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Arizona Science Center

EIN 86-0390558 · Phoenix, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE, EDUCATE AND ENGAGE CURIOUS MINDS THROUGH SCIENCE.

Income
$16.6 million
Spending
$12.6 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
-6.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
206
Volunteers
438
Highest pay
$313,946, president & ceo

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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 29% 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 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

    40 of 40 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. $8.8 million spent. ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER IMPACTS MORE THAN 800,000 STUDENTS, FAMILIES, EDUCATORS AND VISITORS ACROSS THE STATE IN ITS MISSION TO INSPIRE, EDUCATE, AND ENGAGE CURIOUS MINDS THROUGH SCIENCE. ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL ATTRACTIONS IN ARIZONA AND IS THE ONLY RESOURCE OF ITS KIND IN THE STATE. ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER FEATURES A FULL COMPLEMENT OF INFORMAL SCIENCE PROGRAMMING INCLUDING MORE THAN 300 HANDS-ON EXHIBITS, A GIANT SCREEN THEATER, DORRANCE PLANETARIUM, FEATURED EXHIBITIONS, LIVE DEMONSTRATIONS, CAMPS AND WORKSHOPS, ADULT LECTURES, AND SCHOOL SERVICES INCLUDING FIELD TRIPS, IN-CLASS OUTREACH PROGRAMS, TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ACCESS TO OUR COMMUNITY-BASED MAKER-SPACE, CREATE. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE 0)ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER CONTINUES TO BE A STATE LEADER IN PROVIDING INFORMAL SCIENCE EDUCATION EXPERIENCES THAT HAVE LONG-TERM IMPACT ON THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY. K-12 TEACHERS, SCHOOL LEADERS, AND PARENTS WERE PROVIDED ACCESS TO AN INNOVATIVE COMBINATION OF FORMAL AND INFORMAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES TO ENHANCE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER'S ANNUAL VISITATION INCLUDES 100,000 SCHOOLCHILDREN AND TEACHERS REPRESENTING MORE THAN 100 CITIES AND TOWNS THROUGHOUT ARIZONA WHO VISIT THE CENTER, INCLUDING OVER 40,000 UNDERSERVED YOUTH WHO VISIT AT NO CHARGE THROUGH THE FOCUSED FIELD TRIPS PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, MORE THAN 90,000 CHILDREN AND ADULTS EXPERIENCED SCIENCE ON WHEELS OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT ARIZONA INCLUDING RURAL AREAS AND TRIBAL NATIONS.IN CREATE, A 6,500 - SQUARE FOOT COMMUNITY MAKER-SPACE, LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE SCIENCE CENTER BUILDING, INDIVIDUALS USED TRADITIONAL AND HIGH-TECH MACHINERY, TECHNOLOGY AND MATERIALS. GUESTS RECEIVED SUPERVISION AND TRAINING, ENCOURAGING INDIVIDUALS TO BE MORE EXPERIMENTAL, CREATIVE, INNOVATIVE, INDEPENDENT AND TECHNOLOGICALLY PROFICIENT. IN CREATE, MAKERS OF ALL AGES WERE ACTIVE, ENGAGED, PLAYFUL AND RESOURCEFUL WITH A NEWLY DEVELOPED SENSE OF CURIOSITY AND WONDER WITH NEW SKILLS AND AN INTRODUCTION TO OCCUPATIONS FOR WHICH THEY MAY BE SUITED.

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 October 1982.

    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.