Sacramento Splash
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Splash offers seven different programs to Elementary aged children and even some for the public. All the programs are designed through a science-based curriculum, to introduce kids to the natural world around them: How interconnected these natural elements are, why we should value them and to help them become stewards of the land.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 5.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 51%
- Employees
- 56
- Volunteers
- 18
- Highest pay
- $147,831, 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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 10 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 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 (6)
- $351,675 spent. Project AWE: Project AWE is a collaborative effort of the Sacramento Area Sewer District (SacSewer) and Sacramento Splash. We offer educational opportunities at the historic non-working Nicolaus Dairy in Elk Grove, CA for 2nd through 5th grade students in the areas of Agriculture, Water, Energy, and the Environment (AWE). Project AWE preserves local history for the community, while promoting sustainable practices and environmental stewardship through grade-level specific education programs.
- $277,929 spent. Investigating Vernal pools: This program integrates a 13-lesson, standards-based science curriculum with a field trip to the vernal pools at Mather Field. The curriculum prepares the students for their field trip by teaching them all about vernal pools and the plants and animals that live in them. Classroom preparation is the key difference between Splash field trips and others, because the students arrive prepped with all the knowledge theyve learned about the vernal pool ecosystem. This knowledge empowers them and results in an exciting, hands-on interactive field trip in which information is shared among students, guides, and teachers, and then brought home to parents. Designed for 4th and 5th graders.
- $141,914 spent. Splash in the Class: These 60-minute interactive presentations are a fun way to teach your students about the changes they can make in their neighborhoods to keep watersheds clean. Splash presenters cover the aquatic food chain and stormwater pollution prevention topics using colorful graphics, videos, and a fun experiment. Students love learning about their watershed through these engaging presentations. They discover the importance of our local creeks and rivers in supporting a whole ecosystem of species that, like us, need clean water to live, how some of their everyday activities can cause water pollution, and what they each can do to become the solution to pollution!
- $97,068 spent. Youth Environmental Leadership Camp: YELC is an immersive summer program for students entering the 6th or 7th grade in the Fall*. Campers will connect with nature, learn about human impacts on the environment, and discover the many career opportunities that make a difference, while participating in hands-on activities. Small groups of 15 campers will attend a one-week camp M-F from 8:30am-5:30pm. Campers will take field trips each day, but the day starts and ends at the Splash Science Center, located at 4426 Excelsior Road, in Mather, CA. The camp is completely FREE and thanks to 18 business partners that help us show the campers real scientists in the field doing all sorts of science and climate focused careers.
- $43,529 spent. Critterville: In addition to the field trips to the vernal pools and Splash headquarters all field trips involve a visit to Critterville. Critterville is a collection of well-cared for mostly native species of animals (critters) that have been rescued and represent members of the various ecosystems around the Mather site. The kids are introduced to each animal in an intimate setting where they learn the role each critter plays in environment.
- $14,451 spent. Trash Talk: Through a partnership with Republic Services, Splash developed a 60-minute in class presentation that teaches students about the importance of proper waste sorting at home. With the message that its worth the work to do in order to save the environment. The presentation has an actual sorting contest and is always full of fun.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2010.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.