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In Situ Explorers

EIN 47-5006681 · Morrisville, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To make access to science education in North Carolina equitable, impartial, and widely available, while invoking passion and encouraging a better understanding of how science and nature impact our lives.

Income
$3,015
Spending
$169,918
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Highest pay
$59,231, president

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

Financial health

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5536% of income.

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

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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. $1,998 spent. Management of the NC Science Trail-We partner with 110 science education entities across the state to bring awareness to SciEd opportunities for the public. Our partners include public and private museums, science centers, planetariums, wildlife centers, aquariums, zoos, botanical gardens, all of the NC state parks. We expanded our services in 2024 to offer additional educational resources to classroom teachers. In 2025, we developed an educator newsletter and online resources specifically for educators in NC. So many science venues provide great science education opportunities for visitors and residents to NC, but it is difficult to find all of the information in one place. Our goal is to partner with these organizations, bring awareness to their programs, and reach out to the public through both in-person and digital means, providing entertaining, intriguing, and educational information that encourages science engagement across the state. In 2025, our online content reached >80,000 views, we attended 28 statewide science education events, and we interacted with more than 12,000 visitors. We had 22 volunteers in 2025 serving approximately 228 volunteer hours.
  2. $1,924 spent. NC Welcome Center Engagement: We have partnered with all official NC Welcome Centers to attract travelers coming into the state by car who may be interested in science education opportunities and activities. Nearly half of our partners are state parks and North Carolina is known for is natural beauty and natural history. We also have a tremendous number of science education venues that families love to visit while traveling. As such, we put displays with images and information about our SciEd partners in the NC Welcome Centers. Long-term this partnership will foster SciEd events at Welcome Centers with partners, allowing us to connect with visitors.
  3. $636 spent. In late 2025 we began preparing for a new program that provides coding education for girls in grades 3-12 who live in rural NC counties.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 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 December 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 June 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.