Science Mill
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF SCIENCE MILL IS TO DEVELOP AND OPERATE A SCIENCE MUSEUM IN JOHNSON CITY, TEXAS FOR THE BENEFIT AND EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC.
- Income
- $2.1 million
- Spending
- $2.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- -0.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 61%
- Employees
- 112
- Volunteers
- 3
- Highest pay
- $158,869, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 25% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 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 (1)
- $2.2 million spent. SCIENCE MILL OPENED IT DOORS TO VISITORS OF ALL AGES IN FEBRUARY 2015. THE SCIENCE MILL IS A PLACE OF DISCOVERY WHERE THE ENTIRE FAMILY EXPERIENCES INTERACTIVE LEARNING AND CREATIVE THINKING. IT IS A DESTINATION FOR THE GREATER COMMUNITY AS A GATHERING PLACE AND OPEN FORUM TO PRESENT AND DISCUSS SCIENTIFIC TOPICS, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF HIGH RELEVANCE TO THE AREA. WITH FUN, EXCITING AND INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS, THE SCIENCE MILL SUPPORTS FORMAL EDUCATION ENTITIES WITH A FOCUS ON MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, TO HELP EXPAND THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE, SPARK THEIR CURIOSITY AND INSPIRE THEM TOWARDS AN INTEREST IN CAREERS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHMATICS (STEM). THE SCIENCE MILL'S DISTINCTIVE APPROACH FOCUSES ON STRENGTHENING THE STUDENT'S CONNECTION TO THE WORLD OF SCIENCE AND TO INSPIRE STUDENTS TO PURSUE LIFE-LONG CAREERS AS SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, RESEARCHERS AND TECHNOLOGY LEADERS OF TOMORROW. SCIENCE MILL OPENED IT DOORS TO VISITORS OF ALL AGES IN FEBRUARY 2015. THE SCIENCE MILL IS A PLACE OF DISCOVERY WHERE THE ENTIRE FAMILY EXPERIENCES INTERACTIVE LEARNING AND CREATIVE THINKING. IT IS A DESTINATION FOR THE GREATER COMMUNITY AS A GATHERING PLACE AND OPEN FORUM TO PRESENT AND DISCUSS SCIENTIFIC TOPICS, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF HIGH RELEVANCE TO THE AREA. WITH FUN, EXCITING AND INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS, THE SCIENCE MILL SUPPORTS FORMAL EDUCATION ENTITIES WITH A FOCUS ON MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, TO HELP EXPAND THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE, SPARK THEIR CURIOSITY AND INSPIRE THEM TOWARDS AN INTEREST IN CAREERS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHMATICS (STEM). THE SCIENCE MILL'S DISTINCTIVE APPROACH FOCUSES ON STRENGTHENING THE STUDENT'S CONNECTION TO THE WORLD OF SCIENCE AND TO INSPIRE STUDENTS TO PURSUE LIFE-LONG CAREERS AS SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, RESEARCHERS AND TECHNOLOGY LEADERS OF TOMORROW.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.
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 August 2012.
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.