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Big Thought
Big Thought reported $9.6 million in revenue and $12.6 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $83.66 went to program services, $12.60 to management and general costs and $3.74 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 69.2% of the total. Government grants made up 13.0%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $200,166 (President & CEO). 7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 35% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $13MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $9.6MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 83.7% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.6% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.7% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.07 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 69.2% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 13.0% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 30.6% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $200,166 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.58% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | -0.7 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 20 of 20 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseAt Big Thought, we believe that all youth have innate greatness. Our North Star is that all youth are equipped to imagine and create their best lives and world. Driven by our mission to make imagination a part of everyday learning, Big Thought is a social impact enterprise that focuses on youth development by preparing young creators with the skills and resources they need for the 21st century workplace. We exist to empower and equip youth to Create Great we're creating creators. At Big Thought, we provide the space and agency to support young creators through our programs and partnerships…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President & CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $191,581 | $0 | $8,585 | $200,166 |
| President & CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $183,417 | $0 | $7,857 | $191,274 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $178,759 | $0 | $8,585 | $187,344 |
| CHIEF DEV OFF Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $151,543 | $0 | $8,585 | $160,128 |
| COO-thru 5/24 Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $158,572 | $0 | $0 | $158,572 |
| CHIEF BTI OFF Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $147,735 | $0 | $8,585 | $156,320 |
| DIR-CONSULTING SER Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $103,991 | $0 | $8,585 | $112,576 |
7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Big Thought (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.0M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b20 · 20 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5223
- Volunteers Part I, line 650
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| LET THE BEAT BUILD FOUNDATION Program partner | $265,257 |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY program partner | $120,000 |
| ARKUS INC Salesforce solutions | $105,839 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
22 private foundations reported grants to Big Thought totaling $3.5M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Big Thought's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Big Thought, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Big Thought spent in FY2025, $83.66 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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- The Magic HouseSt Louis, MO · revenue $9.6M · programs 79.2% · 2025
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All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Texas
Questions people ask
How much of Big Thought's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Big Thought reported that 83.7% of its $12.6 million in expenses went to program services, 12.6% to management and general and 3.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Big Thought pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Big Thought reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $200,166, for the role of President & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Big Thought get its money?
Of $9.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 69.2% came from contributions and grants (including 13.0% from government grants) and 30.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Big Thought a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 75-2170035 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202631339349306053 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202501329349303400 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202421309349303222 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202321359349312037 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202241319349302539 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202141349349301734 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 75-2170035: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.