Great Lakes Museum of Science Environment and Technology
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO MAKE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM) COME ALIVE, AND OUR VISION IS A COMMUNITY WHERE ALL PEOPLE VALUE STEM TO INFORM DECISION MAKING AND ENRICH LIVES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)GUIDING PRINCIPLES: WE HELP PEOPLE LEARN STEM BY DOING STEM AND BELIEVE THAT IT IS BEST LEARNED THROUGH REAL SCIENTIFIC CHALLENGES. WE CULTIVATE CREATIVE, INNOVATIVE, CRITICAL THINKERS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY. WE SUPPORT A LEARNING CULTURE THAT ENCOURAGES CURIOSITY AND EXPERIMENTATION. WE BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER BY CREATING WELCOMING, FUN, AND HIGH-QUALITY GUEST EXPERIENCES. WE STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY IMPACT BY COLLABORATING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND CONNECTING TO STEM RESOURCES IN OUR REGION. WE ENSURE OUR FUTURE BY MAINTAINING OUR LONG-TERM FISCAL AND STAFF SUSTAINABILITY.
- Income
- $9.5 million
- Spending
- $10.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- -2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 146
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $236,239, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 2546 of 47 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 September 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 million spent. EDUCATION: THIS YEAR, GREAT LAKES SCIENCE CENTER (GLSC) CONTINUED EXPANDING ACCESS TO OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS, WORKING WITH A WIDER RANGE OF CLEVELAND AREA SCHOOLS.THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PROGRAM HIGH POINTS THIS YEAR. GLSC WORKED WITH PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE TO LAUNCH THE INAUGURAL OHIO SPACE WEEK, CELEBRATING OHIO'S CONTRIBUTIONS, PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE, TO THE AERONAUTICS AND SPACE INDUSTRIES. EVENTS INCLUDED HOW SPACE TECHNOLOGY AFFECTS EVERYTHING FROM NATIONAL SECURITY TO TRANSPORTATION TO SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. STUDENTS, PROFESSIONALS, AND THE PUBLIC ENGAGED IN INTERACTIVE OFFERINGS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE PUBLIC HIGHLIGHT OF OHIO SPACE WEEK WAS DISCOVERY DAYS AT GLSC SEPTEMBER 12 AND 13 WHERE SCHOOL GROUPS AND THE PUBLIC ENJOYED FREE ADMISSION TO GLSC. 4,555 VISITORS PARTICIPATED DURING THE TWO-DAY EVENT FOR FREE. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NASA GLENN RESEARCH CENTER, WE HOSTED NASA ASTRONAUTS SUNITA "SUNI" WILLIAMS AND DOUG WHEELOCK FOR SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AND MEET-AND-GREETS WITH VISITORS.THIS YEAR WAS THE CELEBRATION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR STEAMSHIP WILLIAM G. MATHER, INCLUDING SPECIALIZED TOURS AND A PUBLIC BIRTHDAY PARTY FEATURING MATHER TRIVIA, CUPCAKES, AND A GIANT BIRTHDAY CARD FOR THE PUBLIC TO SIGN. FROM RADAR TO AUTOMATED BOILER SYSTEMS, THIS FLAGSHIP STEAMSHIP RECEIVED SEVERAL NEW TECHNOLOGIES DURING ITS 55 YEARS IN SERVICE ON THE GREAT LAKES, HELPING TO TRANSPORT ENOUGH IRON ORE TO EARN IT THE NICKNAME "THE SHIP THAT BUILT CLEVELAND'". VISITORS COULD EXPLORE THE MATHER ON SELF-GUIDED, GUIDED, AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES HARD HAT TOURS, WHICH PROVIDE A LOOK INTO THE LIFE OF GREAT LAKES SAILORS WHO CREWED THE MATHER.ALSO NEW THIS YEAR IS GLSC FOR ME, A SPECIAL TWO-HOUR PERIOD EACH SUNDAY MORNING THAT PROVIDES A MORE WELCOMING EXPERIENCE FOR FAMILIES WITH SENSORY PROCESSING OR MOBILITY ISSUES. ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT IS AVAILABLE FOR GUESTS TO BORROW, AND EXHIBITS WITH HIGH STIMULATION SOUNDS OR LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF FOR THE PROGRAM TIME. EDUCATION IS PARTNERING WITH A VARIETY OF ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDED ENHANCED PROGRAMMING, AND ADAPTIVE TOOLS THAT MAKE THE EXHIBITS EVEN MORE ACCESSIBLE.OFFSITE PROGRAMMING GREW THIS YEAR, WITH AN INCREASE IN OFFSITE WORKSHOPS AND BIG SCIENCE SHOWS AS WELL AS AN INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY EVENTS. MORE THAN 6,964 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN A GLSC OUTREACH PROGRAM IN THEIR SCHOOL, ACROSS 111 LOCATIONS IN 34 DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.GLSC'S ROBOTICS INITIATIVE SERVED MORE THAN 175 STUDENTS IN OUR YEAR-ROUND AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAM, PROVIDING TRAINING, MENTORSHIP, CURRICULUM, TOOLS, AND RESOURCES TO PARTICIPATE IN FIRST ROBOTICS COMPETITIONS. IN JANUARY, GLSC HOSTED A KICK-OFF EVENT FOR THE COMPETITION SEASON FEATURING AN INTERNATIONAL LIVE STREAM OF THE FIRST ROBOTICS CHALLENGE REVEAL FOR THE NEW SEASON. FROM THERE, OUR SIX TEAMS BEGAN BUILDING AND COMPETING A SHORT TIME LATER IN THE BUCKEYE REGIONAL COMPETITION. THE STUDENTS EXCELLED, WINNING A NUMBER OF AWARDS THIS YEAR, INCLUDING THE RISING ALL-STAR AWARD OF THE FINGER LAKES REGIONAL COMPETITION PRESENTED TO TEAM #9643 LADY VOLTAGE, THE FIRST ALL-GIRLS DISTRICT-WIDE TEAM. A TEAM MEMBER OF #8140, THE ROBOMANIACS, WAS NAMED THE DEAN'S LIST AWARD FINALIST AT THE BUCKEYE REGIONAL, WHICH RECOGNIZES THE LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING STUDENTS AND INCLUDES A TRIP TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.AS PART OF THE SUMMER PROJECT OF OUR ROBOTICS INITIATIVE, HANDS ACROSS BORDERS, STUDENTS EMBARKED ON A TEN-DAY HUMANITARIAN MEDICAL MISSION TO LATACUNGA, ECUADOR. THE PROGRAM IS IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH MED ACCESS INTERNATIONAL, A US-BASED INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION THAT RUNS HUMANITARIAN MEDICAL MISSIONS TO COUNTRIES IN THE CARIBBEAN AND SOUTH AMERICA. STUDENTS AND MENTORS WORKED CLOSELY WITH MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS USING SKILLS THEY GAINED THROUGH THE ROBOTICS INITIATIVE TO CREATE 10 3-D PRINTED PROSTHETIC DEVICES THAT HAD BEEN PRE-ORDERED FOR SPECIFIC PATIENTS, AS WELL AS AN ADDITIONAL 15 PROSTHETIC DEVICES FOR WALK- IN PATIENTS-ALL PROVIDED TO PATIENTS WITHOUT CHARGE.GLSC'S 4TH ANNUAL MANUFACTURING DAY PROGRAM PROVED TO BE THE LARGEST ONE YET, WITH MORE THAN 600 STUDENTS FROM 26 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS ATTENDING A FULL BUILDING CELEBRATION OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING. THIRTEEN COMPANIES WORKED WITH GLSC FOR MONTHS TO DEVELOP COMPELLING HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, SHOWING UP WITH MORE THAN 300 VOLUNTEERS. WITH ACTIVITIES LIKE ENGINEERING FLUID SYSTEMS AND DRIVING ROBOTS, TO MENTORING LUNCHES AND CAREER PANELS, STUDENTS COULD SEE THEMSELVES IN THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING CAREERS OF THE FUTURE.INSPIRED BY THE SUCCESS OF MANUFACTURING DAY, NEW THIS YEAR WAS OUR SUMMER OF INNOVATION. THIS INITIATIVE AIMED TO FURTHER DEEPEN GLSC'S STEM INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS BY ENGAGING OUR FAMILY AUDIENCE WITH EXPERIENCES LED BY STEM PROFESSIONALS FROM ACROSS NORTHEAST OHIO. THROUGH THIS SUMMER OF SPECIAL PROGRAMMING, FAMILIES COULD EXPLORE FOUR THEMES DESIGNED TO EMPHASIZE THE REGION'S ECONOMY-DRIVING INDUSTRIES: CONSTRUCTION, TECHNOLOGY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND AEROSPACE.CONTINUING PROGRAMS THIS YEAR INCLUDE OUR CLEVELAND CREATES ENGINEERING DESIGN PROGRAM THAT SERVES STUDENTS IN GRADES 6, 7, AND 8 AND THEIR TEACHERS THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT. ALSO, DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, OUR GROW UP GREAT WITH SCIENCE PROGRAM PROVIDES STEM-BASED EDUCATION TO PRESCHOOLERS FROM LOW-INCOME CLEVELAND HOUSEHOLDS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL HEAD START CENTERS. PROGRAMMING REACHES CHILDREN THROUGH OUTREACH EXPERIENCES AND SCIENCE DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE CLASSROOM, FIELD EXPERIENCES TO GLSC, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS. ACROSS ALL SCHOOL PROGRAMS, 30,343 STUDENTS VISITED THIS YEAR FROM 457 SCHOOLS. OF THESE, 17,916 STUDENTS (59%) VISITED AS PART OF A FREE FIELD TRIP.EACH WINTER BREAK AND SUMMER, OUR CAMP CURIOSITY PROGRAM USES CUSTOM CURRICULUM AND EXPERT TEACHERS TO ENGA
- $1.1 million spent. EXHIBITS: THIS YEAR GLSC UNVEILED A NEW EXHIBITION, HANDLE WITH CARE, PRESENTED BY THE RON AND LYDIA HARRINGTON FAMILY FOUNDATION AND A FULL TRANSFORMATION OF SCIENCE PHENOMENA, ACROSS THE ENTIRE SECOND FLOOR OF EXHIBITS. HANDLE WITH CARE INVITES OUR YOUNGEST VISITORS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS TO EXPLORE THE POWER OF EMPATHY, CREATIVITY, AND IMAGINATION THROUGH PLAY. GROUNDED IN THE LATEST RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY, THIS IMMERSIVE PLAY-BASED EXPERIENCE ENCOURAGES CHILDREN TO EXPERIMENT, COLLABORATE, AND PROBLEM-SOLVE WHILE INTRODUCING EARLY STEM CONCEPTS AND FOUNDATIONAL ENGINEERING PRINCIPLES IN A JOYFUL, HANDS-ON WAY. THROUGHOUT THE EXHIBITION, CHILDREN PRACTICE EMPATHY BY IDENTIFYING EMOTIONS IN OTHERS AND RESPONDING THOUGHTFULLY, (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)SELECTING EXHIBIT PIECES WITH EXPRESSIVE ICONS AND VOCABULARY WORDS TO ASSEMBLE A PERSONALIZED "CARE PACKAGE" FOR SOMEONE IN NEED. FROM THERE THEY BOX, SORT, AND "SHIP," THEIR CREATIONS THROUGHOUT THE EXHIBITION, USING THEIR IMAGINATION TO BUILD STORIES AND EXTEND THEIR LEARNING EXPERIENCE. THE EXHIBITION HAS EXTENSIVE SUPPORT FROM INDIVIDUALS AND CORPORATIONS ACROSS THE REGION. SOME OF THE SUPPORT THAT WAS EXPECTED TO BE RECOGNIZED IN THIS FISCAL YEAR WAS DELAYED DUE TO PAYMENT TIMING.AS PART OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STEAMSHIP WILLIAM G. MATHER, GLSC DESIGNED AND BUILT A NEW EXHIBITION, STEAM AND STEEL: PROPELLING THE FUTURE OF THE GREAT LAKES. INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS ALLOWED THE PUBLIC TO SEE THE TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS THAT HELPED MAKE GREAT LAKES SHIPPING FASTER, SAFER, AND MORE COST-EFFECTIVE. FROM LIDAR TO RADAR AND AUTOMATED BOILER SYSTEMS, THE EXHIBIT MADE FREIGHTER TECHNOLOGIES OF YESTERYEAR AND TOMORROW COME ALIVE. ONCE THE TEMPORARY EXHIBITION CLOSED AT THE END OF THE SUMMER, MANY OF THE INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS WERE INSTALLED IN THE PERMANENT GALLERY IN THE MATHER'S HOLD AS IT STARTS OFF ITS SECOND CENTURY.THIS YEAR WE ALSO HAD THE TEMPORARY TRAVELING EXHIBITION, DOGS: A SCIENCE TAIL! THE HIGHLY INTERACTIVE EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS THE DYNAMIC BOND BETWEEN HUMANS AND DOGS. EXPERIENCES ARE DESIGNED TO HELP THE PUBLIC GAIN A NEW APPRECIATION FOR THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SKILLS OF OUR FAVORITE CANINES, HOW THEY SEE, SMELL, AND HEAR. THE PUBLIC CAN TEST THEMSELVES AGAINST THE SLOWEST AND FASTEST BREEDS OF DOGS, AND MUCH MORE. EDUCATION CREATED NEW CART ACTIVITIES TO COMPLEMENT THE EXHIBITION, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH SHELTERS, HOSPITALS, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO BRING IN DOGS FOR SPECIAL PROGRAMMING.IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE ACTIVITIES, GLSC CONTINUES TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR PERMANENT EXHIBIT GALLERIES. IN OUR NASA GLENN VISITOR CENTER, WE WORKED WITH NASA TO ADD MORE AUTHENTIC ARTIFACTS, INCLUDING ONES THAT HAVE BEEN TO SPACE. GLSC'S NASA GLENN VISITOR CENTER IS ONE OF ONLY 11 CONGRESSIONALLY DESIGNATED NASA VISITOR CENTERS IN THE COUNTRY. THE CENTER INCLUDES THREE GALLERIES THAT ALLOW OUR GUESTS TO EXPERIENCE AVIATION AND AEROSPACE INNOVATION THROUGH INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, FASCINATING ARTIFACTS, AND A VAST COLLECTION OF NASA MEDIA.
- $704,484 spent. VISITATION AND MEMBERSHIP: TOTAL ATTENDANCE THIS YEAR WAS 251,202. FREE DAYS INCREASED FROM OUR TYPICAL 4 TO A TOTAL OF 7 THIS YEAR, WITH 43,527 PEOPLE VISITING FOR FREE. GLSC FURTHERS ITS MISSION AND STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS FOR MEMBERSHIP AND MARKETING USING A DATA-INFORMED DECISION-MAKING PROCESS. MARKETING EFFORTS INCLUDE A MIX OF EARNED, OWNED, AND PAID MEDIA INITIATIVES, DESIGNED TO REACH CORE AND SPECIALLY IDENTIFIED AUDIENCES RELIABLY AND EFFICIENTLY. GLSC MARKETING IS USING INCREASINGLY DATA-DRIVEN MARKETING APPROACHES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)DIGITAL AD SPEND CONTINUES TO BE THE MOST DATA-DRIVEN AND COST-EFFECTIVE ADVERTISING PLATFORM. THE MARKETING TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING TO EXPAND CAPABILITIES IN SHORTFORM VIDEO CONTENT AS WELL AS INTERACTIVE DIGITAL ADS. THIS HAS HELPED INCREASE OUR FOLLOWERS ON TIK TOK THIS YEAR. MARKETING IS ALSO INCREASING THE NUMBER AND VARIATIONS OF EACH AD. FOR SEVERAL YEARS WE WOULD TYPICALLY RUN 4-5 VERSIONS (DIFFERENT PHOTOS, VARIATIONS IN COPY) AND THIS YEAR WE INCREASED THAT TO 6-8 VERSIONS, WITH PLANS TO INTRODUCE EVEN GREATER VARIATION NEXT YEAR.GLSC SERVED 4,913 MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS THIS YEAR, WITH A RENEWAL RATE OF 31%, AN INCREASE OVER PRIOR YEARS. OUR HIGHEST-LEVEL FAMILY MAX MEMBERSHIP REMAINS THE MOST FREQUENT MEMBERSHIP LEVEL PURCHASED, MAKING UP 45% OF MEMBER PURCHASES. MEMBER ATTENDANCE REMAINED STEADY, WITH 43,548 MEMBER VISITS IN 2025, 21% OF OUR TOTAL ATTENDANCE.
- $5.5 million spent. COMBINATION OF OMNIMAX AND GUEST SERVICES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 November 6, 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 September 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 November 1993.
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 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.