Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Science History Institute

EIN 22-2817365 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak42 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EXPAND KNOWLEDGE AND CHALLENGE PERSPECTIVES IN THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE, REVEAL HOW THE SCIENTIFIC PAST IS EMBEDDED IN OUR DAILY LIVES, AND CATALYZE THE REIMAGINING OF OUR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL FUTURE

Income
$9.3 million
Spending
$9.3 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
-10.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
88
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$472,859, president & chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (science, $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 47% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 25

    19 of 19 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 June 30, 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 (4)
  1. $1.2 million spent. BECKMAN CENTER: THE ARNOLD AND MABEL BECKMAN CENTER FOR THE HISTORY OF CHEMISTRY SUPPORTS A DYNAMIC COMMUNITY OF RESEARCHERS DOING RESEARCH IN THE HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES OF CHEMISTRY AND RELATED SCIENCES, TECHNOLOGIES, AND INDUSTRIES USING THE INSTITUTE'S COLLECTIONS. IT IS ALSO HOME TO ASSOCIATED SCHOLARLY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE, A PUBLIC LECTURE SERIES, WRITING WORKSHOPS, A BOOK SERIES, AND A NETWORK OF OVER 250 ALUMNI.THE BECKMAN CENTER OFFERS SEVERAL FELLOWSHIP TYPES: CURATORIAL FELLOWSHIPS (2 YEARS), POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS (12 MONTHS), DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIPS (9 MONTHS), SHORT-TERM FELLOWSHIPS (1-4 MONTHS), AND DISTINGUISHED FELLOWSHIPS (4 MONTHS).
  2. $1.5 million spent. MUSEUM: SCIENCE IS ALL AROUND US. IT SHAPES WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO, FROM THE CLOTHES WE WEAR AND THE PHONES WE CARRY, TO THE FOOD WE EAT AND THE WATER WE DRINK. BUT SCIENCE HAS A PAST-A RICH AND OFTEN SURPRISING PAST THAT REVEALS THE ORIGINS OF IDEAS AND INNOVATIONS THAT IMPACT OUR DAILY LIVES. AT OUR MUSEUM, WHICH IS FREE, YOU CAN EXPLORE THE AMAZING SUCCESSES, ASTONISHING FAILURES, AND STRANGE SURPRISES BEHIND THE SCIENCE THAT SHAPES OUR WORLD. RECENT EXHIBITIONS INCLUDE LUNCHTIME: THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE ON THE SCHOOL FOOD TRAY, WHICH OFFERS A NOVEL HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE ON EFFORTS TO FEED CHILDREN IN U.S. SCHOOLS, AND EARTHLY MATTERS, A NEW PERMANENT EXHIBITION INSTALLED IN THE LOBBY FEATURING A COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 20 MINERALS RECENTLY DONATED TO THE INSTITUTE.
  3. $1.1 million spent. DIGITAL CONTENT: IN OUR DISTILLATIONS DIGITAL CONTENT, WE REVEAL SCIENCE'S ROLE IN A COMPLICATED, EVER-CHANGING, AND OFTEN STRANGE WORLD. WE ARE STORYTELLERS WHO TAP INTO THE WORK OF HISTORIANS AND OTHER RESEARCHERS TO PRODUCE ARTICLES, PODCASTS, AND VIDEOS THAT UNCOVER HIDDEN STORIES AND SEEK NEW PERSPECTIVES ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. WITH THE HELP OF THE SCIENCE HISTORY INSTITUTE'S UNIQUE COLLECTIONS, WE CHRONICLE THE POWERFUL INFLUENCE OF SCIENCE ON OUR PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.
  4. $3.2 million spent. VARIOUS PROGRAMS TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF SCIENCE HISTORY INSTITUTE AND TO FOSTER DIALOGUE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN SOCIETY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 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 July 1987.

    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.

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.