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Maryland Science Center

EIN 52-0668166 · Baltimore, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO STIMULATE AND CULTIVATE AWARENESS, INTEREST, AND UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF AND VISITORS TO MARYLAND THROUGH EXCELLENT AND EXCITING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITS, AND TO BE A REGIONAL RESOURCE AND A NATIONAL MODEL OF SCIENCE EDUCATION.

Income
$10.4 million
Spending
$8.7 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
15.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 31%
Employees
209
Volunteers
36
Highest pay
$286,262, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    30 of 30 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, 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 (4)
  1. $2.7 million spent. EDUCATIONAL COURSES - EDUCATOR LED ENRICHMENT EXPERIENCES ENHANCE THE FIELD TRIP VISIT BY OFFERING AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES AND PHENOMENA THESE COURSES LAY THE GROUND FOR TEACHERS TO CONTINUE THE FIELD TRIP POST-VISIT.
  2. $1.3 million spent. EXHIBITS - BY TAKING SCHOOL CHILDREN OUT OF THE CLASSROOM AND INTO THE IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENT OF THE SCIENCE CENTER, CHILDREN EXPERIENCE SCIENCE IN A HANDS-ON WAYS THAT HELPS ILLUSTRATE LESSONS THEY HAVE LEARNED IN SCHOOLS
  3. $1.2 million spent. IMAX THEATRE AND DAVIS PLANETARIUM - IMAX FILMS, ESPECIALLY THE DOCUMENTARY FORMAT, TAKE STUDENTS ON A JOURNEY TO PLACES THEY MAY NEVER ACTUALLY VISIT AND HELP ILLUSTRATE THE WONDERS OF NATURE, OUTER SPACE, AND SCIENTIFIC PHENOMENA. THE DOMED THEATER OF THE PLANETARIUM CAN BRING ASTRONOMY DOWN TO THE INTIMATE LEVEL FOR CLOSE EXAMINATION OF PLANETS AND STARS THAT ARE LIGHT YEARS AWAY.
  4. $761,131 spent. GUEST SERVICES - COMMITTED TO UNHINDERED ACCESS, THE SCIENCE CENTER'S GUEST SERVICES STAFF ENSURES THAT EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO EXPERIENCE ALL THE INSTITUTION HAS TO OFFER CAN DO SO REGARDLESS OF DISABILITY OR OTHER ACCESS CHALLENGES.SCIENCE STORE - THE STORE PROVIDES EDUCATORS WITH TEACHING AIDS, BOOKS, MODELS AND OTHER ITEMS THAT EXTEND THE LESSON OF THE VISIT BACK IN THE CLASSROOM. PARENTS CAN AVAIL THEMSELVES OF UNIQUE LEARNING TOOLS, COMPUTER PROGRAMS, SCIENCE KITS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS NOT READY AVAILABLE AT CONVENTIONAL RETAIL OUTLETS.MEMBERSHIP - MEMBERS HELP MAKE PROGRAMMING POSSIBLE AT THE MARYLAND SCIENCE CENTER THROUGH THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM. AS A PARTNER WITH THE SCIENCE CENTER, MEMBERS ARE VESTED IN THE INSTITUTION AND ARE PART OF A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO VALUE SCIENCE EDUCATION AND THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT SCIENCE PLAYS IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 November 1947.

    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.

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