The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
Also known as The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia reported $25.8 million in revenue and $23.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $69.87 went to program services, $25.74 to management and general costs and $4.39 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 47.5% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $1,880,879 (BOARD TRUSTEE (TO 9/24)). 13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 60% 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 $24MFor context, the median across 192 covered science & technology charities: $84.33 programs, $15.67 management, $0.00 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 $26MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 69.9% | 83.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 25.7% | 15.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 4.4% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.09 | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 47.5% | 51.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 3.2% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 23.0% | 19.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $1,880,879 | $513,729 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 7.91% | 1.72% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 13 | 27 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 53.5 | 14.7 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 23 of 26 | 94.3% |
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 expenseScience division - academy scientists conduct research around the world, collecting samples that help them document biodiversity, trace evolution, and track environmental changes over time. For over 200 years, academy scientists have preserved, curated, and studied what is now a world-class collection of an estimated 19 million biological specimens that document the history of life on earth. The academy's environmental work includes a focus on understanding and managing the varied impacts of humans on the environment and the impacts of environmental conditions on diverse human communities.…
Public education - the academy brings natural science to life through three floors of engaging permanent exhibits that include our historic dioramas and dinosaur hall, as well as the children's nature discovery center, outside in, that facilitates hands-on experiences with live animals. While visitation to the academy is still rebounding from the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic, we welcomed more than 126,000 visitors in the fiscal year 2025. This past summer, the number of group visits for summer camps continued to increase, and attendees of the academy's popular summer science camp…
Library and archives - the academy's library and archives is internationally recognized for its rare and historic collection of 80,000 titles spanning five centuries as well as over 1 million archival items including manuscripts, correspondence, field notebooks, films, journals, photographs, and works of art. The library and archives provides services to both a wide range of scholarly users and the public. The department frequently hosts research appointments, class visits, and special sessions with the drexel academic community. Its holdings and services are regularly used by academy…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOARD TRUSTEE (TO 9/24) Director/trustee, 2.00 hrs/week | $0 | $1,829,538 | $51,341 | $1,880,879 |
| BOARD TRUSTEE (AS OF 3/25) Director/trustee, 2.00 hrs/week | $0 | $731,029 | $132,698 | $863,727 |
| PRESIDENT AND CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $592,157 | $0 | $132,698 | $724,855 |
| BOARD TRUSTEE (AS OF 1/25) Director/trustee, 2.00 hrs/week | $0 | $659,811 | $57,698 | $717,509 |
| BOARD TRUSTEE (TO 12/24) Director/trustee, 2.00 hrs/week | $0 | $488,953 | $50,798 | $539,751 |
| BOARD TRUSTEE (TO 3/25) Director/trustee, 2.00 hrs/week | $0 | $379,252 | $49,635 | $428,887 |
| VP, CFO/COO (TO 11/24) Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $304,471 | $0 | $30,673 | $335,144 |
| FORMER KEY EMPLOYEE Former, 0.00 hrs/week | $0 | $177,980 | $39,687 | $217,667 |
13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.5M (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–1b26 · 23 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 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5237
- Volunteers Part I, line 6217
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| CLEAN TECH SERVICES INC Cleaning services | $498,850 |
| LIMBACH COMPANY LLC Hvac services | $337,204 |
| CAPACITY INTERACTIVE CONSULTING LLC Professional services | $292,112 |
| IMAGINE EXHIBITIONS INC Exhibition services | $243,750 |
| ASSET PROTECTION INC Security services | $200,666 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 15 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia spent in FY2025, $69.87 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Coriell Institute for Medical ResearchCamden, NJ · revenue $25M · programs 81.7% · FY2025
- Griffiss InstituteRome, NY · revenue $27M · programs 87.8% · 2025
- Ball State Innovation CorporationMuncie, IN · revenue $25M · programs 74.2% · FY2025
- Lab CentralCambridge, MA · revenue $27M · programs 77.5% · 2024
- Sage BionetworksSeattle, WA · revenue $25M · programs 91.6% · 2024
All science & technology charities · Largest charities in Pennsylvania
Questions people ask
How much of The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia reported that 69.9% of its $23.8 million in expenses went to program services, 25.7% to management and general and 4.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $1,880,879, for the role of BOARD TRUSTEE (TO 9/24) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia get its money?
Of $25.8 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 47.5% came from contributions and grants (including 0.0% from government grants) and 23.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 23-1352000 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), 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 202611359349305541 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202501359349304730 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202421369349303927 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202311359349312521 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202211369349317266 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202111349349306501 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 23-1352000: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.