Curiodyssey
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CURIODYSSEY, A SCIENCE PLAYGROUND AND ZOO, INSPIRES A LOVE FOR SCIENCE AND CURIOSITY ABOUT THE WORLD TO CREATE A BRIGHTER FUTURE. WE DO THIS BY LETTING KIDS LOOSE TO OBSERVE WHAT IS, ASK "WHAT IF AND LET THE NATURAL WORLD ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS. WE GIVE KIDS THE REAL POWER OF SCIENCE.
- Income
- $5.3 million
- Spending
- $6.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 3.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 55%
- Employees
- 92
- Volunteers
- 370
- Highest pay
- $278,491, executive director (thru 9/25)
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 23% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
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
10 of 10Gave 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 September 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 (4)
- $1.1 million spent. WILDLIFE HABITATS:CURIODYSSEY HOUSES NEARLY 70 ANIMALS- FROM NEWTS AND MILLIPEDES TO EAGLES AND RIVER OTTERS. THESE ANIMALS ALLOW CHILDREN TO EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTAND THE NATURAL WORLD. ALL OF THE ANIMALS HOUSED AT CURIODYSSEY ARE UNABLE TO BE RELEASED INTO THE WILD DUE TO OLD PHYSICAL INJURIES THEY OBTAINED IN THE WILD OR HABITUATION TO HUMANS. MOST DO NOT HAVE THE SKILLS TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES, WHILE OTHERS CANNOT AVOID PREDATION IN THE WILD. OUR ANIMALS REINFORCE THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION BY TAKING CENTER STAGE IN OUR WILDLIFE HABITATS, SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS, AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS. CURIODYSSEY IS ACCREDITED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS (AZA). THE AZA ACCREDITS FEWER THAN 20% OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS NATIONWIDE.
- $1.4 million spent. EXHIBITS/PUBLIC PROGRAMS:THIS YEAR WE COMPLETED THE FOURTH YEAR OF THE STEMCORPS MENTOR PROGRAM, CONNECTING 20 STUDENTS WITH 20 MENTORS IN BIWEEKLY VIRTUAL 1:1 MENTOR SESSIONS WHERE DIFFERENT STEM CONCEPTS WERE EXPLORED THROUGH HANDS-ON STEM ACTIVITIES. THE STEMCORPS INITIATIVE WAS CREATED TO CONNECT A CURIODYSSEY TRAINED TEAM OF EDUCATORS, MENTORS, CAREGIVERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO SUPPORT YOUTH FROM UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES AND EMPOWER THEM TO PURSUE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM) LEARNING. CAMP CURIODYSSEY CONTINUES TO BE OUR FLAGSHIP PROGRAM. IT ENGAGED 733 CAMPERS IN AN IMMERSIVE JOURNEY EXPLORING NATURAL PHENOMENA THROUGH SCIENCE AND IN THE NATURAL WORLD. THE CAMP PROGRAM FOSTERS CREATIVITY, IMAGINATION AND APPRECIATION FOR NATURE. EACH CAMP PROVIDES PERSONAL, INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES FOR PRESCHOOL THROUGH FOURTH GRADE YOUTH. THIS YEAR 3,290 CHILDREN RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT AND 66 ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT FOR FIELD TRIPS OR SCIENCE WORKSHOPS. CURIODYSSEY'S CAMP INCLUSION PROGRAM SUPPORTED 72 CHILDREN WITH NEEDS AND ACCOMMODATIONS AND THEIR FAMILIES. SENSORY SUNDAYS, A QUARTERLY EVENT WELCOMING VISITORS WITH SENSORY ACCESS NEEDS TO CURIODYSSEY FOR A FREE AFTERNOON OF SCIENCE ACTIVITIES, ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS, POP-UP EXHIBITS, WELCOMED OVER 1,000 ATTENDEES THIS YEAR. THREE RECURRING EXHIBITS ROTATIONS WERE PILOTED THIS YEAR. THESE ROTATIONS CREATED A FRESH AND CHANGING EXPERIENCE FOR VISITORS WHILE CYCLING IN NEW AND RETURNING EXHIBITS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THREE NEW EXHIBITS WERE CREATED THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS WITH THE CONSERVATION TEAM AS PART OF THE NATURE STORY LOOP. OUR AUTUMN EXHIBITION, FALL INTO SCIENCE, RETURNED WITH A NEW EXHIBIT. OUR POPULAR WINTER LIGHTS EXHIBITION, ILLUMINODYSSEY, ALSO RETURNED WITH SEVERAL NEW EXHIBITS AND RETURNING FAVORITES.
- $937,966 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH/GUEST SERVICES:COMMUNITY OUTREACH IS PART OF CURIODYSSEY'S PRACTICE AND ALLOWS US TO ENACT OUR VALUE OF CENTERING MARGINALIZED VOICES. WE DO THIS THROUGH ONGOING EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR REGIONAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. WE INCREASED ACCESS BY EXPANDING QUALIFYING CRITERIA FOR FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS TO RECEIVE FREE OR REDUCED ADMISSION AND PROGRAM FEES. THROUGH THE MUSEUMS FOR ALL PROGRAM, 4,700 VISITORS RECEIVED FREE ADMISSION AND 505 QUALIFIED FAMILIES ACCESSED FREE MEMBERSHIP. CURIODYSSEY ALSO PROVIDES FREE ADMISSION FOR CASA VOLUNTEERS AND THE CHILDREN IN THEIR CARE. WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FREE ADMISSION FOR A CHILD WITH THE DISCOVER & GO PROGRAM THROUGH LOCAL LIBRARIES.WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY DEVELOPING OUR WEBSITE AS A RESOURCE FOR SCIENCE INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS, PARENTS AND TEACHERS. MARKETING PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN INFORMING TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND CHILDREN ABOUT OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITS AND ENCOURAGING A SCIENTIFIC MINDSET. CURIODYSSEY'S RENTAL SPACES PROVIDE A NATURAL SETTING FOR A VARIETY OF EVENTS, INCLUDING BIRTHDAY PARTIES, WEDDINGS, COMPANY RETREATS, AND OTHER CELEBRATIONS. FOR EVENING EVENTS, GUESTS HAVE ACCESS TO OUR BEAUTIFUL GARDENS AND OUR MAIN BUILDING, WHICH HOUSES A VARIETY OF FASCINATING INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS. WITH PRIOR ARRANGEMENT WITH OUR WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT, EVENTS MAY INCLUDE AN UP-CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH ONE OF OUR MANY ANIMAL AMBASSADORS.
- $1.6 million spent. SCHOOL/SERVICE VOLUNTEERS:CURIODYSSEY OFFERS AN ACTIVE SCHOOL SERVICES PROGRAM TO BAY AREA SCHOOLS THAT INCLUDES ON-SITE AND CLASSROOM-BASED PROGRAMS AND FIELD TRIPS. THE MUSEUM MAKES A SPECIAL EFFORT TO ACCOMMODATE SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE UNABLE TO ENJOY THE CURIODYSSEY PROGRAMS.VOLUNTEERS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING CURIODYSSEY'S MISSION. DURING FY25, OVER 370 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN 12,000 HOURS ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION. THIS REPRESENTS AN ESTIMATED $300,000 IN CONTRIBUTED VALUE. WHILE THE PROGRAM EXPERIENCED SOME NATURAL ATTRITION, OVERALL VOLUNTEER HOURS REMAINED STRONG, RESULTING IN MEANINGFUL IMPACT ACROSS DEPARTMENTS. THIS FOUNDATION POSITIONS THE PROGRAM FOR CONTINUED GROWTH IN FY26 THROUGH EXPANDED RECRUITMENT EFFORTS, NEW VOLUNTEER OFFERINGS, AND A FOCUSED INVESTMENT IN ENHANCING VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT AND EXPERIENCE. GARDENS - CURIODYSSEY'S 1.3 ACRES OF GARDENS PROVIDE A BEAUTIFUL AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR VISITORS YEAR-ROUND. THE GARDENS ALSO SERVE AS AN OUTDOOR LABORATORY FOR OUR CLASSES AND PROGRAMS TO INVESTIGATE PLANTS, INSECTS, AND BIRDS.MUSEUM STORE - THE CURIODYSSEY SHOP FULFILLS ANOTHER PART OF THE ORGANIZATION'S EDUCATIONAL GOAL BY ALLOWING VISITORS AND MEMBERS TO PURCHASE BOOKS, SCIENCE KITS, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL MERCHANDISE THAT DIRECTLY RELATE TO ITS MISSION.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 November 6, 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 September 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 December 1955.
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 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.