Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Rediscover Center Inc

EIN 20-0192617 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak34 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

REDISCOVER WAS FOUNDED IN 2002 AND INCORPORATED IN 2004 TO IMPROVE CHILDREN'S ART EDUCATION BY USING RECYCLED MATERIALS. REDISCOVER HAS OPERATED THE REDISCOVER CENTER IN VENICE, A 3,000 SF PUBLIC YOUTH MAKERSPACE. MAKERSPACES ARE SHARED FACILITIES STOCKED WITH TOOLS AND MATERIALS WHERE PARTICIPANTS CAN LEARN, MAKE, AND SHARE THEIR PROJECTS AND EXPERTISE. WE PROVIDE MAKERSPACE SERVICES AND HANDS-ON STEAM CLASSES, CAMPS, FIELD TRIPS, EXHIBITS, FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES, AND DISTANCE LEARNING RESOURCES. THESE PROGRAMS SERVE K-8 STUDENTS THROUGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS, YOUTH AGES 5-15 THROUGH WORKSHOPS AND PROGRAMS AT OUR MAKERSPACE, AND YOUTH AND ADULTS IN COMMUNITY PROGRAMS SUCH AS CARDBOARD CITY AND FREE ART ACTIVITIES AT FARMERS MARKETS.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 71%
Employees
35
Volunteers
52
Highest pay
$104,613, executive director

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

Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (1)
  1. $1.3 million spent. STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS CONDUCTED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ABOUT TINKERING, ART AND SUSTAINABLITY AT THE CENTER, AT REDISCOVER CLASSES AND EVENTS THROUGHOUT LOS ANGELES AND ONLINE. REDISCOVER CENTER DIVERTED MATERIALS FROM LANDFILLS WHILE EDUCATING BUSINESSES ABOUT CREATIVELY REUSING THEIR EXCESS MATERIALS AND INCORPORATING THEM INTO ART, TINKERING AND OTHER CURRICULAR USES. REUSED MATERIALS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO SCHOOLS, INSTITUTIONS, ARTISTS, AND FAMILIES FOR ARTISTIC AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.

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

  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 November 6, 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 2024.

    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 January 2004.

    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 November 4, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Rediscover (Lees Summit, MO), EIN 23-7169417. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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