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Connecticut Science Center Inc

EIN 06-1538101 · Hartford, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DEDICATED TO INSPIRING LIFE-LONG LEARNING THROUGH INTERACTIVE AND INNOVATIVE EXPERIENCES THAT EXPLORE OUR CHANGING WORLD THROUGH SCIENCE

Income
$12.7 million
Spending
$12.5 million
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
13.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 45%
Employees
106
Volunteers
46
Highest pay
$406,177, president and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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

    40 of 41 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, 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 (2)
  1. $7.7 million spent. PUBLIC AUDIENCES SERVEDTHE CONNECTICUT SCIENCE CENTER MAINTAINED ITS PROGRESSIVE RECOVERY FROM THE PANDEMIC IN 2025, REBUILDING ATTENDANCE AND REACH WHILE INCREASING SERVICE, EARNED AND DONATED REVENUES ON PACE WITH A MULTI-YEAR RECOVERY PLAN. THE SCIENCE CENTER CONTINUED TO ENHANCE ITS OFFERINGS BY PRESENTING THE SCIENCE BEHIND PIXAR TRAVELLING EXHIBIT IN THE SPRING/SUMMER AND THE FOREST OF ILLUSIONS EXHIBIT IN THE FALL WITH ENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSE. IN 2025, 210,000 PEOPLE VISITED THE SCIENCE CENTER AND ANOTHER 33,000 WERE SERVED ACROSS THE STATE THROUGH OUTREACH PROGRAMS. THE SCIENCE CENTER ENGAGED NEARLY 47,000 OF ITS VISITORS IN STEM CAREER AWARENESS PROGRAMS.THE SCIENCE CENTER IMPLEMENTED THE THIRD YEAR OF A 10-YEAR STRATEGIC VISION WITH INTEGRATED IN-PERSON AND ONLINE EXPERIENCES EXPLORING THE STEM TOPICS, ISSUES, AND CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME. THE SCIENCE CENTER CONTINUED TO RAISE PRIVATE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE STRATEGIC VISION.
  2. $295,163 spent. SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERSTHE SCIENCE CENTER'S DEEP ENGAGEMENTS WITH MULTIPLE SCHOOLS SUPPORTED INCREASED STANDARDIZED TEST RESULTS AMONG THEIR 5TH GRADE STUDENTS. MORE THAN 340 TEACHERS PARTICIPATED IN THE SCIENCE CENTER'S PROFESSIONAL COACHING AND LEARNING SESSIONS THAT ARE ALIGNED WITH THE NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS (NGSS)AND SUPPORTIVE TO MEET EDUCATORS' NEEDS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 October 1999.

    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.

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