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Rochester Museum and Science Center

EIN 16-0794131 · Rochester, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ROCHESTER MUSEUM AND SCIENCE CENTER IS TO CREATE A BETTER WORLD THROUGH INSPIRING CURIOSITY, EXPLORATION, AND ENGAGEMENT ACROSS HISTORY, SCIENCE, CULTURE, AND THE NATURAL WORLD.

Income
$9.3 million
Spending
$9.8 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 34%
Employees
233
Volunteers
940
Highest pay
$224,158, president/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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 22 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 (3)
  1. $3.8 million spent. IN 2025, THE RMSC GENERATED ESSENTIAL ADMISSION REVENUE BY WELCOMING OVER 160,000 VISITORS ACROSS ITS PRIMARY EDUCATIONAL CAMPUSES, INCLUDING THE MUSEUM & SCIENCE CENTER, THE STRASENBURGH PLANETARIUM, AND THE CUMMING NATURE CENTER. ADMISSION REVENUES DIRECTLY SUPPORTED THE DAILY OPERATION, MAINTENANCE, AND PUBLIC ACCESSIBILITY OF THESE CIVIC ASSETS. LEVERAGED ALONGSIDE VITAL CORPORATE, FOUNDATIONAL, INDIVIDUAL, AND MUNICIPAL SUPPORT, THESE EARNED REVENUE STREAMS PROVIDED THE FINANCIAL FOUNDATION REQUIRED TO SUSTAIN YEAR-ROUND OPERATIONS ACROSS ALL THREE REGIONAL LOCATIONS.
  2. $3.7 million spent. RMSC PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE STEAM AND CULTURAL PROGRAMMING FOR STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND LIFELONG LEARNERS. IN 2025, PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDED SERVING NEARLY 50,000 STUDENTS VIA MULTI-CAMPUS FIELD TRIPS AND OVER 10,000 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH OFF-SITE COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH. ITS SIGNATURE CURIOSITY CAMPS DELIVERED SPECIALIZED BREAK- AND SUMMER-INSTRUCTION FOR YOUTH AGES 3 TO 15, UTILIZING MUSEUM, PLANETARIUM, AND NATURE CENTER ASSETS TO ACHIEVE RECORD ENROLLMENT OF OVER 3,600 CAMPERS. PROGRAM OFFERINGS SPANNED OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, LECTURES, SCOUT WORKSHOPS, BIRTHDAY PARTIES, PUBLIC CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS, AND SIGNATURE EVENTS.
  3. $931,372 spent. THE RMSC MAINTAINS WESTERN NEW YORK'S MOST DIVERSE ARRAY OF HISTORICAL AND SCIENTIFIC EXHIBITS, UTILIZING A UNIQUE HYBRID MODEL THAT BLENDS A 1.2 MILLION-OBJECT PERMANENT COLLECTION WITH IMMERSIVE INTERACTIVE ENVIRONMENTS. MAJOR PHYSICAL EXHIBITS AND PUBLIC ATTRACTIONS INCLUDE THE WORLD'S MOST COMPREHENSIVE HAUDENOSAUNEE COLLECTION; REGIONAL HISTORY DISPLAYS HIGHLIGHTING FREDERICK DOUGLASS AND SUSAN B. ANTHONY; THE MUSICAL TWIN TESLA COIL ELECTRICITY THEATER; AND NATURAL HISTORY DISPLAYS SPANNING 435 MILLION YEARS. PUBLIC OFFERINGS ARE FURTHER EXTENDED THROUGH A PLANETARIUM FEATURING A CUTTING-EDGE, FULL-DOME DIGITAL VISUALIZATION SYSTEM PROJECTING THROUGH ROCHESTER-MADE NAVITAR LENSES, AS WELL AS AN ACTIVE BEAVER POND WITH AN OUTDOOR OBSERVATION DECK AND 12 MILES OF INTERPRETIVE, EDUCATIONAL TRAILS AT THE CUMMING NATURE CENTER.

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 September 1952.

    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.