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Toledo Science Center

EIN 31-1337258 · Toledo, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EMPOWER EVERYONE TO EXPLORE THE SCIENCES THROUGH INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING.

Income
$5.6 million
Spending
$5.2 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
6.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 39%
Employees
115
Volunteers
210
Highest pay
$162,492, 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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    31 of 31 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

    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 (2)
  1. $2.7 million spent. IMAGINATION STATION IS A SCIENCE CENTER IN TOLEDO, OHIO THAT FEATURES HUNDREDS OF HANDS-ON EXHIBITS THROUGHOUT MULTIPLE LEARNING WORLDS. IT FEATURES PREMIER ATTRACTIONS, A TRAVELING EXHIBITION SPACE, AND VARIOUS LIVE SCIENCE DEMONSTRATIONS. THE SCIENCE CENTER EXPLORES THE TOPICS OF ENGINEERING, ENERGY, WATER, PERCEPTION, AGRICULTURE, PRE-K DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH. THIS FISCAL YEAR, THE SCIENCE CENTER WELCOMED OVER 175,000 VISITORS. AS A SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, IMAGINATION STATION OFFERS FREE LUCAS COUNTY KIDS EVERY SATURDAY, FREE VETERANS ON VETERANS DAY, FREE MOMS ON MOTHER'S DAY, FREE DADS ON FATHER'S DAY AND FREE TEACHERS EVERY DAY. WE ALSO OFFER DISCOUNTS TO ACTIVE MILITARY PERSONNEL AND LUCAS COUNTY RESIDENTS AND SCHOOLS.
  2. $1.5 million spent. IMAGINATION STATION CONDUCTS HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BOTH IN THE SCIENCE CENTER AND THROUGH OUTREACH PROGRAMMING AT SCHOOLS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING INCLUDING: SCIENCE FESTIVALS, WORKSHOPS ON WHEELS, SUMMER CAMPS, ON-SITE THINK TANK WORKSHOPS, AND SCOUT PROGRAMS, IMAGINATION STATION BRINGS INTERACTIVE SCIENCE TO OVER 25,000 PEOPLE.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1993.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.