Star Tribune Nonprofit 100: The sector report

Overall revenue for the Nonprofit 100 rose 4.7 percent to $52.6 billion in 2013, up from $50.3 billion in 2012. Though revenue was up, it was nearly two full percentage points slower than the 6.6 percent revenue growth in the previous year.

Health care

Health care nonprofits dominate the list, generating 92 percent of the overall revenue. The biggest change in the sector was the acquisition of Park Nicollet Health Services by HealthPartners at the end of 2012. The deal increased HealthPartners' revenue 31.4 percent, vaulting it ahead of Medica on the overall list.

The Affordable Care Act, which promised to expand coverage and cost controls, aided the 55 health care organizations we looked at. In 2013 their combined revenue grew 8.6 percent to $48.5 billion. Expenses for the group increased 5 percent to $45.5 billion.

Planned Parenthood was the sector's fastest growing organization, jumping 34 spots on the overall list as a large anonymous gift helped increase revenue more than 67 percent.

Revenue at the 35 social services groups we looked at rose 5.7 percent and expenses grew 4.5 percent. Ten of the 35 groups had annual deficits.

The 15.9 percent revenue growth at Second Harvest Heartland makes it the largest social services nonprofit organization and 31st on the overall list, up from 68th five years ago.

Education

Revenue at the 33 education groups rose 5.6 percent, while expenses grew 3.5 percent. Revenue grew at 25 of the 33 education groups.

Carleton College, buoyed by investment income, logged the biggest revenue gain, at 23.9 percent in this sector.

Overall contributions for the group grew just 1.1 percent, but that does not include the biggest gift of the year which went to St. John's University related to its 2012 separation from the Order of St. Benedict.

The corporate agreement included a net gift of $250.6 million, which we've treated as an extraordinary item. St. John's still showed an 18.3 percent revenue increase for the period.

Arts groups rebounded last year as overall revenue grew 8.2 percent to $468.1 million. The group of museum, music, theater and arts and news programming organizations had suffered a 6.8 percent decline the previous year.

Hennepin Theatre Trust saw an increase in revenue of 66.6 percent, with expenses rising at a similar pace. The trust runs programs for the State, Orpheum, Pantages Theatres and New Century Theatre. Spokeswoman Karen Nelson said ticket sales were up across the board, with highlights including "Wicked" and "Phantom of the Opera."

The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra saw its revenue spike 63.4 percent, to $10.6 million, helped by investment gains and a program to fund buyouts for members of the organization. Meanwhile, Minnesota Orchestra revenue plunged 68 percent, to $14.2 million, due to the lockout of musicians and reduced contributions.

Story by Patrick Kennedy