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U S Space & Rocket Center Education Foundation

EIN 63-1265839 · Huntsville, AL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE U.S. SPACE & ROCKET CENTER EDUCATION FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS OF THE U.S. SPACE & ROCKET CENTER AND SPACE CAMP THROUGH GRANTS, FUNDRAISING, SCHOLARSHIPS, EVENTS AND CORPORATE PROGRAMS.

Income
$35.3 million
Spending
$31.3 million
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
1,138
Highest pay
$128,584, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.0 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 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 59% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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 September 28, 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 (5)
  1. $12.4 million spent. THE FOUNDATION RAISES FUNDS FOR THE COMPLETION OF CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR THE U.S. SPACE & ROCKET CENTER. THESE FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED TO ASSIST IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SKILLS TRAINING CENTER AND A NEW ROCKET PARK THAT DISPLAYS THE CENTER'S COLLECTION OF ROCKET ARTIFACTS.
  2. $1.7 million spent. THROUGH THE FUNDRAISING EFFORTS OF THE FOUNDATION, DONATIONS ARE MADE AND ALLOCATED TO THE U.S. SPACE & ROCKET CENTER FOR SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND SPACE CAMP AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL MUSEUM PROGRAMS. SPACE CAMP AND AFFILIATED PROGRAMS PROVIDE HANDS ON LEARNING OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM) IN AN IMMERSIVE SETTING USING SPACE EXPLORATION AS THE THEME AND BACKDROP. THE SAME TECHNIQUE IS APPLIED TO OUR EDUCATOR PROGRAMS AND NOT ONLY TEACHES OUR EDUCATORS BUT PROVIDES LEARNING TOOLS AND INSPIRATION THAT THEY CAN TAKE BACK TO THE CLASSROOM.
  3. $283,408 spent. THE FOUNDATION SOLICITS FUNDS FROM CORPORATE AND PRIVATE DONORS TO SPONSOR SEVERAL MAJOR EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE EVENTS ARE HOSTED BY THE U.S. SPACE & ROCKET CENTER BUT UNDERWRITTEN BY FUNDS RAISED BY THE FOUNDATION. THESE EVENTS SUPPORT THE MISSIONS OF THE FOUNDATION AND THE CENTER AND KEEP THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE ENGAGED AND UP TO DATE ON WHAT IS CURRENT IN THE MUSEUM.
  4. $16.9 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES - THE FOUNDATION GRANTS FUNDS TO THE U.S. SPACE & ROCKET CENTER TO FUND ADDITIONAL MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS. IN ADDITION FUNDS ARE GRANTED TO PAY FOR LABOR, TAXES AND BENEFITS TO SUPPORT THE MANY PROGRAMS OF THE U.S. SPACE & ROCKET CENTER.
  5. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES - THE FOUNDATION GRANTS FUNDS TO THE U.S. SPACE & ROCKET CENTER TO FUND ADDITIONAL MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS. IN ADDITION FUNDS ARE GRANTED TO PAY FOR LABOR, TAXES AND BENEFITS TO SUPPORT THE MANY PROGRAMS OF THE U.S. SPACE & ROCKET CENTER.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 28, 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 September 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 November 2015.

    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.