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North Carolina Museum of Life & Science

EIN 56-0938434 · Durham, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CREATE A PLACE OF LIFELONG LEARNING WHERE PEOPLE, FROM YOUNG CHILD TO SENIOR CITIZEN, EMBRACE SCIENCE AS A WAY OF KNOWING ABOUT THEMSELVES, THEIR COMMUNITY, AND THEIR WORLD.

Income
$16.1 million
Spending
$15.3 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 41%
Employees
279
Volunteers
925
Highest pay
$234,777, 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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 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 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 26 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
  1. $12.1 million spent. THE MUSEUM OF LIFE AND SCIENCE HAS SERVED THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING ENGAGING STEM LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMMING SINCE 1946. THE MUSEUM WELCOMED NEARLY 650,000 VISITORS THIS YEAR FROM THE GREATER TRIANGLE REGION AND BEYOND. THE MUSEUM'S 84-ACRE NATURE PARK AND OVER 300 INDOOR AND OUTDOOR EXHIBITIONS ENABLE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO ENGAGE MEANINGFULLY WITH SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH, PREPARING THEM TO USE STEM LEARNING AS A WAY OF UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES THEY WILL FACE THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. OUR MISSION IS TO SPARK CURIOSITY AND RESPECT FOR NATURE AND SCIENCE IN SUPPORT OF A COMMUNITY CONNECTED TO SCIENCE AND INVESTED IN PLAYFUL LEARNING AS A WAY OF UNDERSTANDING AND ENRICHING OURSELVES AND OUR WORLD.

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 October 13, 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 May 1958.

    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 October 21, 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.