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Thanksgiving Point Institute Inc

EIN 84-1416158 · Lehi, UT

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

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.

Income
$99.9 million
Spending
$37.8 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
18.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
1,155
Volunteers
919
Highest pay
$314,557, ceo & truste

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 62% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 116% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $27.9 million spent. 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. 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
  2. $4.7 million spent. COST OF GOODS SOLD ON UBIT SALES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending February 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1999.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.