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Southern California Academy of Sciences Los Angeles County Museum

EIN 95-6047942 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES PROMOTES SCIENCE THROUGH THE FELLOWSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL SCIENTISTS AND SUPPORT OF STUDENT SCIENCE PROGRAMS IT'S MEMBERSHIPS, THE ANNUAL MEETING, PUBLICATION OF THE BULLETIN, STUDENT RESEARCH GRANTS, STUDENT PERFORMANCE AWARDS, AND IT'S JR ACADEMY RESEARCH PROGRAM.

Income
$61,991
Spending
$89,912
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
51.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 57%
Employees
0
Volunteers
20

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 51.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 45% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 94 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 (3)
  1. $34,199 spent. THE BULLETIN OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES: A PEER-REVIEWED SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL THAT IS PUBLISHED THREE TIMES ANNUALLY (APRIL, AUGUST AND DECEMBER) AND INCLUDES ARTICLES IN ENGLISH IN ANY FIELD OF SCIENCE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA. MANUSCRIPTS SUBMITTED FOR PUBLICATION SHOULD CONTAIN RESULTS OF ORIGINAL REASEARCH, EMPLOY SOUND PRICIPLES OF SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION, AND PRESENT DATA IN CLEAR AND CONCISE MANNER. IN ADDITION TO BEING DISTRIBUTED TO ACADEMY MEMBERS, THE BULLETIN IS DISTIBUTED TO LIBRARIES AND ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH ON-LINE SERVICES. THE PRIMARY INCOME FROM SUBSCRIPTIONS IS OBTAINED FROM BIOONE.ORG. THE ACADEMY HAS PUBLISHED THE BULLETIN FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY AND CURRENTLY IS PUBLISHING VOLUME
  2. $29,981 spent. ANNUAL MEETING: THE ACADEMY HOLDS A PUBLIC MEETING ANNUALLY, NORMALLY IN MAY OR JUNE. THE MEETING CONSISTS OF SEVERAL SYMPOSIA FEATURING SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS ON SPECIFIC TOPICS, CONTRIBUTED PAPERS OPEN TO ANY FIELD OF SCIENCE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA, CONTRIBUTED POSTERS OPEN TO ANY FIELD OF SCIENCE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SOUTHERN CALIFONIA AREA, AND PRESENTATIONS BY HIGH SCHOOLS MEMBERS OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNAI ACADEMY OF SCIENCES JUNIOR ACADEMY. UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CASH AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN ORAL AND POSTER PRESENTATIONS. UNIVERSITY RECIPIENTS OF REASEARCH GRANTS ARE ANNOUNCED DURING THE MEETING. ALSO, THE ACADEMY INVITES NOTED SCIENTISTS TO SPEAK AT EACH OF TWO PLENARY SESSIONS FOR WHICH STIPENDS ARE GRANTED. ALL GRANTS AWARDS, AND STIPENDS ARE REPORTED ON SCHEDULE "I".
  3. RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM: HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO JOIN THE SOUTHER CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES JUNIOR ACADEMY PARTICIPATE IN THE TRAINING PROGRAM, WHICH CONSISTS OF THREE MEETINGS DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR WHERE THE STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO CONDUCT RESEARCH, HOT TO WRITE THE RESULTS, AND HOW TO PRESENT THE RESULTS. THEY THEN PARTICIPATE IN THE ANNUAL MEETING BY PRESENTING THEIR RESULTS TO PROFESSIONAL SCIENTISTS, WHO JUDGE THE QUALITY OF THEIR WORK. TOP STUDENTS ARE SELECTED TO ATTEND THE AMERICAN JUNIOR ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AT THE NATIONAL AASSOCIATION OF ACADEMIES OF SCIENCE IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 December 1955.

    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.

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