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Museum of Science

EIN 04-2103916 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE IS TO INSPIRE A LIFELONG LOVE OF SCIENCE IN EVERYONE. THROUGH EXHIBITS, CURRICULA, PROGRAMS, AND EVENTS, BOTH LIVE AND VIRTUAL, WE AIM TO MAKE SCIENCE AND SCIENTIFIC THINKING ACCESSIBLE, ENGAGING, AND RELEVANT. WE COLLABORATE ACROSS DISCIPLINES TO HELP PEOPLE EVERYWHERE SEE AND APPRECIATE THE SCIENCE IN EVERYTHING. OUR VISION IS A WORLD IN WHICH SCIENCE BELONGS TO EACH OF US FOR THE GOOD OF ALL OF US.

Income
$56.5 million
Spending
$71.0 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
5.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 39%
Employees
476
Volunteers
99
Highest pay
$529,964, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 73% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 36 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    48 of 49 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 June 30, 2025, 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. $18.6 million spent. EXHIBITS INCLUDE OVER 900 STANDING EXHIBITS, HOUSED IN 132,000 SQ FT OF GALLERY AND RELATED SPACE, PROVIDING HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES IN ALL AREAS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND THEIR SOCIAL IMPACT. THE MUSEUM CREATES PERMANENT AND TRAVELLING EXHIBITS BOTH ON ITS OWN AND IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS, AND IS ONE OF LEADERSHIP PARTNERS IN THE NATIONAL INFORMAL STEM EDUCATION NETWORK (NISENET), A NETWORK OF APPROXIMATELY 600 MUSEUMS, COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES, LIBRARIES, SCIENTIFIC PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS WHICH CREATES AND SHARES EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS RELATING TO IMPORTANT CURRENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TOPICS. A MUSEUM-PRODUCED TRAVELING EXHIBIT CALLED THE SCIENCE BEHIND PIXAR HIGHLIGHTS THE MATH AND SCIENCE SKILLS PIXAR FILMMAKERS USE IN BRINGING THEIR FILMS TO LIFE. TWO COPIES OF THIS EXHIBIT ARE CURRENTLY TOURING OTHER US AND INTERNATIONAL MUSEUMS. THE MUSEUM ALSO HOSTS TRAVELING EXHIBITS PRODUCED BY OTHER INSTITUTIONS. TRAVELING EXHIBITS HOSTED BY THE MUSEUM THIS YEAR INCLUDED: THE SCIENCE BEHIND PIXAR WHICH CLOSED IN SEPT 2021; RESILIENT VENICE; NE CLIMATE STORIES; ALL ABOARD! TRAINS AT SCIENCE PARK; EMOTIONS AT PLAY WITH PIXAR'S INSIDE OUT; GAIA EARTH GLOBE; ELECTRIC PLAYHOUSE TRAVELS.
  2. $14.0 million spent. PUBLIC PROGRAMS INCLUDE EXHIBIT INTERPRETATION, LECTURE SERIES, LIVE ANIMAL DEMONSTRATIONS (THE MUSEUM IS ACCREDITED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS), PHYSICAL SCIENCE DEMONSTRATIONS, LIGHTNING SHOWS IN THE THOMSON THEATER OF ELECTRICITY, SPECIAL EVENTS, DEMONSTRATIONS AND PODCASTS RELATING TO TOPICS OF CURRENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, HANDS-ON DESGN CHALLENGES. (906,900 ONSITE VISITORS AND ONLINE VISITORS SERVED.)
  3. $7.8 million spent. THEATERS INCLUDE THE CHARLES HAYDEN PLANETARIUM, OFFERING PRESENTATIONS, EVENTS, AND DEMONSTRATIONS OF ASTRONOMY AND SPACE SCIENCE TOPICS, CURRENT DISCOVERIES, AND OTHER SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY-INSPIRED PROGRAMMING. THE MUGAR OMNI THEATER, THE LARGEST DOMED IMAX THEATER IN NEW ENGLAND, OFFERS DIGITAL DOCUMENTARY AND SCIENCE-FICTION INSPIRED FILMS AND PRESENTATIONS, WHILE A SMALLER 4-D THEATER OFFERS SHORT 3-D FILMS ON A RANGE OF SCIENCE AND NATURE TOPICS AUGMENTED BY SENSORY EFFECTS SUCH AS WIND, MIST, AND SMELL. PLANETARIUM SHOWS THIS YEAR INCLUDED: BIG BIRD'S ADVENTURE: ONE WORLD, ONE SKY; DESTINATION MARS: THE NEW FRONTIER; FROM DREAM TO DISCOVERY: INSIDE NASA; EXPLORE OUR CHANGING EARTH; EXPLORE THE UNIVERSE; MOONS: WORLDS OF MYSTERY; UNDISCOVERED WORLDS: THE SEARCH BEYOND OUR SUN; THE BEYONCE EXPERIENCE; THE FLEETWOOD MAC EXPERIENCE; PINK FLOYD: THE WALL; THE PRINCE EXPERIENCE; THE RADIOHEAD EXPERIENCE IMAX FILMS INCLUDED: ANCIENT CAVES; BACK FROM THE BRINK: SAVED FROM EXTINCTION; ROCKY MOUNTAIN EXPRESS; SUPERPOWER DOGS. OMNI SCI-FI FILMS: DUNE; MATRIX: RESURRECTIONS 4D THEATER FILMS INCLUDED: SHARKS: A 4-D EXPERIENCE; ICE WORLDS: 4D; PENGUINS: 4D; POLAR EXPRESS: 4D; SPLASH & BUBBLES: 4D; THOMAS: 4D (465,900 THEATER VISITORS SERVED)
  4. $6.3 million spent. SERVICES PROVIDED PRIMARILY FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR MEMBERS INCLUDE OUR PARKING FACILITY, MEMBERSHIP OFFICE, AND GIFT SHOP. (32,885 MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS)
  5. $5.7 million spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE FIELD TRIPS PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOL GROUPS, CURRICULUM MATERIALS UNDER OUR EIE. THE MUSEUM IS PART OF AN AWARD-WINNING DIVISION, EIE, THAT DEVELOPS FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) SUBJECTS FOR ALL STUDENTS. THE RESEARCH-BASED, HANDS-ON CURRICULA ARE DESIGNED TO BEST INNOVATE FOR THE REALITY OF TODAY'S EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE AND TO ENGAGE ALL STUDENTS. RECENTLY MOS PARTNERED WITH KAHOOT TO CREATE EXCITING, ENGAGING AND FUN LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR LEARNERS GRADES 1-8. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, EIE HAS REACHED AN ESTIMATED 20 MILLION STUDENTS AND 200,000 EDUCATORS IN ALL 50 STATES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1993.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.