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Fort Worth Museum of Science and History

EIN 75-0755335 · Fort Worth, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DEDICATED TO LIFELONG LEARNING AND ANCHORED BY OUR RICH COLLECTIONS, THE FORT WORTH MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY ENGAGES OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY THROUGH CREATIVE, VIBRANT PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITS INTERPRETING SCIENCE AND THE STORES OF TEXAS AND THE SOUTHWEST.

Income
$11.0 million
Spending
$13.0 million
Spent on programs
59%
Reserves
-9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 51%
Employees
234
Volunteers
588
Highest pay
$290,502, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    59% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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

    20 of 21 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 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 (4)
  1. $4.8 million spent. THE MUSEUM OWNS AND MAINTAINS A COLLECTION OF OVER 175,000 SCIENTIFIC EXHIBITS AND HISTORICAL OBJECTS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON TEXAS AND THE SOUTHWEST. WE PROVIDE ENGAGING, INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES TO THE PUBLIC THAT INVOLVE POWERFUL, FIRST-HAND INFORMAL LEARNING THROUGH OUR EXHIBITIONS, INNOVATION GALLERY, INNOVATION STUDIOS, AND CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. THE MUSEUM FEATURES 50,000+ SQUARE FEET OF EXHIBITIONS ON TOPICS INCLUDING ENERGY, DINOSAURS, INNOVATION, FORT WORTH HISTORY, AND ASTRONOMY. THE MUSEUM WELCOMED OVER 259,681 GUESTS, INCLUDING SCHOOL CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND GROUPS.
  2. $1.9 million spent. DISCOVERY LAB ON WHEELS PROVIDES PROGRAMMING TO A VARIETY OF AUDIENCES FROM SCHOOL CLASSROOMS TO COMMUNITY AND LIBRARY PROGRAMS. DLW ALSO PROVIDES PROGRAMMING TO ADULT AUDIENCES THROUGH OUR LIFE SCIENCE LECTURES AND RECOLLECTIONS PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE TAILORED TO ADULTS LIVING WITH DEMENTIA OR IN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES. DURING FY2023 THE DISCOVERY LAB ON WHEELS PROGRAM VISITED 93 LOCATIONS, 3,929 CHILDREN AND 593 ADULTS. DISCOVERY LAB ON WHEELS 2023-2024 SERVED 44 LOCATIONS, 6,485 CHILDREN AND 1,046 ADULTS. THE FAMILY MUSEUM NIGHTS PROGRAM PROVIDES SCHOOLS WITH THE OPPORTUITY TO BRING THEIR FAMILIES TO THE MUSEUM FOR AN EXCLUSIVE VISIT. IN FY2023, 88 SCHOOOLS VISITED THE MUSEUM WITH 18,247 IN ATTENDANCE. IN FY2024, 55 SCHOOLS VISITED DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND 32 DURING THE SUMMER WITH 26,391 TOTAL ATTENDANCE. THE FAMILY STEAM FESITVALS PROGRAM TRAVELS TO CAMPUSES BRINGING QUALITY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES INTO THE SCHOOL FOR FAMILIES WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE MUSEUM OTHERWISE. DURING FY2023, 60 CAMPUSES PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM WITH 14,651 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS IN ATTENDANCE. IN FY2024, 66 CAMPUSES PARTICIPAED WITH 13,663 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS IN ATTENDANCE.
  3. $970,397 spent. THE MUSEUM FOSTERS MULTIGENERATIONAL LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT WITH SCIENCE, HISTORY, CULTURE, AND THE HUMANITIES. THE NEW JANE & JOHN JUSTIN FOUNDATION OMNI THEATRE OPENED IN DECEMBER 2024 AND FEATURES ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY THAT IMMERSES GUESTS IN AN 8K DIGITAL EXPERIENCE. THE THEATRE IS THE FIRST LED DIGITAL DOME OF ITS SIZE IN A MUSEUM SETTING. DURING FY2025, 196,130 GUESTS EXPERIENCED THE NEW THEATER.
  4. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES CONSIST OF RENTAL INCOME, NET INCOME FROM SALES OF INVENTORY, PARKING FEES, AND OTHER PROGRAM REVENUES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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 June 1948.

    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.