Nonprofit · EIN 84-1416158
THANKSGIVING POINT INSTITUTE INC
Also known as RASMUSSEN RALPH W JR TTEE
Tax-exempt · LEHI, UT 84048
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 28, 2025 | 990 | $99,872,507 | $37,802,487 | $62,070,020 | $168,075,778 | $12,271,470 | $155,804,308 |
| February 29, 2024 | 990 | $46,242,434 | $34,595,229 | $11,647,205 | $104,324,971 | $8,974,595 | $95,350,376 |
| February 28, 2023 | 990 | $39,962,209 | $31,176,972 | $8,785,237 | $92,421,837 | $9,067,619 | $83,354,218 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended February 28, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $69,600,894
- of which government grants
- $5,225,691
- Membership dues
- $8,364,814
- Program service revenue
- $19,112,138
- Investment income
- $2,886,690
- Net rental income
- $1,534,602
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $2,161,429
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $6,738,183
- Other revenue
- $8,272,785
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $1,151,144
- Other salaries and wages
- $13,582,813
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $17,290,147
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $39,127
- Accounting fees
- $134,570
- Occupancy
- $1,612,874
- Travel
- $78,365
- Depreciation
- $4,691,491
- Program services (functional)
- $32,615,525
- Management and general (functional)
- $3,991,748
- Fundraising (functional)
- $1,195,214
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $104,324,971
- Total assets, end of year
- $168,075,778
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $12,271,470
- Net assets, end of year
- $155,804,308
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $97,104,321
- Publicly traded securities
- $10,884,211
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $155,804,308
- Gross unrelated business income
- $6,399,202
- Gross receipts
- $106,509,696
- Employees
- 1,155
- Volunteers
- 919
- Year formed
- 1997
- State of legal domicile
- UT
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended February 28, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCKAY F CHRISTENSEN | CEO & TRUSTE Officer | 40 | $313,582 | $975 |
| BRENT LANGE | CDO Officer | 40 | $253,086 | $23,226 |
| DAVE COLTRIN | VP OF DEVELO Highest-paid employee | 40 | $203,533 | $20,915 |
| KENDALL WIMMER | COO Officer | 40 | $178,045 | $21,753 |
| ALLEN ASH | CFO Officer | 40 | $161,130 | $5,718 |
| TUCKER LOUGE | DIR OF CAMPU Highest-paid employee | 40 | $120,278 | $20,333 |
| BRYAN REED | DIR OF FACIL Highest-paid employee | 40 | $116,212 | $20,495 |
| ERICA VANAMEN | CMO - TERMED Officer | 25 | $131,551 | $2,780 |
| MELINDA PIKE | CMO - HIRED Officer | 20 | $113,750 | $45 |
| JEANETTE BENNETT | DIR/TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 20 | $90,855 | $6,722 |
| DIANE ACEVEDO | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SCOTT ANDERSON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ALAN C ASHTON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KAREN ASHTON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SPENCER ASHTON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
3 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABBY COX | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| RUTH TODD | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MARK WOLFERT | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended February 29, 2024: 18 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCKAY F CHRISTENSEN | CEO & TRUSTE Officer | 40 | $317,367 | $270 |
| MIKE WASHBURN | FORMER CEO Former | 5 | $290,471 | $0 |
| BRENT LANGE | VP OF DEVELO Highest-paid employee | 40 | $258,661 | $20,938 |
| KENDALL WIMMER | COO Highest-paid employee | 40 | $174,335 | $20,046 |
| ALLEN ASH | CFO Highest-paid employee | 40 | $158,630 | $4,641 |
| ERICA VANAMEN | VP MARKETING Highest-paid employee | 40 | $142,427 | $3,120 |
| JEREMY REDD | VP OF DEVELO Highest-paid employee | 40 | $132,746 | $7,520 |
| LORIE MILLWARD | VP OF PROGRA Officer | 40 | $113,750 | $2,354 |
| JEANETTE BENNETT | CVO/TRUSTEE Officer | 20 | $98,006 | $13,583 |
| STEPHEN ASHTON | TRUSTEE/SR. Trustee or director | 40 | $69,330 | $17,829 |
| DIANE ACEVEDO | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SCOTT ANDERSON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ALAN C ASHTON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KAREN ASHTON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SPENCER ASHTON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DANE RUNIA | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RUTH TODD | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MARK WOLFERT | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended February 28, 2023: 15 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCKAY F CHRISTENSEN | CEO & TRUSTE Officer | 40 | $290,629 | $0 |
| MIKE WASHBURN | FORMER CEO Former | 5 | $290,471 | $0 |
| BRENT LANGE | VP OF DEVELO Highest-paid employee | 40 | $214,066 | $15,038 |
| KENDALL WIMMER | COO Highest-paid employee | 40 | $156,741 | $18,682 |
| ALLEN ASH | CFO Highest-paid employee | 40 | $151,755 | $3,986 |
| ERICA VANAMEN | VP MARKETING Highest-paid employee | 40 | $137,822 | $2,814 |
| LORIE MILLWARD | VP OF PROGRA Highest-paid employee | 40 | $127,389 | $1,458 |
| STEPHEN ASHTON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 40 | $60,402 | $16,226 |
| ALAN C ASHTON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KAREN ASHTON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SPENCER ASHTON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DANE RUNIA | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RUTH TODD | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MARK WOLFERT | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JEANETTE BENNETT | CVO Officer | 20 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 3003 N THANKSGIVING WAY, LEHI, UT 84048-4268
- In care of
- % RALPH W RASMUSSEN
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- MCKAY F CHRISTENSEN
- Signed the 990
- MCKAY F CHRISTENSEN, CEO & TRUSTEE
- Phone
- (801) 768-4948
- Website
- WWW.THANKSGIVINGPOINT.ORG
- Return prepared by
- ARMANINO ADVISORY LLC
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.
Program accomplishments
- 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
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in February, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | February 28, 2026 | July 15, 2026 | Not on file |
| 2024 | February 28, 2025 | July 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | February 29, 2024 | July 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 84-1416158
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1999
- Accounting year ends
- February
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Environment (C41)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $168,075,778
- Income (IRS master file)
- $106,509,696
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | February 2025 | $99,872,507 | $37,802,487 | $168,075,778 | XML |
| 990-T | February 2025 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | February 2024 | $46,242,434 | $34,595,229 | $104,324,971 | XML |
| 990-T | February 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | February 2023 | $39,962,209 | $31,176,972 | $92,421,837 | XML |
| 990-T | February 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | February 2022 | $45,287,862 | $25,928,376 | $83,874,144 | IRS |
| 990-T | February 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | February 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | February 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | February 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | February 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | February 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | February 2017 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 84-1416158).
Questions about THANKSGIVING POINT INSTITUTE INC
- What is the EIN of THANKSGIVING POINT INSTITUTE INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of THANKSGIVING POINT INSTITUTE INC is 84-1416158.
- Is THANKSGIVING POINT INSTITUTE INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1999.
- Are donations to THANKSGIVING POINT INSTITUTE INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does THANKSGIVING POINT INSTITUTE INC file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of THANKSGIVING POINT INSTITUTE INC due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending February 28, 2026) is due July 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did THANKSGIVING POINT INSTITUTE INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended February 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of THANKSGIVING POINT INSTITUTE INC?
- The 990 for the year ended February 28, 2025 names MCKAY F CHRISTENSEN.
- Who are the officers and directors of THANKSGIVING POINT INSTITUTE INC?
- The 990 for the year ended February 28, 2025 lists 18 people; 10 received compensation from the organization, the highest $313,582 (MCKAY F CHRISTENSEN, CEO & TRUSTE).
- How much revenue does THANKSGIVING POINT INSTITUTE INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended February 28, 2025 it reported revenue of $99,872,507, expenses of $37,802,487 and total assets of $168,075,778 at year end.
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