THE SPHERE INSTITUTE

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

1996

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

THOMAS E MACURDY

Phone

6505583980

Tax Period

2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31

THE SPHERE INSTITUTE, founded in 1996, is a community nonprofit in the Social Science sector that reported $1.8M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue surged 140% from the prior year, signaling strong growth momentum. Expenses of $1.6M left a modest 12% surplus.

Mission

THE SPHERE INSTITUTE WORKS WITH PUBLIC AGENCIES AND GROUPS TO ENHANCE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF AMERICA'S NATIONAL AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING ANALYSES CRITICAL TO THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF EFFECTIVE PUBLIC POLICY, IMPROVING PUBLIC ACCESS TO NATURE AND OPEN SPACES IN URBAN COMMUNITIES, AND PROMOTING LIFELONG LEARNING FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD TO PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $1,550,065

ENVIRONMENT: THE SPHERE INSTITUTE SPONSORS ACTIVITIES COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE WORK. SPHERE'S FLAGSHIP ENDEAVOR, BAY RISE PARK...

ENVIRONMENT: THE SPHERE INSTITUTE SPONSORS ACTIVITIES COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE WORK. SPHERE'S FLAGSHIP ENDEAVOR, BAY RISE PARK, TRANSFORMS AN UNDEVELOPED 9.4-ACRE PLOT OF CALIFORNIA STATE-OWNED LAND ON THE BURLINGAME WATERFRONT OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY INTO A NATURE AND RECREATION PARK. THE PROJECT WILL RESTORE NATIVE BAYFRONT HABITATS CURRENTLY MISSING FROM THE AREA, PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL AMENITIES FOR THE PUBLIC, REHABILITATE A SECTION OF THE BAY TRAIL, AND DEMONSTRATE HOW GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE CAN PROTECT THE BAY'S SHORELINE FROM SEA-LEVEL RISE. SPHERE'S VISION FOR THIS VACANT LAND WAS SELECTED, AFTER A COMPETITIVE RFP PROCESS, BY THE CA STATE LANDS COMMISSION (SLC) AND DETERMINED TO BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITIZENS OF CALIFORNIA. AS A NON-PROFIT WITH EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE PARTNERING AND COLLABORATING WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, THE SLC RECOGNIZED SPHERE AS WELL-POSITIONED TO DEVELOP THIS HIGHLY REGULATED LAND FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT. THE PROJECT TEAM HAS COMPLETED DESIGN DEVELOPMENT DRAWINGS, OBTAINED PARTIAL FUNDING FROM FEDERAL AND STATE GRANT PROGRAMS, SECURED SUPPORT FROM DOZENS OF STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, AND CONTINUES COLLABORATING WITH REGULATORY AGENCIES TO ACQUIRE REQUIRED PERMITS AND APPROVALS.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $1,600,224

Program Service Revenue $0

Investment Income $209,656

Other Revenue $0

TOTAL REVENUE $1,809,880

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0

Salaries & Benefits $66,607

Fundraising Expenses $6,195

Program Expenses $1,550,065

Other Expenses $1,518,459

TOTAL EXPENSES $1,585,066

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2024	2023	Change
Revenue	$1,809,880	$755,457	+1.4%
Expenses	$1,585,066	$540,875	+1.9%
Net Income	$224,814	$214,582	+0.0%

Key Indicators

✗ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✗ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

468

Volunteers

Governance Policies

✓ Conflict of Interest Policy

✓ Whistleblower Policy

✓ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

✗ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✗ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✗ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

$1,451,616

Total Directors

$1,006,875

Key Employees

$377,165

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
THOMAS E MACURDY	PRESIDENT	20.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$647,338
JONATHAN GIBBS	CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER	20.00	Officer Director	$0	$6,863	$359,537
MARIA DEL MAR JAUREGUI VAZQUEZ	DIRECTOR OF EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT	20.00	Key Emp	$0	$4,678	$207,208
FELIX TISMER	CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER	20.00	Officer	$0	$11,599	$191,972
CARA BOWMAN	SECRETARY	20.00	Officer	$0	$21,631	$182,499
AKIS CHARBONNEAU	DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES	20.00	Key Emp	$0	$11,102	$169,957
GREGORY BORO	TREASURER	20.00	Officer	$0	$18,457	$70,270
FRANK WOLAK	BOARD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JANIFER STACKHOUSE	BOARD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
NICOLE MOUTOUX	BOARD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
SEMION LYANDRES	BOARD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2024	$1,809,880	$1,585,066	$25,957,706	$224,814
2023	$755,457	$540,875	$27,083,742	$214,582
2022	$45,503,791	$45,454,555	$24,244,381	$49,236
2021	$38,922,050	$38,725,976	$23,505,589	$196,074
2020	$35,028,299	$33,213,539	$22,544,496	$1,814,760
2019	$29,248,339	$28,903,711	$19,498,336	$344,628