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The Kentucky Science Center Inc

EIN 31-1005850 · Louisville, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO INSPIRE CURIOSITY AND EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO EXPLORE AND EXPERIMENT WITH SCIENCE IN ALL ITS FORMS. WE EMBRACE A "DO SCIENCE" PHILOSOPHY: PLAY, TINKER, COLLABORATE, TEST, EXPERIMENT, LEARN FROM MISTAKES, AND TRY AGAIN. KENTUCKY SCIENCE CENTER PROVIDES A NEUTRAL SPACE TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SCIENCE, FOSTERING CURIOSITY AND COLLABORATION ACROSS GENERATIONS AND BACKGROUNDS.WE BELIEVE SCIENCE MATTERS. IT EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS, STRENGTHENS COMMUNITIES, AND FUELS THE WORKFORCE OF TOMORROW. STEAM SKILLS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR FACING THE CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY, AND SCIENCE LITERACY CREATES A FOUNDATION FOR LIFELONG LEARNING AND A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE. BY MAKING SCIENCE PERSONAL, PARTICIPATORY, AND FUN, KENTUCKY SCIENCE CENTER ENSURES THAT CURIOSITY HAS NO LIMITS.

Income
$6.2 million
Spending
$6.6 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 67%
Employees
192
Volunteers
96
Highest pay
$225,005, 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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    36 of 36 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 (3)
  1. $3.0 million spent. EXHIBITS & FLAGSHIP - THE KENTUCKY SCIENCE CENTER WAS NAMED THE STATE SCIENCE CENTER OF KENTUCKY BY THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN 2002 AND ACTIVELY SERVES INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH AND INDIANA. IN 2025, KENTUCKY SCIENCE CENTER IMPACTED 100% OF KENTUCKY COUNTIES AND 93% OF INDIANA COUNTIES. IT IS THE LARGEST HANDS-ON SCIENCE CENTER IN KENTUCKY WITH INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS AND ACTIVITY STATIONS, A LARGE-FORMAT THEATER EXPERIENCE WITH A SCREEN THAT EXTENDS FOUR STORIES HIGH, TEACHING LABORATORIES, ON- AND OFF-SITE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, PULSE OF SURGERY (OPEN HEART SURGERY) PROGRAM, AND DISTANCE LEARNING CAPABILITIES. THE KENTUCKY SCIENCE CENTER FEATURES INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS AND ENGAGING PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT FAMILIES, ADULTS, SCHOOLS, AND BUSINESSES.
  2. $1.5 million spent. ONSITE EDUCATION - KENTUCKY SCIENCE CENTER SERVES STUDENTS AND TEACHERS FROM ACROSS KENTUCKY AND INDIANA THROUGH SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS, WHERE TEACHERS CAN SELECT LABS, CLASSES, MOVIES FROM THE SCIENCE CENTER LIBRARY, AND PRE- AND POST-VISIT ACTIVITIES THAT NOT ONLY ENHANCE THEIR STUDENTS' EXPERIENCE BUT SATISFY STATEWIDE CURRICULUM STANDARDS. DAILY OPERATIONS AND EXHIBITS AT THE FLAGSHIP LOCATION IN LOUISVILLE INCLUDE CHANGING FACILITATED WALK-UP SCIENCE EXPERIENCES, AND THEMED ACTIVITIES AND DEMONSTRATIONS. SCHOOL'S OUT SCIENCE CAMPS RUN ALL SUMMER LONG, AND ON DAYS THAT THE JEFFERSON COUNTRY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IS OUT OF CLASS, PROVIDING ENRICHING OUT-OF-SCHOOL EXPERIENCES UPON WHICH PARENTS CAN RELY. IN ADDITION, FAMILY MOVIE EVENTS, THEMED SCIENCE CELEBRATION WEEKENDS, AND EVENTS SPECIFICALLY FOR ADULTS REPRESENT THE FLAGSHIP FACILITY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THESE POWERFUL OPPORTUNITIES BRING SCIENCE TO LIFE IN REAL, EXCITING AND NON-FORMAL WAYS.
  3. $674,367 spent. OFFSITE EDUCATION - OUR SCIENCE TRAVELS TO YOU PROGRAMS INCLUDE DISTANCE LEARNING, ASSEMBLY PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY OR SCHOOL-WIDE SCIENCE FESTIVALS, HANDS-ON CLASS SESSIONS, AFTER-SCHOOL SCIENCE CLUBS AND MORE. ADDITIONALLY, SCIENCE IN PLAY2GO, THE MOBILE VERSION OF KENTUCKY SCIENCE CENTER'S PROGRESSIVE NEXT-GENERATION LEARNING EXPERIENCE, EMPOWERS CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO LEARN TOGETHER THROUGH THE POWER OF PLAY, IMPROVING KINDERGARTEN READINESS. SCIENCE IN PLAY2GO TRAVELS TO KENTUCKY LIBRARIES, SERVING 3-MONTH RESIDENCIES THAT GIVE FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH THE CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE HIGH QUALITY SCIENCE LITERACY EXPERIENCES IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

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 May 1981.

    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.