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Aurora Fossil Museum Foundation Inc

EIN 56-2181393 · Aurora, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT PALEONTOLOGY IN AN ENJOYABLE MANNER WHILE EMPHASIZING THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY OF EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

Income
$412,960
Spending
$543,000
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
6.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
11
Volunteers
107

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: 63 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 (2)
  1. $445,300 spent. OPERATION OF AURORA FOSSIL MUSEUM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION.
  2. $26,151 spent. THE IMAGINE-NC (INTEGRATING MATHEMATICS AND GEOLOGY IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA) PROJECT IS A COLLABORATIVE VENTURE BETWEEN THE AURORA FOSSIL MUSEUM, EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY, AND NUTRIEN. AWARDED THROUGH THE BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND STUDENT SCIENCE ENRICHMENT PROGRAM, THE IMAGINE-NC PROJECT IS INTENDED TO INTRODUCE LOCAL AND REGIONAL AREA MIDDLE AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN TO STEM CONCEPTS THROUGH ENGAGING, HANDS- ON, INQUIRY-BASED METHODS. LEARNING ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND THEM, WHILE INTERACTING WITH SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, TECHNOLOGY SPECIALISTS, MATHEMATICIANS, AND EDUCATORS, STUDENTS WILL BUILD ON CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE WHILE BEING INTRODUCED TO NEW SCIENCE AND MATH CONCEPTS THROUGH ENGAGING ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES. THE PROJECT INCLUDES TWO 1-WEEK, NON-RESIDENTIAL SUMMER CAMPS AT THE AURORA FOSSIL MUSEUM AND IN THE AURORA, NC AREA; ONE WEEK FOR THIRTY 6-8 GRADE STUDENTS AND ONE WEEK FOR THIRTY 3-5 GRADE STUDENTS, PLUS FOUR WEEKEND ACTIVITIES DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. PART OF THE RESULT OF THE IMAGINE-NC PROJECT IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE AND MATH MODULES BASED ON THE CAMP ACTIVITIES. THE MODULES WILL INCLUDE EQUIPMENT, INSTRUCTIONS, AND CURRICULUM IN COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT STATE AND NATIONAL SCIENCE AND MATH EDUCATION STANDARDS. THESE MODULES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR AREA/REGIONAL TEACHERS TO BORROW FOR USE IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. 34 CAMP PARTICIPANTS AND 16,453 TEACHER KIT PROGRAMS THE IMAGINE-NC (INTEGRATING MATHEMATICS AND GEOLOGY IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA) PROJECT IS A COLLABORATIVE VENTURE BETWEEN THE AURORA FOSSIL MUSEUM, EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY, AND NUTRIEN. AWARDED THROUGH THE BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND STUDENT SCIENCE ENRICHMENT PROGRAM, THE IMAGINE-NC PROJECT IS INTENDED TO INTRODUCE LOCAL AND REGIONAL AREA MIDDLE AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN TO STEM CONCEPTS THROUGH ENGAGING, HANDS- ON, INQUIRY-BASED METHODS. LEARNING ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND THEM, WHILE INTERACTING WITH SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, TECHNOLOGY SPECIALISTS, MATHEMATICIANS, AND EDUCATORS, STUDENTS WILL BUILD ON CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE WHILE BEING INTRODUCED TO NEW SCIENCE AND MATH CONCEPTS THROUGH ENGAGING ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES. THE PROJECT INCLUDES TWO 1-WEEK, NON-RESIDENTIAL SUMMER CAMPS AT THE AURORA FOSSIL MUSEUM AND IN THE AURORA, NC AREA; ONE WEEK FOR THIRTY 6-8 GRADE STUDENTS AND ONE WEEK FOR THIRTY 3-5 GRADE STUDENTS, PLUS FOUR WEEKEND ACTIVITIES DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. PART OF THE RESULT OF THE IMAGINE-NC PROJECT IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE AND MATH MODULES BASED ON THE CAMP ACTIVITIES. THE MODULES WILL INCLUDE EQUIPMENT, INSTRUCTIONS, AND CURRICULUM IN COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT STATE AND NATIONAL SCIENCE AND MATH EDUCATION STANDARDS. THESE MODULES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR AREA/REGIONAL TEACHERS TO BORROW FOR USE IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. 34 CAMP PARTICIPANTS AND 16,453 TEACHER KIT PROGRAMS

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 June 2002.

    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.