Adventure Science Center Nashville
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO OPEN EVERY MIND TO THE WONDERS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, FOSTERING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF OURSELVES AND THE WORLD AROUND US.
- Income
- $7.3 million
- Spending
- $6.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 12.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 55%
- Employees
- 95
- Volunteers
- 179
- Highest pay
- $321,767, president and 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
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2525 of 25 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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 (3)
- $4.1 million spent. EXHIBITIONS: ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE SCIENCE EXHIBITS, STEM PROGRAMS AND EVENTS FOR GUESTS OF ALL AGES. ALL EXHIBITS ARE DESIGNED TO STIMULATE IMAGINATION THROUGH IMMERSIVE HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCES, PRESENTED USING A VARIETY OF MEDIA, TECHNOLOGY. GALLERIES INCLUDE FOSSIL FRONTIERS, EARLY EXPLORATIONS (5 YEARS AND UNDER), WONDERS OF THE UNIVERSE, SPACE CHASE & THE SOLAR SYSTEM SURVEY, SOUNDBOX (MUSIC AND SOUND), I2 MAKER SPACE, BODY QUEST (HUMAN BODY) AND AN INDOOR ADVENTURE TOWER.
- $572,833 spent. GENERAL OPERATIONS: DURING FY25, ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER REACHED MORE THAN 260,000 PEOPLE THROUGH VISITATION AND STEM PROGRAMING FOR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. OPEN THURSDAY-MONDAY, ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER DELIVERS INNOVATIVE EXHIBITIONS, FIELD TRIP PROGRAMS, SCIENCE DEMONSTRATIONS, PLANETARIUM SHOWS, AND OUTREACH PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ADHERE TO STATE AND NATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS.
- $206,680 spent. PLANETARIUM: WITH AN EVER-CHANGING LINEUP OF SHOWS, THE STATE-OF-THE-ART SUDEKUM PLANETARIUM PRESENTS EXCITING FULL DOME EDUCATION PRODUCTIONS PRODUCED INTERNALLY AND LEASED FROM OUTSIDE VENDORS. PLANETARIUM SHOW OFFERINGS INCLUDED: NIGHTWATCH, ARORA, ASTRONAUT, DREAM TO FLY, EXPLORE, HABITAT EARTH, INCOMING!, MARS: THE ULTIMATE VOYAGE, NIGHTWATCH, ONE WORLD, ONE SKY: BIG BIRD'S ADVENTURE, OUR PLACE IN SPACE, POLARIS, RUSTY ROCKET'S LAST BLAST, STARS, THE STELLARS MISSION: GREEN, TO WORLDS BEYOND, AND WONDERFUL SKY. LASER SHOW OFFERINGS INCLUDED: DAVID BOWIE, FRIGHT LIGHT, ELO, LASER HOLIDAYS, TAYLOR SWIFT, PINK FLOYD: THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, POP 'TIL YOU DROP AND PRINCE.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1954.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.