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Explora Science Center & Childrens Museum of Albuquerque

EIN 85-0442062 · Albuquerque, NM

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

TO CREATE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN.

Income
$12.0 million
Spending
$8.5 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
10.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 42%
Employees
208
Volunteers
43
Highest pay
$191,224, co executive

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

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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

    28 of 28 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 June 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 (1)
  1. $6.6 million spent. EXPLORA IS AN INNOVATIVE MUSEUM AND LEARNING CENTER THAT PROVIDES HANDS-ON ENGAGEMENT IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, AND MATH (STEAM) FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. EXPLORA'S WORK IS ORGANIZED AROUND A CRADLE THROUGH CAREER STEAM LEARNING STRATEGIC FOCUS, WHICH WAS CO-DEVELOPED WITH THE COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE, EDUCATE, AND EMPLOY STUDENTS IN STEAM-IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES, DRIVING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND INCREASING FAMILY AND COMMUNITY PROSPERITY ACROSS NEW MEXICO. WITHIN THIS STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK, EXPLORA PLAYS SEVERAL ROLES. AS A SERVICE PROVIDER, EXPLORA ENGAGED PRE-12TH STUDENTS THROUGH STEAM CLASSROOM PROGRAMS, PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO EDUCATORS, EMPLOYED LOW-INCOME HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AS INTERNS, AND FACILITATED EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING FOR OVER 321,000 YOUTH AND ADULTS. ADDITIONALLY, EXPLORA PLAYS THE ROLE OF BACKBONE ORGANIZATION FOR STEM-NM, A CROSS-SECTOR LEARNING ECOSYSTEM WORKING TO EXPAND EQUITY IN AND ACCESS TO STEM EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT. EXPLORA IS THE HOME AND FISCAL SPONSOR OF THE INFORMAL LEARNING LEADERSHIP COLLABORATIVE. IN THE ROLE OF CONVENER AND COLLABORATOR, EXPLORA LED SEVERAL COLLECTIVE IMPACT PROJECTS, LIKE STEM CHARGING STATIONS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, WHICH BUILDS AWARENESS AROUND EARLY CHILDHOOD STEM LEARNING,AND MATH FACESS (FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES EMPOWERING STUDENT SUCCESS). EXPLORA WORKED ON A NUMBER OF OTHER INITIATIVES WITH PARTNERS, INCLUDING NEW MEXICO AUTISM SOCIETY, NM STATE LIBRARIES' TRIBAL LIBRARIES PROGRAM, PARTNERSHIP FOR COMMUNITY ACTION, AND MORE. EXPLORA IS AN INNOVATIVE MUSEUM AND LEARNING CENTER THAT PROVIDES HANDS-ON ENGAGEMENT IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, AND MATH (STEAM) FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. EXPLORA'S WORK IS ORGANIZED AROUND A CRADLE THROUGH CAREER STEAM LEARNING STRATEGIC FOCUS, WHICH WAS CO-DEVELOPED WITH THE COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE, EDUCATE, AND EMPLOY STUDENTS IN STEAM-IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES, DRIVING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND INCREASING FAMILY AND COMMUNITY PROSPERITY ACROSS NEW MEXICO. WITHIN THIS STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK, EXPLORA PLAYS SEVERAL ROLES. AS A SERVICE PROVIDER, EXPLORA ENGAGED PRE-12TH STUDENTS THROUGH STEAM CLASSROOM PROGRAMS, PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO EDUCATORS, EMPLOYED LOW-INCOME HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AS INTERNS, AND FACILITATED EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING FOR OVER 321,000 YOUTH AND ADULTS. ADDITIONALLY, EXPLORA PLAYS THE ROLE OF BACKBONE ORGANIZATION FOR STEM-NM, A CROSS-SECTOR LEARNING ECOSYSTEM WORKING TO EXPAND EQUITY IN AND ACCESS TO STEM EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT. EXPLORA IS THE HOME AND FISCAL SPONSOR OF THE INFORMAL LEARNING LEADERSHIP COLLABORATIVE. IN THE ROLE OF CONVENER AND COLLABORATOR, EXPLORA LED SEVERAL COLLECTIVE IMPACT PROJECTS, LIKE STEM CHARGING STATIONS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, WHICH BUILDS AWARENESS AROUND EARLY CHILDHOOD STEM LEARNING,AND MATH FACESS (FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES EMPOWERING STUDENT SUCCESS). EXPLORA WORKED ON A NUMBER OF OTHER INITIATIVES WITH PARTNERS, INCLUDING NEW MEXICO AUTISM SOCIETY, NM STATE LIBRARIES' TRIBAL LIBRARIES PROGRAM, PARTNERSHIP FOR COMMUNITY ACTION, AND MORE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 November 6, 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 June 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 August 1996.

    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 November 4, 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.