EIN 84-1416158

Thanksgiving Point Institute

IRS 501(c) type
501(c)(3)
Num. employees
838
City
State
Year formed
1997
Most recent tax filings
2022-02-01
NTEE code, primary
Description
Thanksgiving Point Institute is a farm, garden and museum complex that draws upon the natural world to cultivate transformative family learning. Located in Lehi, UT, each of the venues encourages interactive learning;learning by doing that is both effective and engaging.
Also known as...
Rasmussen Ralph W JR Ttee
Total revenues
$45,287,862
2022
Total expenses
$25,928,376
2022
Total assets
$83,874,144
2022
Num. employees
838
2022

Program areas at Thanksgiving Point Institute

Thanksgiving Point Institute is a 170-acre museum, garden and farm complex founded as a gift to Utah and the surrounding communities. Our mission is to bring the joy of learning and the wonders of the natural world to life. In our experience, when curiosity, discovery and sharing begin, we are more likely to be inspired, optimistic and energized. Therefore, whether it's bugs or butterflies, tulips or tyranasouri, the natural world experiences we bring to our community are unique and life changing. In the 2021-22 tax year, we experienced over 2.2 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 1,865 hours to help make the tulip festival a success. Last year, 799 volunteers gave 17,109 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 17,750 3rd and 8th grade students were part of free science and engineering programs offered by Thanksgiving Point. Thanksgiving Point typically hosts approximately 1,623 field trips and outreach classes. Thanksgiving Point teams also travel to schools throughout Utah to conduct these hands-on learning experiences. When covid-19 restrictions came about, we pivoted to hosting virtual classes as well. Last year, 650 k-12 public school teachers received free teacher professional development on-site and online through Thanksgiving Point Institute. In addition, over 859 home school students attended homeschool days at Thanksgiving Point. My tech high serves homeschool students as well, providing collaborative setting where students learn to explore tech-oriented solutions and to develop their own design ideas. In summer months, Thanksgiving Point hosts approximately 156 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. These camps include autism adventures camp. This day camp welcome autistic children ages 13 to 18. The camp helps students through seven stages of adventure to expand their current social understanding and aptitude. Essential to our mission is diversity and inclusion. Guests of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities are welcomed. We have sensory backpacks for children on the autism spectrum at the museum of natural curiosity, museum of ancient life, and the butterfly biosphere. Super tuesdays in august allow guests to enjoy all venues at discounted rates and participation in the national museums for all program allows children with families on supplemental nutrition assistance program (snap) or special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (wic) card to gain year-round free entrance to venues. 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.
Cost of goods sold on ubit sales.

Who funds Thanksgiving Point Institute

Grants from foundations and other nonprofits
GrantmakerDescriptionAmount
Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy FoundationGeneral Support$500,000
Joan and Tim Fenton Family FoundationGeneral Support$250,000
Sorenson Legacy FoundationGeneral Charitable Purposes$250,000
...and 16 more grants received

Personnel at Thanksgiving Point Institute

NameTitleCompensation
McKay F ChristensenChief Executive Officer and Trustee$203,814
Allen AshChief Financial Officer$140,271
Kendall WimmerVice President Operations / Vice President of Operations / Vice President Operation$170,324
Erica VanamenVice President Marketing$140,405
Lorie MillwardVice President of Program / Curator of Curiosity and Director of Education$118,594
...and 3 more key personnel

Financials for Thanksgiving Point Institute

RevenuesFYE 02/2022
Total grants, contributions, etc.$25,866,764
Program services$13,214,894
Investment income and dividends$3,771
Tax-exempt bond proceeds$0
Royalty revenue$0
Net rental income$1,252,297
Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets$2,497
Net income from fundraising events$335,311
Net income from gaming activities$0
Net income from sales of inventory$4,612,328
Miscellaneous revenues$0
Total revenues$45,287,862

Form 990s for Thanksgiving Point Institute

Fiscal year endingDate received by IRSFormPDF link
2022-022023-01-17990View PDF
2021-022021-11-02990View PDF
2020-022021-04-06990View PDF
2019-022020-10-02990View PDF
2018-022019-05-14990View PDF
...and 9 more Form 990s

Organizations like Thanksgiving Point Institute

OrganizationLocationRevenue
The Zekelman Holocaust CenterFarmington Hills, MI$21,925,651
New York Historical SocietyNew York, NY$53,798,420
Uss Midway MuseumSan Diego, CA$25,013,272
Mystic Seaport MuseumMystic, CT$26,794,983
Old Sturbridge Village (OSV)Sturbridge, MA$14,423,241
National WWII MuseumNew Orleans, LA$85,537,669
Missouri Historical Society (MHM)St Louis, MO$36,156,227
Pearl Harbor Aviation MuseumHonolulu, HI$12,315,102
Hillwood Estate Museum and GardensWashington, DC$20,308,723
Tenement MuseumNew York, NY$14,689,551
Data update history
July 8, 2023
Used new vendors
Identified 5 new vendors, including , , , , and
June 28, 2023
Posted financials
Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2021
June 20, 2023
Posted financials
Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2022
June 17, 2023
Updated personnel
Identified 4 new personnel
June 13, 2023
Used new vendors
Identified 2 new vendors, including , and
Nonprofit Types
Arts, culture, and humanities nonprofitsMuseumsCharities
Issues
EducationArts, cultural, and humanitiesEnvironment
Characteristics
MembershipsFundraising eventsReceives government fundingCommunity engagement / volunteeringGala fundraisersTax deductible donations
General information
Address
3003 N Thanksgiving Way
Lehi, UT 84043
Metro area
Provo-Orem, UT
County
Utah County, UT
Website URL
thanksgivingpoint.org/ 
Phone
(801) 768-4948
Facebook page
ThanksgivingPoint 
Twitter profile
@thankspoint 
IRS details
EIN
84-1416158
Fiscal year end
February
Taxreturn type
Form 990
Year formed
1997
Eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions (Pub 78)
Yes
Categorization
NTEE code, primary
A54: History Museums
NAICS code, primary
7121: Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions
Parent/child status
Independent
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