Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Earthplace the Nature Discovery Center Inc

EIN 06-0740523 · Westport, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DEDICATED TO NATURE DISCOVERY AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING THROUGH EDUCATION, CONSERVATION AND SCIENCE.

Income
$4.1 million
Spending
$3.9 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 54%
Employees
110
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$181,990, executive director

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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 (8)
  1. $1.5 million spent. EARTHPLACE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE A PRESCHOOL THAT IS NATIONALLY ACCREDITED BY NAEYC AND IS LICENSED BY THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT SERVING CHILDREN AGED ZERO THROUGH FIVE INCLUDING A FULL-TIME PROGRAM FOR WORKING PARENTS. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE A NURSERY, TODDLER PLAY GROUP, AND STORY TIMES WITH LIVE ANIMALS. THE EDUCATORS AT EARTHPLACE BELIEVE THAT CHILDRENS NATURAL CURIOSITY MOTIVATES THEM TO EXPLORE AND INVESTIGATE BOTH THE CLASSROOM AND OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTS. OUTDOORS, THE STUDENTS PLAY ON THE NATURE-THEMED PLAYGROUND, WALK ON THE TRAILS, INVESTIGATE THE 62 ACRE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY AND VISIT THE OUTDOOR BIRDS OF PREY. ANIMALS IN THE EARTHPLACE TEACHING COLLECTION ARE ALSO BROUGHT INTO THE CLASSROOMS EACH WEEK BY THE NATURALISTS.
  2. $398,372 spent. THE HARBOR WATCH WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM WAS FOUNDED IN 1986. SINCE THEN, IT HAS GROWN TO INCLUDE A STATE CERTIFIED WATER QUALITY LABORATORY, THREE RESEARCH VEHICLES, AND AN AWARD WINNING REPUTATION. ITS FIELD AND LAB WORK FOLLOWS EPA APPROVED QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLANS. THE GOAL OF HARBOR WATCH IS TO: PROVIDE THE PEOPLE OF CONNECTICUT WITH THE DATA, KNOWLEDGE, AND FIELD EXPERTISE NECESSARY TO SAFEGUARD OUR WATERWAYS, EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITIES ABOUT WATERSHED ISSUES, AND TRAIN VOLUNTEERS AND STUDENT INTERNS THROUGH HANDS-ON RESEARCH. HARBOR WATCH HAS STEADILY EXPANDED ITS GEOGRAPHY FROM LONG ISLAND SOUND TO RIDGEFIELD, AND GREENWICH TO STRATFORD, WORKING WITH TOWN PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS TO HELP PINPOINT THE SOURCE OF SEWAGE LEAKS. FUNDING FOR THE HARBOR WATCH PROGRAM CONSISTS MOSTLY OF GRANTS, CORPORATE FOUNDATIONS AND DONATIONS.
  3. $242,525 spent. AT EARTHPLACE SUMMER CAMP, WE WELCOME CAMPERS OF ALL ABILITIES FROM AGES 2-15. ALL ENJOY AN UNSPOILED, NATURAL SETTINGON THE TRAILS, BY THE POND, IN THE FIELDS, OR UNDER THE SHADE OF OUR PINE GROVE. CAMPS RUN IN WEEKLY SESSIONS FROM MID-JUNE THROUGH MID-AUGUST. OUR STAFF IS TRAINED TO ENSURE A SAFE AND FUN SUMMER FILLED WITH ADVENTURE, FRIENDSHIPS, AND PLENTY OF FRESH AIR. WITH ENGAGED STAFF AND A TON OF ROTATING NATURE-BASED ACTIVITIES, EACH WEEK IS SURE TO BE A NEW AND EXCITING EXPERIENCE FOR EVEN THE MOST FREQUENT CAMPER.
  4. $200,000 spent. OTHER PROG
  5. $200,000 spent. OTHER PROG
  6. $200,000 spent. OTHER PROGRAM
  7. $200,000 spent. OTHER PROG
  8. $154,062 spent. OTHER PROG

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 November 1959.

    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.