE RENOWNED ASHTON GARDENS, MUSEUMS, EVENTS, AND FESTIVALS-WE CULTIVATE WONDER, STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS, AND INSPIRE A LIFELONG LOVE OF LEARNING. LAST 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. EACH WEEK WE CONDUCT OVER 180 STEM DISCOVERY PROGRAMS WITH OVER 100,000 KIDS PARTICIPATING IN THOSE PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. FOR EXAMPLE, THE TULIP FESTIVAL HELD IN ASHTON GARDENS IS A FAVORITE OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE FESTIVAL PROVIDES TREMENDOUS EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR GUESTS. A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE 300,000 TULIP BULBS ARE PLANTED BY VOLUNTEERS. IN TOTAL, VOLUNTEERS WORKED OVER 3,000 HOURS TO HELP MAKE THE TULIP FESTIVAL A SUCCESS. LAST YEAR, 904 VOLUNTEERS GAVE 19,763 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 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 STEM. INTEGRAL TO THE THANKSGIVING POINT MISSION ARE THE INTERACTIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES ORGANIZED TO AID CHILDREN IN THEIR LEARNING OF SCIENCE. LAST YEAR, OVER 22,992 3RD AND 8TH GRADE STUDENTS WERE PART OF FREE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THANKSGIVING POINT. THANKSGIVING POINT HOSTED APPROXIMATELY 45,217 STUDENTS THROUGH FIELD TRIPS AND VISITED 13,282 AS PART OF OUR OUTREACH CLASSES. LAST YEAR, 257 K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS RECEIVED FREE TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON-SITE AND ONLINE THROUGH THANKSGIVING POINT INSTITUTE. IN ADDITION, OVER 1,444 HOME SCHOOL STUDENTS ATTENDED HOMESCHOOL DAYS AT THANKSGIVING POINT. IN SUMMER MONTHS, THANKSGIVING POINT HOSTS APPROXIMATELY 75 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. ESSENTIAL TO OUR MISSION IS PROVIDING ACCESS TO ALL KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES. ANY CHILD WHOSE PARENTS ARE ON WIC OR SNAP BENEFITS COME TO OUR MUSEUMS AND CENTERS FOR FREE, AND THEIR PARENTS ARE CHARGED A DISCOUNTED RATE. IN TOTAL 219,421 OF THESE GUESTS RECEIVED FREE OR DISCOUNTED RATES. 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 $27,885,663 · Revenue $19,547,216

  • COST OF GOODS SOLD ON UBIT SALES.

    Expenses $4,729,862

As filed on the 2024 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
    $314,557
    From this org
    $313,582
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $975
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $313,582
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    not reported
    Nontaxable benefits
    $975
    Filer's total
    $314,557

  • Brent Lange

    CDO

    Total calculated
    $276,312
    From this org
    $253,086
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $23,226
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $253,086
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    not reported
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,226
    Filer's total
    $276,312

  • Dave Coltrin

    VP OF DEVELO

    Total calculated
    $224,448
    From this org
    $203,533
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,915
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $203,533
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    not reported
    Nontaxable benefits
    $20,915
    Filer's total
    $224,448

  • Kendall Wimmer

    COO

    Total calculated
    $199,798
    From this org
    $178,045
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $21,753
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $178,045
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    not reported
    Nontaxable benefits
    $21,753
    Filer's total
    $199,798

  • Allen Ash

    CFO

    Total calculated
    $166,848
    From this org
    $161,130
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $5,718
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $161,130
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    not reported
    Nontaxable benefits
    $5,718
    Filer's total
    $166,848

  • Tucker Louge

    DIR OF CAMPU

    Total calculated
    $140,611
    From this org
    $120,278
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,333
    Hours/week
    40

  • Bryan Reed

    DIR OF FACIL

    Total calculated
    $136,707
    From this org
    $116,212
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,495
    Hours/week
    40

  • Erica Vanamen

    CMO - TERMED

    Total calculated
    $134,331
    From this org
    $131,551
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $2,780
    Hours/week
    25

  • Melinda Pike

    CMO - HIRED

    Total calculated
    $113,795
    From this org
    $113,750
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $45
    Hours/week
    20

  • Jeanette Bennett

    DIR/TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $97,577
    From this org
    $90,855
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $6,722
    Hours/week
    20

  • 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

  • Abby Cox

    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 corporations and trusts

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

  • TPI PROPERTIES INC

    C CORP · REALTY · UT · 100% owned · controlled entity

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
16 January 2026
IRS schema version
2024v5.0
Source object
202640169349300624

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