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Seacoast Science Center Inc

EIN 02-0526488 · Rye, NH

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

IT IS THE MISSION OF THE SEACOAST SCIENCE CENTER TO SPARK CURIOSITY, ENHANCE UNDERSTANDING, AND INSPIRE CONSERVATION OF OUR BLUE PLANET. THE CENTER'S PROGRAMMING AND EXHIBITS ENCOURAGE VISITORS AND OTHER PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT SO THAT THEY MAY BE MOVED TO ACTION, DEVELOP CONSERVATION ETHICS AND TAKE PERSONAL ACTION TO ENSURE A HEALTHY OCEAN. THE CENTER IS LOCATED IN HISTORIC ODIORNE POINT STATE PARK AND OPERATES UNDER AN ONGOING CONTRACT WITH NH DIVISION OF PARKS AND RECREATION. THE CENTER OFFERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, ENVIRONMENTAL DAY CAMPS AND INTERPRETIVE EXHIBITS AND AQUARIUMS FOR VISITORS AND SCHOOL GROUPS. VISITORS REPRESENT A DIVERSE AUDIENCE FROM TODDLERS TO GRANDPARENTS. AS A CULTURAL MAINSTAY IN THE SEACOAST, THE CENTER FEATURES EDUCATIONAL CONTENT HIGHLIGHTING THE NATURAL HISTORY OF ODIORNE POINT STATE PARK AND THE ECOLOGY OF ITS 7 DISTINCT HABITATS AS WELL AS THE ECOLOGY OF THE GULF OF MAINE INCLUDING OPEN-OCEAN, NEARSHORE AND

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 42%
Employees
94
Volunteers
2,065
Highest pay
$118,450, former presi

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 36 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $1.2 million spent. PROGRAMS: THE SEACOAST SCIENCE CENTER OFFERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, ENVIRONMENTAL DAY CAMPS AND DAILY PUBLIC PROGRAMS FOR VISITORS AND SCHOOL GROUPS. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS LEARN ABOUT THE OCEAN AND ITS CRITICAL INFLUENCE ON OUR DAILY LIVES THROUGH THE PERSPECTIVE OF ODIORNE POINT STATE PARK AND SEACOAST NEW HAMPSHIRE. IT IS THE OBJECTIVE OF THE SEACOAST SCIENCE CENTER'S EXPERIENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMING TO INCREASE OUR VISITOR'S UNDERSTANDING AND AWARENESS OF THE OCEAN. IN TURN, WE HOPE TO MOTIVATE THEM TO TAKE PERSONAL ACTIONS IN THEIR DAILY LIVES THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO A HEALTHY OCEAN.
  2. $226,857 spent. EXHIBITS: THE SEACOAST SCIENCE CENTER FEATURES OVER 35 INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITS. THE "DISCOVERY DOCK" EARLY LEARNING ACTIVITY CENTER IS AN INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT DESIGNED TO BE A SPACE WHERE YOUNG CHILDREN CAN EXPLORE THE WORKING WATERFRONT. "H2O TODAY" IS AN EXHIBITION THAT EXAMINES THE DIVERSITY AND CHALLENGES OF OUR GLOBAL WATER SOURCES AND PROMOTES CONVERSATION, CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION THROUGH ART, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. "MARINE MAMMALS OF THE GULF OF MAINE" IS COMPRISED OF A COLLECTION OF INTERPRETIVE VIDEOS, INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS AND ARTICULATED SKELETONS INCLUDING "TOFU" A 32-FOOT JUVENILE HUMPBACK WHALE. THE "GULF OF MAINE EXHIBIT HALL" FEATURES 10 AQUARIUM EXHIBITS CONTAINING A VARIETY OF FISH AND MARINE INVERTEBRATES FOUND IN THE GULF OF MAINE. THE CENTER ALSO OFFERS AN INTERTIDAL TOUCH TANK WHERE VISITORS MAY HANDLE CRABS, SEA STARS AND MARINE INVERTEBRATES COMMONLY FOUND IN THE TIDE POOLS ALONG THE NH COAST. EXHIBITS: THE SEACOAST SCIENCE CENTER FEATURES OVER 35 INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITS. THE "DISCOVERY DOCK" EARLY LEARNING ACTIVITY CENTER IS AN INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT DESIGNED TO BE A SPACE WHERE YOUNG CHILDREN CAN EXPLORE THE WORKING WATERFRONT. "H2O TODAY" IS AN EXHIBITION THAT EXAMINES THE DIVERSITY AND CHALLENGES OF OUR GLOBAL WATER SOURCES AND PROMOTES CONVERSATION, CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION THROUGH ART, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. "MARINE MAMMALS OF THE GULF OF MAINE" IS COMPRISED OF A COLLECTION OF INTERPRETIVE VIDEOS, INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS AND ARTICULATED SKELETONS INCLUDING "TOFU" A 32-FOOT JUVENILE HUMPBACK WHALE. THE "GULF OF MAINE EXHIBIT HALL" FEATURES 10 AQUARIUM EXHIBITS CONTAINING A VARIETY OF FISH AND MARINE INVERTEBRATES FOUND IN THE GULF OF MAINE. THE CENTER ALSO OFFERS AN INTERTIDAL TOUCH TANK WHERE VISITORS MAY HANDLE CRABS, SEA STARS AND MARINE INVERTEBRATES COMMONLY FOUND IN THE TIDE POOLS ALONG THE NH COAST.
  3. $150,667 spent. MARINE MAMMAL RESCUE: SEACOAST SCIENCE CENTER IS THE FEDERALLY AUTHORIZED ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR RESPONDING TO DEAD AND STRANDED MARINE MAMMALS ALONG THE COAST OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND NORTHERN MASSACHUSETTS. EACH YEAR SSC MARINE MAMMAL RESCUE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS RESPOND TO BETWEEN 150 AND 300 CASES. RESPONSES ARE EXECUTED TO PRESERVE PUBLIC SAFETY, ENSURE ANIMAL SAFETY AND FOSTER THE COLLECTION OF SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION ON THE HEALTH AND STATUS OF THESE PROTECTED ANIMALS. MARINE MAMMAL NATURAL HISTORY AND MARINE MAMMAL RESCUE OPERATIONS ARE THE SUBJECT FOR SCHOOL AND PUBLIC PROGRAM CONTENT AT THE SEACOAST SCIENCE CENTER.
  4. $3,000 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: PRINTING EXPENSES RELATED TO SUSTAINING SSC'S ONGOING MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM.
  5. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: PRINTING EXPENSES RELATED TO SUSTAINING SSC'S ONGOING MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2002.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.