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Akron Fossils & Science Center

EIN 20-2545942 · Copley, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Akron Fossils & Science Center exists to provide visitors of all ages with balanced, affordable, and hands-on educational oppotunities to explore the science of the world past, present, and future. One segment of our center explores creation science education.

Income
$288,481
Spending
$276,970
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 76%
Employees
29
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$40,461, 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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 (4)
  1. $49,326 spent. All other educational programs. This can include guest lecturers, who are leading scientists in their field. The center also hosts birthday parties for children which are science based including Jungle Jamboree, Getting Dusty Digging for Dinos, Amazing Astronomy, and Wacky Mad Science. The center hosted 480 children at birthday parties in 2024. We also offer overnight lock-ins and adventure trips.
  2. $46,512 spent. We offer science classes primarily for homeschool groups in biology, physics, astronomy, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and botany. These classes meet once a week for 28 weeks for students in K-12th grade. Particiants can pick individual classes or enroll in multiple classes for an all day bundle. We also offer custom group classes and family classes as well. 105 students were enrolled in our science classes in 2024.
  3. $36,263 spent. We provide summer hands-on science camps for children in K-8th grade. These include dinosaur adventure camp, wacky science camp, space exploration camp, creature feature camp, crime scene investigator camp, and STEAM (exciting electricity) camp. 265 children were enrolled in our camps in 2024.
  4. $35,625 spent. Our science center provides guests with hands-on guided tours and science activities. We have exhibits that display fossils, and visitors can hold real fossils, as well as make and take home replicas. We also have live animals that can also be touched and held. We have a 4500 sq ft museum and 2 acre outdoor adventure park. Our creation science museum is dedicated to comparing and contrasting scientific models like intelligent design and evolution on the origin of the universe, and catastrophism and uniformitarianism modesl on the geologic record. Multiple views on the topics are provided. 5,425 people attended our science center and museum in 2024.

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 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 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 October 2005.

    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.