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Caterpillar Lab Inc

EIN 47-3436568 · Marlborough, NH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO FOSTER GREATER APPRECIATION AND CARE FOR THE COMPLEXITY AND BEAUTY OF OUR LOCAL NATURAL HISTORY THROUGH LIVE CATERPILLAR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, RESEARCH INITIATIVES, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND FILM.

Income
$307,480
Spending
$346,996
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
8
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$55,650, executive director

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

Financial health

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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. $199,953 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: 41 PUBLIC EVENTS RANGED FROM 1/2 DAY PROGRAMS TO WEEK-LONG RESIDENCIES. 56 TOTAL DAYS OF PROGRAMMING. 15,000 PEOPLE REACHED DIRECTLY. AUDIENCES INCLUDED BOTH RURAL AND URBAN POPULATIONS OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS. OUTREACH PRESENTED OVER 200 SPECIES OF NATIVE CATERPILLAR AND INCLUDED ONE-ON-ONE STAFF INTERACTIONS, HANDS ON EXPERIENCES, MICROSCOPE PRESENTATIONS, AND FREE EXPLORATION. IN ADDITION TO PHYSICAL OUTREACH, VIRTUAL OUTREACH IS PERFORMED THROUGH IMAGE, VIDEO, AND ARTICLE POSTING TO FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM AUDIENCES (FACEBOOK 75,000 FOLLOWERS; INSTAGRAM 18,000 FOLLOWERS).
  2. $57,130 spent. FREE OPEN HOURS AT THE CATERPILLAR LAB: 46 FREE PUBLIC OPEN HOURS WERE PROVIDED AT THE CATERPILLAR LAB'S MARLBOROUGH NH FACILITY. 600 PEOPLE ATTENDED INCLUDING AREA LOCALS, PASSER-BYS, AND PEOPLE TRAVELING FROM OUT OF THE AREA. VISITORS RECEIVE TOURS AND EXPERIENCES WITH DOZENS OF NATIVE INSECTS. VISITORS CAN PARTICIPATE IN REGULAR LAB ACTIVITIES INCLUDING LIVE ANIMAL CARE, NATURAL HISTORY ART, RESEARCH, AND FILM AND PHOTOGRAPHY.
  3. $28,565 spent. CONSULTING, TRAINING, FILM ASSISTANCE: CONSULTING PROVIDED THROUGH EMAIL AND PHONE CONVERSATIONS FOR VARIOUS OUTSIDE-OF-ORGANIZATION RESEARCH AND MUSEUM EXHIBIT PROJECTS, INCLUDING WORK WITH UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER NON-PROFITS. FILMING CONSULTING AND ASSISTANCE GIVEN FOR MAJOR NATURAL HISTORY DOCUMENTARY ON CATERPILLARS AND MONARCH BUTTERFLIES FOR TEN DAYS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 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 November 6, 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 March 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 February 2016.

    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 November 4, 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.