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Turtle Bay Exploration Park

EIN 68-0236299 · Redding, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE WONDER, EXPLORATION AND APPRECIATION OF OUR WORLD.

Income
$5.6 million
Spending
$8.3 million
Spent on programs
59%
Reserves
15.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
134
Volunteers
221
Highest pay
$269,640, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 49% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    59% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 25

    7 of 7 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $2.5 million spent. MUSEUM ACTIVITIES - THE MUSEUM CONTAINS PERMANENT, INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS AND TWO LARGE EXHIBITION GALLERIES. THE EXPERIENCES IN THE MUSEUM INCLUDE UNDERWATER FISH VIEWING, WALK THROUGH HISTORIC RE-CREATIONS, EXPERIMENTS WITH SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT AND ART VIEWING. THE EXHIBITS FEATURE A MIX OF INTERPRETIVE MATERIAL, MULTIMEDIA EXHIBITS, SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS, SELF-GUIDED EXPLORATION, AND PLAY FEATURES.
  2. $2.4 million spent. EDUCATIONAL AND OTHER PROGRAMS - OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE: 1) ARBORETUM & BOTANICAL GARDEN THAT EXTEND OVER 200 ACRES WITH DIRECT LINKS TO THE SACRAMENTO RIVER TRAIL SYSTEM AND COMPRISE 20 ACRES OF MEDITERRANEAN-CLIMATE DISPLAY GARDENS, A CHILDREN'S GARDEN, A MEDICINAL GARDEN AND A BUTTERFLY GARDEN; 2) ANIMAL PROGRAMS THAT INSPIRE, CREATE CONNECTIONS AND FOSTER APPRECIATION FOR THE DIVERSITY AND MAGNIFICENCE OF WILDLIFE THROUGH CONSERVATION, EDUCATION AND ENTERTAINMENT; 3) PAUL BUNYAN FOREST CAMP THAT IS AN EDUCATIONAL HUB MODELED AFTER AN OLD-TIME FOREST CAMP AND CONSISTS OF THE MILL-HOUSE MUSEUM, HAND-ON EXHIBITS AND AN INTERPRETIVE FOREST; AND 4) SCHOOL TOUR PROGRAMS AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHERS IN THE NORTH STATE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1995.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.