The National Center for Science Education Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The National Center for Science Education (NCSE) is a not-for-profit organization that helps ensure students across the country receive an accurate and effective evolution and climate science education. We do this by supporting teachers with resources and best teaching practices; by monitoring and mobilizing against efforts to undermine science education, whether at the statehouse or in the classroom; and by engaging in research to understand, maintain, and improve science education. NCSE's supporters are scientists, teachers, and citizens with diverse political affiliations.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- 21 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $173,331, executive dir.
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
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 21.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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 68% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $557,931 spent. Science Education Outreach: Our Science Education Outreach program worked to provide professional development opportunities to teachers around the country focused on its new curriculum, Story Shorts, which are modular, flexible standards-aligned units of practice, and on its new "Teacher Toolkit" resources designed to guide teachers towards improved pedagogical practices. (continued at Schedule O) Science Education Outreach - (continued from page 2) NCSE staff presented at large-scale conferences hosted by groups such as the National Association of Biology Teachers, as well as at the local school and district level. In 2024, the SEO team led professional development sessions at 14 local school districts, 11 state conferences, and 5 national conferences. In all, the team worked in 14 states with over 1,800 teachers. The program also launched an innovative professional development model called My COAST (Climate-Oriented Authentic Science Teaching) in which NCSE partners with local institutions to provide an immersive, hands-on experience for teachers on the impacts of climate change on coastal ecosystems. The Science Education Outreach program also continued to send its monthly educator newsletter with resources and other items of interest to more than 6,000 subscribers.
- $255,240 spent. Communications: NCSE is the go-to source for the public generally, and the news media in particular, for up-to-date information on threats to the integrity of the science classroom and proactive solutions to helping students better understand climate science and evolution. In 2024, we ramped up our social media and video production efforts. (continued at Schedule O.) Communications - (continued from page 2) We began a presence on TikTok and Bluesky and increased our presence on Instagram, all with the purpose of increasing awareness of our organization. We also began developing more video content for use on social media and on our YouTube channel. We continued to send our monthly e-newsletter, which had a subscriber list of about 25,000. We also email a quarterly digital publication to our supporters, Reports of the National Center for Science Education. The high-production, 16-page PDF includes news about our programs, our members, and other articles of interest. NCSE's work was featured in external media such as Forbes, Science, Scientific American, and The New York Times.
- $139,157 spent. Investigating Science Education: In 2024, the Investigating Science Education program conducted a nationally representative survey of public school science educators addressing not only evolution and climate change but also the nature of science, published an article on changes in climate change education at the middle school level in a peer-reviewed academic journal, and published two articles in collaboration with a team of outside researchers on evolution acceptance and attitudes toward science and technology.
- $122,970 spent. Catalyzing Action: Our longest-tenured program, Catalyzing Action monitors state and local actions affecting science education and is the go-to source for the public generally, and the news media in particular, for up-to-date information on threats to the integrity of the science classroom. By providing advice, resources, and connections, NCSE has developed a proven track record of success in helping students, parents, administrators, and concerned citizens block threats to accurate evolution and climate education. In 2024, NCSE helped defeat antiscience bills in 5 states and rallied support for quality state science standards and textbooks in 4 states.
- In 2024, our core programs continued to work towards fulfilling our mission of ensuring an accurate and effective evolution and climate science education for all students in the nation.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1983.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.