Moxi the Wolf Museum of Exploration Innovation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 61 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO IGNITE LEARNING THROUGH INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES IN SCIENCE AND CREATIVITY.
- Income
- $4.5 million
- Spending
- $5.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- 8.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 47%
- Employees
- 68
- Volunteers
- 71
- Highest pay
- $287,069, ceo & president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 58 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 61 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2521 of 21 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 December 31, 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 (1)
- $3.5 million spent. EDUCATION MOXIs EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS A CREATIVE, COLLABORATIVEENVIRONMENT WHERE STAFF MEMBERS INNOVATE NEW WAYS TO LEARN. THROUGHPLAYFUL INTERACTIONS WITH OUR HANDS-ON, MINDS-ON EXHIBITS, MOXI GUESTSEXPLORE, THINK, AND DESIGN CREATIVELY, FORMING THEIR OWN QUESTIONS ANDDISCOVERING THEIR OWN ANSWERS. THE MUSEUM OFFERS PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGESFROM TODDLERS TO ADULTS. ALL GUESTS CAN PARTICIPATE IN DAILY PROGRAMS AND EXPERIENCES FACILITATED BY MOXIS FLOOR STAFF KNOWN AS SPARKS. EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO VISIT ON FIELD TRIPS AND PARTICIPATE IN FACILITATED ENGINEERING EXPLORATION PROGRAMS. MOXI OFFERS PAID PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, FROM WEEK-LONG CAMPS FOR CHILDREN TO HAPPY HOUR EVENTS FOR ADULTS, TEACHER NIGHTS OUT, THE TEEN MAKER CORPS AND MORE - THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT MOXI.EXHIBITS - THE MUSEUMS 25,000 SQUARE FOOT, LEED-CERTIFIED GOLDBUILDING HOUSES THREE FLOORS FILLED WITH INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, ROTATINGART INSTALLATIONS, THE INNOVATION WORKSHOP MAKERSPACE, A MULTIPURPOSEEXPLORATION LAB, AND BACK-OF-HOUSE OFFICE AND EXHIBIT WORKSHOP SPACE.OPERATIONS - MOXI SERVES AROUND 165,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY. OUROPERATIONS TEAM PREPARES OUR GUESTS FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCE.OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES MEMBER SERVICES - MAINTAINS THE MUSEUMS FAMILY MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM, INCLUDING ONGOING MEMBER BENEFITS, WHICH INCLUDE MEMBER ONLY EVENTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1994.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.