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Ann Arbor Hands on Museum

EIN 38-2236345 · Ann Arbor, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ANN ARBOR HANDS-ON MUSEUM CREATES MOMENTS OF DISCOVERY THAT INSPIRE CURIOSITY, EXPLORATION AND RESPECT FOR STEM AND THE NATURAL WORLD. TOGETHER WITH THE LESLIE SCIENCE & NATURE CENTER, WE ENVISION A WORLD WHERE CURIOSITY TODAY LEADS TO MORE PURPOSEFUL LIVES TOMORROW.

Income
$4.6 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
12.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 60%
Employees
81
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$171,973, president/ce

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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 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 (1)
  1. $3.4 million spent. THE ANN ARBOR HANDS-ON MUSEUM AND LESLIE SCIENCE & NATURE CENTER PROVIDE UNIQUE, INSPIRING PROGRAMS AND SPACES FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN TO ENJOY. WE SERVE OVER 300,000 ANNUALLY THROUGH OUR INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING, ENGAGING AREA SCHOOLS, SCOUTS, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND FAMILIES TO EXPLORE STEM CONCEPTS AND CAREERS. THROUGH OUR ANN ARBOR LOCATIONS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMMING, WE ENGAGE PEOPLE ACROSS 11 COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN AS WELL AS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND NATION THROUGH OUR DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDE ROBUST TOP-RATED VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND EVEN WORLD-WIDE. THE MUSEUM OPERATES DAILY PROGRAMMING BOTH ON- AND OFF-SITE; BRINGING SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS TO LIFE THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPERIMENTS. THE MUSEUM CENTERS ACCESSIBILITY IN OUR PROGRAMMING WITH SCHOLARSHIPS, AS WELL AS DISCOUNTED ADMISSIONS FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. BARRIER-FREE ACCESS IS PARAMOUNT TO OUR WORK, AND WE SEEK TO EXPLORE EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL TO LEARN ABOUT STEM AND EXPLORE CAREER PATHWAYS. THE LESLIE SCIENCE AND NATURE CENTER PROVIDES PROGRAMMING WHICH INCLUDES ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ALONG WITH WILDLIFE AND SCIENCE-BASED PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. PROGRAMMING INCLUDES SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS TO THE NATURE CENTER, OUTREACH ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN INCLUDING LIVE WILDLIFE PRESENTATIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMING AS WELL AS A ROBUST SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM. THE ANN ARBOR HANDS-ON MUSEUM AND LESLIE SCIENCE & NATURE CENTER PROVIDE UNIQUE, INSPIRING PROGRAMS AND SPACES FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN TO ENJOY. WE SERVE OVER 300,000 ANNUALLY THROUGH OUR INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING, ENGAGING AREA SCHOOLS, SCOUTS, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND FAMILIES TO EXPLORE STEM CONCEPTS AND CAREERS. THROUGH OUR ANN ARBOR LOCATIONS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMMING, WE ENGAGE PEOPLE ACROSS 11 COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN AS WELL AS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND NATION THROUGH OUR DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDE ROBUST TOP-RATED VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND EVEN WORLD-WIDE. THE MUSEUM OPERATES DAILY PROGRAMMING BOTH ON- AND OFF-SITE; BRINGING SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS TO LIFE THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPERIMENTS. THE MUSEUM CENTERS ACCESSIBILITY IN OUR PROGRAMMING WITH SCHOLARSHIPS, AS WELL AS DISCOUNTED ADMISSIONS FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. BARRIER-FREE ACCESS IS PARAMOUNT TO OUR WORK, AND WE SEEK TO EXPLORE EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL TO LEARN ABOUT STEM AND EXPLORE CAREER PATHWAYS. THE LESLIE SCIENCE AND NATURE CENTER PROVIDES PROGRAMMING WHICH INCLUDES ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ALONG WITH WILDLIFE AND SCIENCE-BASED PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. PROGRAMMING INCLUDES SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS TO THE NATURE CENTER, OUTREACH ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN INCLUDING LIVE WILDLIFE PRESENTATIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMING AS WELL AS A ROBUST SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM.

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

  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 October 13, 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 September 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 June 1979.

    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 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.