Shared Science
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Create, deliver, advocate for STEM learning for children
- Income
- $228,242
- Spending
- $190,230
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 13.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 54%
- Employees
- 21
- Highest pay
- $6,824, ceo & instr
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 39% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 18 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
0 of 5Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 (1)
- $182,854 spent. Shared Science was established as a nonprofit in 2009 for the educational and charitable purpose of creating and delivering STEM learning opportunities to school-aged children (K-12). We intervene on a local level, focusing on the Long Beach metro area and 65,500 LBUSD students. During our 16th year as an organization, FY2024-2025, our in-school and after-school programs were delivered at 42 area sites. Our newest sites included: Garfield, Lincoln, Madison, Oropeza, Willard, Birney, Days Long Beach, and Girl Scouts. We served over 3,078 participants, of which 1,511 were girls (20% increase over last FY), and we were able to provide 1,180 scholarships.The earlier students are introduced to the language of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, in a fun and creative environment, the more likely their comfort with these topics as they become more complex. Our programs are designed to encourage students to continue a lifelong pursuit that utilizes their STEM education. We keep session fees low and offer scholarships so that our programs are accessible. As a nonprofit, we bring together funding and equipment resources, identify gifted engineers and instructors, tailor the best curriculum available, and then bundle it all together to benefit and captivate the imaginations of young students. Our mission is to build on childrens science, technology, engineering, and mathematics learning experiences through constructive, creative, and playful programs, while fostering learning communities.Shared Science provided in-school STEM lab program for students at two sites: Patrick Henry Elementary, Emerson Parkside Academy, and Robotics STEM lab at Newcomb Academy Shared Science provided after-school STEM enrichment to six schools in Lawndale Elementary School DistrictContinued collaborations with Boys and Girls Clubs of Long Beach, Salvation Army, LBUSD WRAP, Young Horizons, Days Long BeachDeveloped all new hands-on curriculum activities for in-school K-5 STEM edIncreased outreach and visibility by adding social media followers across Facebook, Instagram, Blue Sky, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TickTokDelivered Robo-Tech Festival Showcase 2025 at Smith Elementary and hands-on Tech Girls Workshop 2025 at Salvation Army Red ShieldParticipated in community-wide fund and friend-raising campaign, Long Beach Gives for the 7th yearPROGRAMS WE OFFERED: EARLY ENGINEERING students (K-5) build and test LEGO simple machine models, focusing on how work is accomplished. CREATIVE COMPUTING students (2-8) learn computer programming concepts while building simple games and animations. MAKE-It FUN! students (1-5) learn basic circuitry design, maker tinkering, and how to add their own creative flair to their builds. EARLY ROBOTICS students (2-5) use the LEGO WeDo, KUBO, Sphero Indi, and Ozobot platforms and an iPad interface to learn drag and drop coding. RAD-ROBOTICS students (4-8) use the LEGO EV3 Mindstorms robotics platforms. ELEMENTARY ROBOTICS PROGRAM site students (4-5) learn/prep alongside their teachers to compete in an annual robotics showcase event. FIRST LEGO LEAGUE EXPLORER TEAM members (1-3) participate in an annual robotics showcase event. FIRST LEGO LEAGUE CHALLENGE TEAM members (4-8) compete in an annual regional robotics competition. FIRST ROBOTICS COMPETITION TEAM members (9-12) build a human-sized robot to compete in an annual regional robotics competition. GOVERNANCE: Shared Science believes that ALL students should have access to learning opportunities that help them explore their interest in engineering, science, technology, mathematics, and the arts. Towards that vision, we have an active, working board that bolsters our part-time staff. In our current formation, each board member brings unique skills and connections to our organization, helping with instruction, raising funds, participating in STEM ed advocacy, as well as introducing potential new collaborative partners, and strategic planning. Some board members are working teachers and engineers, some are professionals in the non-profit world.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, 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 August 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 August 2010.
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.