University City Science Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Science Center is an innovation intermediary, working at the intersection of startups, health and science, and community. Our work advances economic growth locally and healthcare innovation globally.
- Income
- $20.8 million
- Spending
- $23.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 56%
- Reserves
- 46.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 56%
- Employees
- 68
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $565,883, president & ceo
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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 46.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1556% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2524 of 25 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 (3)
- $8.3 million spent. Innovation Campus In 1963 the Science Center was built on the foundation of real estate at a time when labs and research facilities were needed for cross disciplinary and cross-institutional collaborations. Our focus on providing researchers and entrepreneurs with the resources to advance the commercialization of their technologies hasn't changed over the last 60 years. The way we serve them has evolved with the changing needs of the ecosystem and now includes a combination of physical space and programs to advance health and science innovation. Today, the Science Center owns laboratory and office space within the larger uCity Square campus developed in partnership with Wexford Science + Technology and Ventas, Inc. Additionally, the Science Center operates Quorum, a 15,000 square foot conference center and community space for Greater Philadelphia's innovation community. Quorum's two-pronged approach to convening includes a free 5,000 square foot drop-in lounge serving as an open workspace and informal meeting location and a 10,000 square foot meeting facility available to rent. In 2024, Quorum attracted over 14,000 participants to over 250 meetings and events. Since Quorum's inception in 2011, over 200,000 visitors have joined over 2,000 events on a wide array of business-related topics. uCity Square is a partnership that includes Wexford and Ventas and consists of 27 acres, 20 buildings, 200+ companies and over 15,000 people.
- $1.6 million spent. FirstHand STEM Education FirstHand The Science Center's FirstHand STEM education program offers free year-round, project-based learning experiences for middle and high school students in Philadelphia. Based out of a dedicated lab within uCity Square's innovation ecosystem, FirstHand's industry-informed curricula provides hands-on learning to see themselves as STEM enthusiasts and open their eyes to a breadth of STEM careers. Since the program launched in 2014, 2,867 middle and high school students from 107 schools across Philadelphia have been supported through multiweek programming. In 2024, FirstHand supported 345 students from 51 Philadelphia middle and high schools and engaged 121 mentors from 31 life sciences and healthcare companies.
- $3.2 million spent. COMMERCIALIZATION: Startup Support Programs Science Center startup support programs are focused on derisking health tech and life sciences startups with an emphasis on commercialization, customer discovery, and stakeholder engagement. This support creates a more direct path from innovation to market adoption and ultimately greater impact for the economy locally and healthcare globally. In 2024, the Science Center supported 63 founders and 57 startups who raised over $13.5M. Ninety percent of startup founders were undercapitalized (undercapitalized includes female, LGBTQ+, Race & Ethnicity other than White & Caucasian, disabled, served in the armed forces, low income, first-generation graduate, immigrant, and first-generation U.S. citizens - or a combination of those). Founders Fellowship The Founders Fellowship is designed to support emerging life sciences entrepreneurs focused on solutions for aging/Alzheimer's. The Fellows are embedded at the Science Center for 12 months with the first six working alongside startup companies to learn the fundamentals of running a business. The second six months give the Fellows an opportunity to apply those lessons learned when transforming their research into reality and developing a pathway to market. In 2024, the Science Center completed the second cohort, supporting four fellows, launched the third cohort of five fellows, and engaged 40 mentors and subject matter experts to enrich the fellows' understanding of entrepreneurship and the aging population. Each fellow receives a $50K stipend, access to lab space, and 12-months of business building support from the Science Center's vast network of subject matter experts. Capital Readiness Program The Capital Readiness Program helps health tech founders pursuing their first round of institutional investment confidently navigate the fundraising process. Over the course of a week, 10 startups undergo a due diligence deep divecovering financial, legal, technical, and operational considerations while sharpening their leadership skills. Startups receive direct feedback from active investors and healthcare stakeholders. In 2024, the Science Center successfully ran three Capital Readiness Program cohorts supporting 30 companies from around the world, convening 14 Investors-in-Residence and 22 subject matter experts. The March 2024 and June 2024 cohorts raised a total of $13.5M in 2024. To date, the Capital Readiness Program has supported 80 companies who have raised over $38M and attracted 29 investors to Philadelphia. SBIR/STTR Support In 2024 the Science Center doubled down on connecting entrepreneurs and startups with non-dilutive funding opportunities. SBIR/STTR webinars and in-person workshops focused on crafting competitive proposals tailored to the NIH's unique requirements and the Science Center's Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) services were introduced to support awardees with commercialization, marketing, and legal guidance. This tailored mentorship and strategic guidance empowers founders to identify and pursue not just any funding source, but the right funding opportunities. In 2024 the Science Center attracted over 50 attendees to two SBIR/STTR 101 webinars and two in-person intensive workshops. U.S. Market Access Program The US Market Access Program enables companies to get a foothold in the US healthcare market. In 2024 the Science Center continued its focus on cultivating top Israeli health technology startups for commercialization in the U.S. The Science Center partnered with Startup Nation Central to support 22 vetted Israeli startups with curriculum and connections related to U.S. investment, clinical trials and pilots, and stakeholder engagement. The Science Center has supported over 50 global companies since 2022 who have gone on to raise over $80M since participating in the U.S. Market Access Program, the majority of which have active ties to the U.S. market, including clinical trials, pilots, revenue-generating contracts, U.S. investors, and/or U.S.-based advisors or team members. Trend Weeks Science Center Trend Weeks provide a structured environment for key decision-makers in the healthcare sector to establish and strengthen relationships. Each Trend week focuses on a timely topic and consists of a curated Think Tank and Salon Dinner. These gatherings bring together diverse perspectives and generate meaningful conversation and actionable solutions. Trend Weeks engaged more than 200 local and national healthcare stakeholders around topics including Harnessing Technology for Greater Accessibility, Advancing Care Beyond Boundaries and Scalable Solutions that reach everyone quickly. Venture Cafe Philadelphia Part of the Venture Cafe Global Network, Venture Cafe Philadelphia connects a community of innovators through free, high-impact programming focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. The bi-weekly events regularly draw a diverse group of stakeholders across the Greater Philadelphia ecosystem. In 2024, Venture Cafe attracted 1,600 visitors and engaged over 70 speakers. Since it launched in 2019, Venture Cafe has attracted 34,000 participants to close to 300 Thursday Gatherings.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1966.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.