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Mcauliffe-Shepard Discovery Center Corporation

EIN 45-5337441 · Concord, NH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE EVERY GENERATION TO REACH FOR THE STARS, THROUGH ENGAGING, ARTFUL, AND ENTERTAINING ACTIVITIES THAT EXPLORE ASTRONOMY, AVIATION, EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
-2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 40%
Employees
35
Highest pay
$136,027, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 63% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 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 (3)
  1. $1.1 million spent. GENERAL ADMISSION TO MUSEUM EXHIBIT GALLERIES. WE OFFER A VARIETY OF STEM EXHIBITS AND ACTIVITIES.
  2. EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, EVENTS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS. THE WORKSHOPS, EVENTS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS INCLUDE SUMMER STEM CAMPS FOR YOUTH, AN AEROSPACE FESTIVAL FOR FAMILIES, STEM MONTHLY HOMESCHOOL WORKSHOPS, AND A SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PROGRAM FOR VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. OUTREACH VISITS TO SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY VENUES SUCH AS LIBRARIES, USING EDUCATION TOOLS SUCH AS A PORTABLE INFLATABLE PLANETARIUM, TELESCOPES AND/OR METEORITE SAMPLES.
  3. PLANETARIUM SHOWS ON ASTRONOMY, SPACE SCIENCE, AND EARTH SCIENCE. OUR PLANETARIUM SHOWS ARE TARGETED TO YOUNG CHILDREN AND OTHER SHOWS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC WITH SUBJECTS SUCH AS THE NIGHT SKY, BLACK HOLES, PLANETS AND MOONS WITH WATER AND ICE, THE EARLY SPACE RACE, THE SOLAR SYSTEM, ASTEROIDS AND COMETS, ABENAKI CULTURE, THE NORTHERN LIGHTS AND AVIATION, AND EXPLORATION OF THE UNIVERSE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 December 2012.

    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.