Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Perot Museum of Nature and Science

EIN 75-6067569 · Dallas, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE MINDS THROUGH NATURE AND SCIENCE.

Income
$36.6 million
Spending
$29.0 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
18.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
190
Volunteers
2,329
Highest pay
$533,874, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, 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

    33 of 33 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, 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 (3)
  1. $19.1 million spent. OPENING DECEMBER 1, 2012, THE PEROT MUSEUM IS A RESULT OF A SUCCESSFUL $185 MILLION CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO UNITE THREE INSTITUTIONS (THE DALLAS MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, THE SCIENCE PLACE AND THE DALLAS CHILDREN'S MUSEUM) INTO ONE INTERACTIVE BUILDING. WITH THE MISSION TO "INSPIRE MINDS THROUGH NATURE AND SCIENCE," THE MUSEUM PROVIDES A WIDE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES INCLUDING IN-DEPTH PERMANENT EXHIBITS, TRAVELING EXHIBITS, HANDS-ON INTERACTIVES, ONSITE SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SCHOOL OUTREACH PROGRAMS, DISCOVERY CAMPS, FILMS AND WEEKEND ACTIVITIES FOR ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024, THE MUSEUM SERVED OVER 836,000 VISITORS THROUGH ON-SITE VISITS, INCLUDING OVER 113,000 STUDENTS ON 1,543 FIELD TRIPS. THE TRAVELING EXHIBITS IN FISCAL YEAR 2024 WERE T REX: THE ULTIMATE PREDATOR AND MARS ROVER.
  2. $3.4 million spent. THE MUSEUM IS DEDICATED TO INSPIRING CHILDREN TO PURSUE STEM CAREERS BY PROVIDING ENGAGING EDUCATIONAL TOOLS. THE MUSEUM PROVIDES HANDS-ON LEARNING PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN THAT SUPPORT THE TEXAS ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS (TEKS) STANDARDS. TO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY OF PEROT MUSEUM PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY TO SCHOOLS SERVING STUDENTS ON FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH, THE MUSEUM PROVIDES FINANCIAL AID WITH FUNDS CONTRIBUTED BY INDIVIDUALS, CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS FOR THIS PURPOSE. IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, THE MUSEUM'S IN-PERSON EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS SERVED OVER 326,000 PARTICIPANTS ONSITE AND OFFSITE THROUGH FIELD TRIPS, SCHOOL PROGRAMS, CAMPS, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
  3. $1.2 million spent. THE PEROT MUSEUM OPENED A NEW COLLECTIONS FACILITY IN MARCH 2020, ALLOWING THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTIONS TO BE CONSOLIDATED INTO ONE, STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY. THIS FACILITY PROVIDES AMPLE LAB AND WORK SPACES TO SUPPORT CONTINUED RESEARCH OF THE COLLECTIONS. IN ADDITION, PEROT MUSEUM PARTNERS WITH LOCAL AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO CONDUCT FIELD RESEARCH AND FOSSIL PRESERVATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 2025.

    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 August 1968.

    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.