Natural Science Center of Greensboro Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE CENTER IS INSPIRING CURIOSITY AND CONNECTING COMMUNITIES THROUGH SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS BY PROVIDING EVER-EVOLVING EXPERIENCES WHERE EXPLORATION AND IMAGINATION INTERSECT, IGNITING A LIFELONG PASSION FOR SCIENCE AND THE NATURAL WORLD.
- Income
- $23.7 million
- Spending
- $11.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 55%
- Reserves
- 2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 69%
- Employees
- 341
- Volunteers
- 489
- Highest pay
- $451,489, 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
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 52% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 128% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1555% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2535 of 35 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
7 of 7Has a 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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)
- $4.7 million spent. MUSEUM, ZOO, AND AQUARIUM: FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, THE CENTER WELCOMED 597,933 GUESTS. THE FACILITY IS HOME TO MORE THAN 1,500 RARE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES AND PLAYS AN ACTIVE ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN BREEDING PROGRAMS FOR SPECIES INCLUDING PYGMY HIPPOS, RED PANDAS, ASIAN FISHING CATS, AFRICAN PENGUINS, AND SUMATRAN TIGERS.THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, THE CENTER HAS PROVIDED MILLIONS OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, SCHOOL GROUPS, AND LIFELONG LEARNERS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH GLOBAL ECOSYSTEMS, EXPERIENCE REAL-WORLD SCIENCE AND STEM EDUCATION, AND UNDERSTAND NORTH CAROLINA'S CONNECTION TO INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION INITIATIVES.THE CENTER REMAINS NORTH CAROLINA'S ONLY SCIENCE ATTRACTION TO HOLD DUAL ACCREDITATION FROM BOTH THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS & AQUARIUMS (AZA) AND THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS (AAM), A DISTINCTION ACHIEVED BY ONLY FOURTEEN INSTITUTIONS NATIONWIDE. AS THE CENTER HAS EXPANDED ITS PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES, ITS AUDIENCE HAS GROWN ACCORDINGLY. IN THE PAST FISCAL YEAR, THE CENTER WELCOMED GUESTS FROM 96 NORTH CAROLINA COUNTIES, ALL 50 STATES, AND MULTIPLE COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE.AS NORTH CAROLINA'S FIRST ACCREDITED INLAND AQUARIUM, THE CENTER'S WISEMAN AQUARIUM PROVIDES GUESTS WITH A TRULY IMMERSIVE JOURNEY INTO AQUATIC LIFE. GUESTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH AQUARISTS AND EDUCATORS, EXPLORING NOT ONLY A WIDE VARIETY OF AQUATIC SPECIES BUT ALSO THE TERRESTRIAL ANIMALS THAT SHARE THEIR ECOSYSTEMS.THROUGH INNOVATIVE SCIPODS AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES EXPERIENCES, GUESTS GAIN A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCIENCE OF ANIMAL CARE, HUSBANDRY, CONSERVATION, AND WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT.IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, THE WISEMAN AQUARIUM WELCOMED 597,933 GUESTS, EACH CONNECTING WITH THE VITAL ROLE AQUATIC SYSTEMS PLAY IN GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.
- $928,059 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: IN ALIGNMENT WITH ITS MISSION, THE CENTER DELIVERS A WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO SPARK CURIOSITY AND DEEPEN UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION.FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, THE CENTER REACHED 17,380 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS THROUGH 382 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, EXTENDING CLASSROOM LEARNING INTO REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES. IN ADDITION, MORE THAN 882 GUESTS PARTICIPATED IN 106 CLASSES AND CAMPS, WHILE 976 GUESTS ENJOYED UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH STAFF AND ANIMALS THROUGH 201 BEHIND-THE-SCENES PROGRAMS.EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS SPAN A DIVERSE SPECTRUM: FROM WEEK-LONG SCIENCE CAMPS AND SENSORY-FRIENDLY NIGHTS TO HANDS-ON GALLERY EXPERIENCES LIKE SCIENCE ON THE SPOT, SHARK WEEK ACTIVITIES, AND PARTICIPATION IN THE NC SCIENCE FESTIVAL. THESE PROGRAMS ENSURE THAT LEARNERS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES CAN CONNECT WITH SCIENCE IN WAYS THAT ARE BOTH MEANINGFUL AND MEMORABLE.
- $401,965 spent. SKYWILD AND FLYWAY: COMPLEMENTING THE CENTER'S MISSION OF CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH THE NATURAL WORLD, THE CENTER'S AERIAL ADVENTURE PARK OFFERS GUESTS THE CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE ANIMAL BEHAVIORS IN A UNIQUELY PHYSICAL AND IMMERSIVE WAY. SUSPENDED HIGH ABOVE THE ZOO, THE COURSE CHALLENGES PARTICIPANTS TO WADDLE, LEAP, BRACHIATE, AND CRAWL, MIRRORING THE MOVEMENTS OF THE ANIMALS BELOW WHILE ALSO PROVIDING AN EXCITING OUTDOOR WORKOUT. SINCE OPENING IN 2015, SKYWILD HAS BECOME A SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE, WELCOMING 8,443 GUESTS IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025.TO FURTHER EXPAND ADVENTURE OPPORTUNITIES, THE CENTER INTRODUCED THE FLYWAY ZIPLINE IN 2022. THIS THRILLING RIDE CARRIES GUESTS ACROSS LAKE SLOAN, OFFERING BREATHTAKING BIRD'S-EYE VIEWS OF COUNTRY PARK. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, 1,708 GUESTS TOOK FLIGHT ON THE FLYWAY, ADDING YET ANOTHER MEMORABLE WAY TO CONNECT RECREATION, NATURE, AND DISCOVERY.
- $359,069 spent. GIFT SHOP: AMONG THE 597,933 GUESTS WHO VISITED THE CENTER IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, MANY EXTENDED THEIR EXPERIENCE THROUGH A STOP AT THE CENTER'S GIFT SHOP. FAR MORE THAN A TRADITIONAL RETAIL SPACE, THE SHOP CURATES A WIDE SELECTION OF EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS, MISSION-FOCUSED MERCHANDISE, AND SCIENCE- AND CONSERVATION-THEMED ITEMS DESIGNED TO INSPIRE CURIOSITY LONG AFTER A VISIT CONCLUDES. EACH PURCHASE OFFERS GUESTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY AT HOME WHILE SUPPORTING THE CENTER'S MISSION OF CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH ANIMALS, SCIENCE, AND CONSERVATION.OMNISPHERE: THE CENTER'S OMNISPHERE THEATER, WITH ITS IMPRESSIVE 40-FOOT DOME CEILING, BRINGS SCIENCE AND THE ARTS TO LIFE IN BREATHTAKING WAYS. POWERED BY OUR SUPER MEDIAGLOBE FULL-DOME PROJECTION SYSTEM, THE THEATER DELIVERS IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES IN DIGITAL, LASER, AND LARGE-FORMAT 3D.IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, THE THEATER INSPIRED 40,212 GUESTS WITH SHOWS RANGING FROM BIG BIRD'S GUIDED TOUR OF THE NIGHT SKY TO AWE-INSPIRING ASTRONAUT PERSPECTIVES OF EARTH AND THE COSMOS.THE OMNISPHERE ALSO TRANSFORMS INTO AN EVENING ENTERTAINMENT VENUE, WHERE GUESTS ENJOY LASER LIGHT SHOWS SET TO THE MUSIC OF ARTISTS SUCH AS TAYLOR SWIFT, THE BEATLES, AND MORE. THESE PROGRAMS CREATE A DYNAMIC BLEND OF SCIENCE, ART, AND CULTURE, OFFERING MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES FOR AUDIENCES OF ALL AGES.ROTARY CLUB OF GREENSBORO CAROUSEL: AS THE LARGEST IN NORTH CAROLINA, THE CENTER'S ROTARY CLUB OF GREENSBORO CAROUSEL OFFERS A WHIMSICAL EXPERIENCE FOR BOTH CENTER GUESTS AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY. FEATURING 56 HAND-CARVED, HAND-PAINTED ANIMAL FIGURES - FROM RED PANDAS AND TIGERS TO DINOSAURS AND FISH - THE CAROUSEL REFLECTS THE CENTER'S MISSION OF CELEBRATING WILDLIFE IN ALL ITS DIVERSITY. SURROUNDING THE RIDE, 32 ARTFULLY CRAFTED ROUNDING BOARDS HIGHLIGHT THE RICH HISTORY AND CULTURE OF GREENSBORO, MAKING THE CAROUSEL BOTH AN ATTRACTION AND A TRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY. SINCE ITS OPENING IN 2020, THE CAROUSEL HAS BECOME A BELOVED DESTINATION. IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, IT DELIGHTED 107,610 RIDERS, ADDING JOY AND WONDER TO THE CENTER EXPERIENCE.ALL OTHER PROGRAM EXPENSES AND ALL OTHER PROGRAM REVENUES
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1972.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 2026.
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