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Irvine Natural Science Center Inc

EIN 52-1231286 · Owings Mills, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE ALL THRIVE OUTDOORS. WE ENCOURAGE LIFELONG ENGAGEMENT WITH THE NATURAL WORLD THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING AND GREEN LIVING. AT IRVINE, WE INSPIRE PEOPLE TO EXPLORE, RESPECT AND PROTECT NATURE.

Income
$3.8 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
87
Volunteers
884
Highest pay
$96,383, executive director

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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 (3)
  1. $450,847 spent. NATURE PRESCHOOL: THE MISSION OF THE NATURE PRESCHOOL AT IRVINE IS TO PROVIDE HANDS-ON OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH NATURE-BASED INQUIRY, CREATIVE ARTS, AND OUTDOOR EXPLORATION IN ORDER TO DEVELOP A LASTING APPRECIATION FOR THE NATURAL WORLD. OUR "CLASSROOM" IS IRVINE'S ENTIRE 211-ACRE CAMPUS, INCLUDING FORESTS AND MEADOWS, A 60-ACRE RESTORATION OF STREAMS AND WETLANDS, OUTDOOR CLASSROOM, WOODLAND GARDEN, 8 MILES OF TRAILS, AND OTHER FEATURES. THE PROGRAM SEEKS TO DEVELOP THE WHOLE CHILD USING A CHILD-CENTERED EMERGENT CURRICULUM THAT FACILITATES THE COGNITIVE, PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF EVERY CHILD. IRVINE ALSO OFFERS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS 4-6 YEARS OF AGE AND FOR HOMESCHOOLED STUDENTS USING THE SAME NURTURING, NATURE-BASED APPROACH.
  2. $108,578 spent. SCHOOL PROGRAMS: IRVINE OFFERS A VARIETY OF LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCHOOL AUDIENCES. ALL PROGRAMS ARE ALIGNED WITH BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SCIENCE CURRICULUM AND MSDE LEARNING REQUIREMENTS. FIELD TRIPS BRING STUDENTS TO IRVINE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND EXPLORATION THAT TAKES ADVANTAGE OF OUR 211-ACRE CAMPUS. ALL PROGRAMS INCLUDE SMALL-GROUP ACTIVITIES IN WHICH STUDENTS LEARN TO MAKE OBSERVATIONS, COLLECT DATA, COMPARE AND CLASSIFY DATA, AND DRAW CONCLUSIONS. FOR THOSE UNABLE TO COME TO IRVINE, OUR OUTREACH PROGRAMS TAKE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION INTO THE CLASSROOM. IRVINE'S NATURALISTS TEACH CURRICULUM-ALIGNED LESSONS USING WORK STATIONS, SMALL GROUPS, AND INTERACTIVE DISCUSSIONS. ECO-EXPLORERS AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM ENGAGES STUDENTS IN INDOOR AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, NATURE-BASED CRAFTS, AND ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS AFTER THE SCHOOL BELL RINGS.
  3. $189,300 spent. SUMMER NATURE CAMPS: SUMMER CAMPS AT IRVINE OFFER ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION DISGUISED AS FUN! WE OFFER AGE-APPROPRIATE, WEEK-LONG CAMP SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER FOR CHILDREN 2-12 YEARS OF AGE. YOUNGER CHILDREN MAY PARTICIPATE IN TRAIL WALKS, ARTS AND CRAFTS, ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS, PUPPET SHOWS, AND SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS, WHILE OLDER CHILDREN MAY GO ON OFFSITE EXCURSIONS, CAMP OUT UNDER THE STARS, PARTICIPATE IN CONSERVATION PROJECTS, OR EXPLORE NATURE-BASED ART, SCIENCE, FARMING, AND FORAGING. NO TWO SEASONS ARE ALIKE, WITH NEW THEMES, ACTIVITIES, AND ADVENTURES OFFERED EVERY YEAR. RECENT TOPICS HAVE INCLUDED SPLASH ZONE, NATURALLY CREATIVE, SUMMER SAFARI, TINY CHEFS, AND WAYS OF WILDLIFE. ALL PROGRAMS ARE TAUGHT BY PROFESSIONAL EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS OR NATURALISTS, AND THE CAMP IS CERTIFIED BY THE STATE SO PARENTS KNOW THEIR CHILDREN ARE IN GOOD HANDS.

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 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 June 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 December 1981.

    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.