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Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts

EIN 25-1724566 · Harrisburg, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak28 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CREATE A SPACE IN OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCES THAT CELEBRATE THE JOY OF DISCOVERY AND ENTERTAINMENT.

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
-1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 32%
Employees
76
Volunteers
54
Highest pay
$235,780, president & ceo

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: 28 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 42% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 39 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 26 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

    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 (5)
  1. $946,244 spent. SCIENCE CENTER - WITH TWO FLOORS OF IMAGINATIVE, ENGAGING EXHIBITS, THE SCIENCE CENTER IS AN IRRESISTIBLE INVITATION TO EXPLORE THE SCIENCES, PERFORM EXPERIMENTS, AND DISCOVER MORE ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND YOU. FROM KIDSPLACE - A KID-SIZED CITYSCAPE FOR CHILDREN AGES 5 AND UNDER - TO FORCES OF NATURE - A MIND-BLOWING EXAMINATION OF HOW WEATHER AND GEOLOGY AFFECT PLANET EARTH - THERE IS SOMETHING FOR CURIOUS MINDS OF ALL AGES. A MIXTURE OF PERMANENT AND SEASONAL TRAVELING SCIENCE EXHIBITS, WORKSHOPS, AND PROGRAMS ALL COMBINE TO MAKE A VISIT TO THE SCIENCE CENTER AN EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE CLEVERLY DISGUISED AS A WHOLE LOT OF FUN.
  2. $1.2 million spent. PERFORMING ARTS THEATRE- EXPERIENCE THE INTIMACY AND IMPACT OF LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AT CENTRAL PA'S FINEST PERFORMANCE VENUE. OUTSTANDING ACOUSTICS, BEAUTIFUL DECOR, AND OVER 600 COMFORTABLE SEATS- EACH WITH AN UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW NEVER MORE THAN 65 FEET FROM THE STAGE- MAKE WHITAKER CENTER THE PERFECT SPACE FOR LIVE MUSIC, THEATER, DANCE AND MORE. WHITAKER CENTER HOSTS EVERYTHING FROM NATIONALLY TOURING ACTS TO LOCAL RESIDENT COMPANIES, JAZZ TO CLASSICAL TO FOLK, OPERA TO BALLET TO MUSICAL COMEDY. FROM MONTH TO MONTH AND YEAR TO YEAR YOU NEVER KNOW WHO WILL BE GRACING OUR BROADWAY-STYLE STAGE. BUT YOU CAN BE SURE THEY WILL CREATE AN UNFORGETTABLE GUEST EXPERIENCE.
  3. $207,420 spent. DIGITAL CINEMA - YOU HAVEN'T SEEN A MOVIE UNTIL YOU'VE SEEN A DIGITAL CINEMA MOVIE. CENTRAL PA'S BIGGEST SCREEN TURNS ANY MOVIE INTO A TOTAL IMMERSION EXPERIENCE. THE SCREEN ITSELF IS 38 FEET HIGH AND 70 FEET WIDE. THAT'S A FULL FOUR STORIES TALL. THE POWERFUL 6-CHANNEL, 16,000 WATT SURROUND SOUND SYSTEM MAKES EVERY FILM SOUND AS BIG AS IT LOOKS. FROM UNDER THE SEA TO OUTER SPACE, EDUCATIONAL FILMS TO HOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTERS, 2D TO STATE-OF-THE-ART 3D, DIGITAL CINEMA MAKES EVERY MOVIE EXPERIENCE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER.
  4. $104,652 spent. INNOVATION ZONE - A FIRST OF ITS KIND PURPOSEFUL GAMING STUDIO IN A STATE OF THE ART SPACE THAT ENGAGES TODAY'S YOUTH IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, AND DEEPER ENGAGEMENT FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. WHITAKER CENTER IS COMMITTED TO BREAKING BOUNDARIES AND MAKING STEM EDUCATION AND PROGRAMMING ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE AND BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE THAT EXISTS WITH UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
  5. $51,015 spent. FACILITY RENTALWHITAKER CENTER PROVIDES A VIBRANT BACKDROP FOR CORPORATE MEETINGS, RECEPTIONS, DINNERS, PRIVATE FILM SCREENINGS AND MORE. RENTALS OF SUNOCO PERFORMANCE THEATER, UPMC SCIENCE CENTER, SELECT MEDICAL DIGITAL CINEMA, PNC INNOVATION ZONE, AMP OR KUNKEL LOBBY AND THE ENTIRE 140,000 SQ FT FACILITY ARE AVAILABLE.

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 March 1994.

    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.