Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Orlando Science Center Inc

EIN 59-0896343 · Orlando, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER'S MISSION IS TO "INSPIRE SCIENCE LEARNING FOR LIFE".

Income
$19.9 million
Spending
$17.8 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 48%
Employees
399
Volunteers
722
Highest pay
$297,904, 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

    41 of 41 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. $4.6 million spent. BY INSPIRING SCIENCE LEARNING FOR ALL, OSC CREATES PROSPERITY IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ENHANCES LIVES. IN FY2025, OSC HAD 685,000 VISITORS (A 4% INCREASE OVER FY 24), INCLUDING 184,308 WHO RECEIVED FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE ADMISSION. OUR CORE EXHIBITS INCLUDE KIDSTOWN - CREATIVE PLAY NURTURING COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN; LIFE - WHICH TELLS THE STORY OF CONSERVATION THROUGH DIRECT ENCOUNTERS WITH THE ANIMALS THAT SHARE OUR PLANET; KINETIC ZONE - FUNDAMENTALS OF FORCES; DINO DIGS - PALEONTOLOGY AND GIANT PREHISTORIC CREATURES; OUR PLANET, OUR SOLAR SYSTEM - MYSTERIES OF SPACE AND EARTH'S DYNAMIC FORCES; AND THE HIVE: A MAKERSPACE - MAKING, LEARNING AND EXPLORING WITH TOOLS AND MENTORS TO HELP TURN CREATIVE IDEAS INTO REALITY.
  2. $8.1 million spent. 161,000 OF OUR VISITORS EXPERIENCED OSC THROUGH FIELD TRIPS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. WE INSPIRE STEM LEARNING THROUGH ON-SITE DEMONSTRATIONS, PROGRAMS, LABS AND SCHOOL FIELD TRIP ACTIVITIES, TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, BREAK CAMPS AND CLASSES, AN ONSITE PRESCHOOL, AND ENGAGING COMPETITIONS. OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING IS ENGAGING, HANDS-ON, AND ALIGNED TO EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS TO ENSURE MEANINGFUL LEARNING EXPERIENCES. OFF-SITE PROGRAMS BRING CLASSROOM AND ASSEMBLY-STYLE LEARNING TO STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AT LOCAL SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL AND OTHER CULTURAL VENUES IN NINE COUNTIES THROUGHOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA.OSC'S PLACE-BASED OUTREACH PROGRAM, NEIGHBORHOOD SCIENCE, PROVIDES CONSISTENT STEM LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS IDENTIFIED BY OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AS DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES THAT LACK ACCESS TO QUALITY STEM EXPERIENCES. ON FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2024 NEIGHBORHOOD SCIENCE SERVED TWO LOCATIONS, GRAND AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER AND THE BRADLEY OTIS BRANCH OF THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, WITH FREE STEM WORKSHOPS 2-4 DAYS PER WEEK, COVERING TOPICS SUCH AS ENGINEERING DESIGN PROCESS, COMPUTER SCIENCE, CODING, ROBOTICS, VIRTUAL REALITY, AND MAKER SPACES. WE HAVE MULTI-YEAR COMMITMENTS AT EACH OF THESE LOCATIONS, ENABLING US TO MAKE A DEEP, LASTING IMPACT THROUGH LONG-TERM, CONSISTENT PROGRAMMING. THESE PARTNERS ARE LOCATED IN THE 32805 ZIP CODE, WHICH THE ECONOMIC INNOVATION GROUP IDENTIFIED AS A DISTRESSED ZIP CODES, ENDURING A LOW RATE OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, AND HIGH POVERTY RATE. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, NEIGHBORHOOD SCIENCE PROVIDED OVER 5,000 STUDENT TOUCHPOINTS.
  3. $2.7 million spent. OUR DR. PHILLIPS CINEDOME, OBSERVATORY AND DIGITAL ADVENTURE THEATER EDUCATE VISITORS OF ALL AGES. THE CINEDOME BEGAN RENOVATION IN AUGUST OF 2025 AND WILL REOPEN IN SPRING 2026 AS "THE DOME BY DR. PHILLIPS CHARITIES". THE DOME WILL OFFER CUTTING EDGE PLANETARIUM SHOWS ALONG WITH GIANT SCREEN MOVIES AND ORIGINAL LASER LIGHT SHOWS. THE RENOVATION WILL ALSO INCLUDE AN UPGRADE TO AN 8K ULTRA HIGH-DEFINITION FULL DOME LASER PROJECTION SYSTEM. THE DIGITAL ADVENTURE THEATER HOSTS EDUCATIONAL MOVIES DAILY SUCH AS CITIES OF THE FUTURE AND ALSO SCIENCE LIVE! PROGRAM FAVORITES THAT BRING THE GUEST EXPERIENCE TO LIFE WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART 4K RGB LASER PROJECTION AND 7.1 SURROUND SOUND, THE DIGITAL ADVENTURE THEATER ALSO PRESENTS MOVIES IN 2D AND 3D, AND HOSTS GUEST PRESENTATIONS BY SCIENTISTS. THE OBSERVATORY FEATURES CENTRAL FLORIDA'S LARGEST REFRACTOR TELESCOPE AND PROVIDES PUBLIC ACCESS FOR VIEWING ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS.

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 February 1957.

    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.