Chautauqua Institution: $49.3M Revenue, $43.6M Expenses

Chautauqua Institution pulls a D on the efficiency rubric. The composite of 48/100 reflects below-median performance on the bundle of factors — typically driven by thin operating reserves, volatile revenue, or outsized officer compensation relative to organizational size.

At $49.3M in 2023 revenue, Chautauqua Institution sits in the mid-range of the U.S. nonprofit distribution. Most organizations of this scale operate regionally or focus on a single program area. Reserves are the limiting factor: Chautauqua Institution carries relatively few months of operating expenses on its balance sheet, which can leave an organization exposed if a major funding source pauses.

Revenue has grown meaningfully across the five-year filing history — a sign of expanding donor base, new grants, or scaling programs. Chautauqua Institution reported $49.3M in 2023, up notably from the start of the window. Officer compensation runs notably high relative to organizational size: $3.5M against $49.3M in revenue. This is one of the factors driving the efficiency grade down on the rubric. Chautauqua Institution sits in the cultural-nonprofit sector (Arts, Culture & Humanities). Museum, performing-arts, and cultural organizations carry distinctive financial patterns — earned revenue from ticket sales and admissions, plus a heavy reliance on endowment income and major donor cycles.