Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Putnam Museum and Science Center

EIN 42-0680474 · Davenport, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PUTNAM EXISTS TO: PRESERVE OUR REGION'S TREASURES - TO CARE FOR AND UTILIZE THEM TO ILLUMINATE OUR HUMAN AND NATURAL HISTORY, AND TO EVOKE THE MEMORIES AND STORIES THE ARTIFACTS AND SPECIMENS TELL. EDUCATE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES IN IMMERSIVE AND LASTING WAYS WITH COMBINED "HANDS-ON, MINDS ON" EXPERIENCES THAT ONLY THE PUTNAM CAN PROVIDE. CONNECT PEOPLE TO EACH OTHER AND TO THE HISTORY AND SCIENCE THAT SHAPE THE CULTURES AND ENVIRONMENTS OF THE EARTH.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
57
Volunteers
94
Highest pay
$178,712, president/ce

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, 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

    22 of 23 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, 2024, 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 (5)
  1. $304,435 spent. GIANT SCREEN THEATER: THE PUTNAM'S GIANT SCREEN THEATER OFFERS EDUCATIONAL AND TOPICAL FILMS AND PRESENTATIONS. EXAMPLES INCLUDE INTO AMERICA'S WILD, SUPERPOWER DOGS, BACK FROM THE BRINK, VOLCANOES 3D, OCEANS: OUR BLUE PLANET 3D, AND WILD AFRICA 3D. THE FILMS AND PRESENTATIONS ALLOW VIEWERS TO SEE NATURE IN ALL ITS GLORY, TO LEARN ABOUT HISTORY AND OTHER CULTURES, AND TO TRAVEL TO ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD. IN AN ERA WHEN ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS IS PART OF THE DAILY CONVERSATION AND GLOBAL CULTURES ARE INCREASINGLY INTERACTING VIA TECHNOLOGY, FILMS THAT ENLIGHTEN AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT A VARIETY OF ENVIRONMENTS AND CULTURES ARE SIGNIFICANT TO OUR ABILITY TO CO-EXIST PRODUCTIVELY.
  2. $882,682 spent. EXHIBITS AND EDUCATION: THE MUSEUM OFFERS PERMANENT AND CHANGING INTERACTIVE, IMPRESSIVE EXHIBITS, A HANDS-ON SCIENCE CENTER, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS RELATED TO HISTORY, CULTURES, AND SCIENCE. EXAMPLES INCLUDE ANNE FRANK EXHIBIT, JUNKRAFT, POLLINATORS AND KEVA PLANKS EXHIBITS, AN INNOVATION CENTER WITH FABRICATION LAB, CODING CLASSES, OCEAN EXPERIENCE, ANCIENT EGYPT AND OUR REGION AND THE CIVIL WAR. INTERACTION WITH ACTUAL ARTIFACTS AND EDUCATORS IN "CHARACTER" PROVIDE DYNAMIC LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND REAL CONNECTIONS THAT CANNOT BE OBTAINED FROM TEXTBOOKS OR THE INTERNET. THESE EXPERIENCES STIMULATE THE DESIRE FOR MORE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPLORATION.
  3. $687,092 spent. VISITOR SERVICES: BETWEEN THE GIANT SCREEN THEATER, EXHIBITS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, THE MUSEUM HOSTED MORE THAN 85,000 PEOPLE THIS YEAR. CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF AND AMENITIES LOCATED IN THE MUSEUM'S GRAND LOBBY SPACE SUPPORT AND ENHANCE THE OVERALL VISITOR EXPERIENCE.
  4. $361,173 spent. COLLECTIONS AND CURATORIAL SERVICES: AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE MUSEUM'S MISSIONS IS PRESERVING THE COMMUNITY'S HISTORY. THE MUSEUM HOUSES APPROXIMATELY 170,000 CATALOGED ITEMS IN ITS PERMANENT COLLECTION. THESE ITEMS ARE EXPERTLY CARED FOR, ARE AVAILABLE FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES, AND MANY BECOME PART OF PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY EXHIBITS OR ARE USED TO ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. MEMBERSHIP SERVICES: THE MUSEUM HAS APPROXIMATELY 1,348 MEMBERSHIPS RANGING FROM INDIVIDUALS TO FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES. THESE MEMBERSHIPS ENCOMPASS MORE THAN 4,500 PEOPLE. MEMBERS ENJOY SPECIAL BENEFITS SUCH AS THE FIRST GLIMPSE OF A NEW FILM OR EXHIBIT.
  5. COLLECTIONS AND CURATORIAL SERVICES: AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE MUSEUM'S MISSIONS IS PRESERVING THE COMMUNITY'S HISTORY. THE MUSEUM HOUSES APPROXIMATELY 170,000 CATALOGED ITEMS IN ITS PERMANENT COLLECTION. THESE ITEMS ARE EXPERTLY CARED FOR, ARE AVAILABLE FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES, AND MANY BECOME PART OF PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY EXHIBITS OR ARE USED TO ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. MEMBERSHIP SERVICES: THE MUSEUM HAS APPROXIMATELY 1,348 MEMBERSHIPS RANGING FROM INDIVIDUALS TO FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES. THESE MEMBERSHIPS ENCOMPASS MORE THAN 4,500 PEOPLE. MEMBERS ENJOY SPECIAL BENEFITS SUCH AS THE FIRST GLIMPSE OF A NEW FILM OR EXHIBIT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, 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 March 1938.

    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.