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Liberty Science Center
Liberty Science Center reported $39.7 million in revenue and $33.3 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $78.30 went to program services, $15.28 to management and general costs and $6.42 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 41.0% of the total. Government grants made up 15.0%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $1,179,447 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 19 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 36% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $33MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $40MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 78.3% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 15.3% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.4% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.14 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 39.4% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 15.0% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 41.0% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $1,179,447 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 3.54% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 19 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 49.4 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 25 of 25 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseLiberty Science Center has broad ambitions and sound strategies to change the face of science education in new jersey and beyond. In addition to its engaging exhibition and theater offerings, an important tool in achieving that objective is the center for learning and teaching. The 19,000-square-foot facility is dedicated to delivering educational programming for students, guests, teachers, and visitors. It is the home of lsc's internationally acclaimed "live from surgery" program, where students observe and discuss procedures and risk factors with operating staff via videoconferencing during…
Liberty Science Center's scitech scity will be a "business optimizer", a new breed of innovation center that maximizes commercial success and social impact of science and technology startups. The word scity (pronounced "city"), from science + city, is lsc's portmanteau for a city infused with scientific creativity and actionable optimism about building a better future for all of US. Envisaged as a small-scale "city of tomorrow", scitech scity aspires to be an internationally recognized community where businesses test - and residents and visitors experience - new products and services before…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & CEO Officer, 70.00 hrs/week | $1,052,692 | $0 | $126,755 | $1,179,447 |
| EVP, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 60.00 hrs/week | $350,499 | $0 | $47,451 | $397,950 |
| VP EXTERNAL AFFAIRS Officer, 60.00 hrs/week | $306,360 | $0 | $64,024 | $370,384 |
| CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER Officer, 60.00 hrs/week | $276,608 | $0 | $36,058 | $312,666 |
| SR. DIRECTOR, INDIV. GIVING Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $203,665 | $0 | $22,184 | $225,849 |
| HEAD, EXHIBITION DEV. & DESIGN Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $182,532 | $0 | $43,111 | $225,643 |
| VP STEM EDUCATION Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $180,911 | $0 | $42,228 | $223,139 |
| VP MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $163,250 | $0 | $47,964 | $211,214 |
19 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Liberty Science Center (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.2M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b25 · 25 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5290
- Volunteers Part I, line 655
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ESPOSITO CONSTRUCTION Site development & improvement | $1,590,273 |
| PENGUIN MAINTENANCE AND SERVICES Building engineering | $1,570,899 |
| AWT ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC Soil disposal | $904,003 |
| SJP PROJECT SOLUTIONS Developer project management | $884,136 |
| GILBANE BUILDING COMPANY Architecture & engineering | $856,380 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 41 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
23 private foundations reported grants to Liberty Science Center totaling $417K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Liberty Science Center's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Liberty Science Center, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Liberty Science Center spent in FY2025, $78.30 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Joffrey BalletChicago, IL · revenue $40M · programs 84.9% · FY2025
- Southern California Public RadioPasadena, CA · revenue $40M · programs 66.3% · FY2025
- Uss Midway MuseumSan Diego, CA · revenue $39M · programs 82.0% · 2024
- Ruth Eckerd HallClearwater, FL · revenue $40M · programs 83.5% · FY2025
- Municipal Theatre Association of St LouisSt Louis, MO · revenue $39M · programs 74.7% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in New Jersey
Questions people ask
How much of Liberty Science Center's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Liberty Science Center reported that 78.3% of its $33.3 million in expenses went to program services, 15.3% to management and general and 6.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Liberty Science Center pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Liberty Science Center reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $1,179,447, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Liberty Science Center get its money?
Of $39.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 39.4% came from contributions and grants (including 15.0% from government grants) and 41.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Liberty Science Center a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 22-2302253 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202611329349307836 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202531349349304343 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401369349300805 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202341359349318544 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202221369349317502 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202131379349300433 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 22-2302253: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.