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Pacific Science Center Foundation

EIN 91-0750867 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER (PACSCI) IGNITES CURIOSITY IN EVERY CHILD AND FUELS A PASSION FOR DISCOVERY, EXPERIMENTATION, AND CRITICAL THINKING IN ALL OF US.

Income
$19.4 million
Spending
$22.8 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 49%
Employees
399
Volunteers
34
Highest pay
$448,229, 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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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

    17 of 17 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 (3)
  1. $7.9 million spent. EXHIBITS - PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER IS WASHINGTON'S LEADING INSTITUTION FOR HANDS-ON, INFORMAL SCIENCE LEARNING FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. IN 2025, 473,596 GUESTS IGNITED THEIR CURIOSITY WHILE VISITING OUR ICONIC SEVEN-ACRE CAMPUS. PACSCI PROVIDES THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY IN WASHINGTON STATE TO EXPERIENCE A TROPICAL BUTTERFLY HOUSE AND IMAX THEATER, THE LARGEST DOMED LASER THEATER IN THE WORLD, AND ONE OF THREE PLANETARIUM EXPERIENCES IN KING COUNTY. GUESTS ENGAGE IN HANDS-ON EXHIBITS, TOUCHING LIVE MARINE ANIMALS, TRYING HANDS-ON ENGINEERING CHALLENGES, EXPLORING THE DEPTHS OF OUTER SPACE, AND MORE. 4,362 HOUSEHOLDS WHO RECEIVE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE OR HOST FOSTER OR UNHOUSED YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN THE ACCESS MEMBERSHIPS PROGRAM, WHERE THEY RECEIVE DEEPLY DISCOUNTED OR FREE MEMBERSHIPS THAT PROVIDE UNLIMITED ACCESS FOR ONE YEAR.
  2. $5.0 million spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS - FOR DECADES PACSCI HAS EXPANDED ACCESS TO HIGHIMPACT, HANDS-ON STEM LEARNING IN SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS. IN 2025, PACSCI SERVED 150,769 CURIOUS MINDS, WITH 75% OF THOSE SERVED FROM LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES OR SCHOOLS WHERE PROGRAMS WERE PROVIDED FOR FREE. SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS TO PACSCI'S ICONIC CAMPUS ARE A TIMEHONORED TRADITION. SCIENCE ON WHEELS TRAVELING WORKSHOPS REACH STUDENTS IN EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE. LIVE VIRTUAL STEM LEARNING WORKSHOPS DEEPEN IN-PERSON LEARNING EXPERIENCES. IN 2025, SUMMER CAMPS FOR CURIOUS MINDS HOSTED 3,837 CAMPERS, AND AWARDED 327 FULL SCHOLARSHIPS TO OUR AWARD-WINNING, HANDS-ON CAMP PROGRAMS AT FIVE LOCATIONS IN KING COUNTY.
  3. $3.5 million spent. THEATERS - PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER IS HOME TO SEATTLE'S ULTIMATE IMAX EXPERIENCE, WHICH OFFERS GUESTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE DISTANT MAGICAL WORLDS LIKE ANTARCTICA, TRAVEL BACK IN TIME TO WHEN DINOSAURS ROAMED THE EARTH, JOURNEY TO THE FARTHEST REACHES OF THE UNIVERSE, AND IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN A CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER. FILMS COME TO LIFE IN BOTH 2D AND 3D IN PACSCI'S PACCAR AND BOEING IMAX THEATERS WITH GIANT SCREENS, CRYSTAL CLEAR IMAGERY, AND 12,000 WATTS OF DIGITAL SURROUND SOUND. PACSCI'S LASER DOME IS HOME TO THE MOST FULL-COLOR LASERS PERMANENTLY INSTALLED IN ANY LASER DOME IN AMERICA AND OFFERS GUESTS A WIDE VARIETY OF EXCITING MUSICAL PROGRAMMING EXPERIENCES DAY AND NIGHT.

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 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 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 March 1964.

    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.