WASHINGTON D.C. – Debuting on Forbes’ list of the “Top 100 Nonprofits in the U.S.” Museum of the Bible brought in a remarkable $153 million in fiscal year ending June 30th 2015, landing the institution at #93 on the distinguished list.
Given that the Forbes list was previously limited to the top 50 nonprofits before expanding to the top 100 for 2016, it’s possible Museum of the Bible would have been included in previous years.
The Forbes list is distinctive in that its rankings are determined by private donations only, as opposed to government grants or revenue from the sale of good or services. Notably, the museum has not been the recipient of any government grants or subsidies. The billion-dollar project is entirely, privately funded.
“We are humbled to be featured on Forbes’ list of the top 100 nonprofits,” says Museum of the Bible President Cary Summers. “We’re most proud that this is a list based on private donations. Since the founding of Museum of the Bible, we have been overwhelmed by the both the number of donors, as well as their generosity. It speaks to how our institutional mission, to engage all people with the Bible, has resonated at a grassroots level with so many people across the country and the world.”
Forbes’ 2016 rankings are based on donations ending in June of 2015. Museum of the Bible once again eclipsed those levels through the same period ending in June 2016—a momentum that continues to accelerate into 2017. Now the museum’s active donor list includes nearly 40,000 people.
“We are incredibly grateful to all those who have—and continue to—donate to Museum of the Bible,” adds the museum’s chief development officer, Tim Smith. “Already, we are among the world’s largest privately-funded institutions of any kind. It is a testament to the vision of our founders and the worthiness of our mission that people all around the world have rallied behind the best-selling, most impactful book of all time. And the truth is, we’re just getting started. We need more help to get this remarkable, historical project to the finish line.”
Collectively, the 100 non-profits received $45 billion in donations, but only one-eighth of the estimated $350 billion received by the country’s 1 million-plus nonprofits.
“When people are generous it makes them better people and our supporters are truly incredible individuals.” concludes Smith, whose thirty years in development puts him among the nation’s senior development executives.
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Museum of the Bible – Museum of the Bible is an innovative, global, educational institution whose purpose is to invite all people to engage with the Bible. In 2017, Museum of the Bible, which aims to be the most technologically advanced museum in the world, will open its 430,000-square-foot nonprofit museum just three blocks from the Capitol in Washington, D.C. A digital fly-through and a 360-degree hardhat tour of the museum are available on youtube.com/museumofBible.
Tim Smith brings more than 30 years of experience in the nonprofit world to his role as Chief Development Officer for Museum of the Bible. Prior to joining the Museum of the Bible Smith was chief development officer at Food for the Hungry, a Phoenix-based nonprofit seeking to end world hunger, where he managed the organization’s global fundraising and marketing activities.
Website | https://www.museumofthebible.org Twitter | @museumofBible
