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Discovery Science Center of Orange County
Discovery Science Center of Orange County reported $21.5 million in revenue and $17.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $82.02 went to program services, $12.44 to management and general costs and $5.54 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 55.5% of the total. Government grants made up 23.5%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $761,338 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 183% 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 $17MFor 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 $21MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.0% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.4% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 5.5% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.08 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 55.5% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 23.5% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 37.6% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $761,338 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 4.46% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 37.4 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 24 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 expenseDiscovery Science Center - to provide a world class, hands on educational Science Center designed to inspire a fascination with science and math and lay a foundation for future achievement in these areas
Education outreach - our goal is to complement elementary curriculum with hands on instruction in science and inspire children to pursue further education in science. The education department serves over 350,000 children in the orange county, riverside, san bernadino, san diego, ventura, and los angeles areas
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Director/trustee, officer, 27.00 hrs/week | $493,913 | $243,271 | $24,154 | $761,338 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 27.00 hrs/week | $199,946 | $98,482 | $20,660 | $319,088 |
| CHIEF OF STAFF Key employee, 27.00 hrs/week | $170,468 | $83,962 | $8,148 | $262,578 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATIO Highest compensated employee, 27.00 hrs/week | $138,344 | $68,140 | $20,825 | $227,309 |
| SR. DIRECTOR, CORPORATE RELATI Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $187,070 | $0 | $22,947 | $210,017 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIO Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $192,136 | $0 | $12,747 | $204,883 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING Highest compensated employee, 27.00 hrs/week | $125,106 | $61,620 | $14,606 | $201,332 |
| VICE PRESIDENT, EXHIBITS A Highest compensated employee, 27.00 hrs/week | $128,942 | $63,509 | $4,752 | $197,203 |
8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Discovery Science Center of Orange County (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $924K (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 · 24 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 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5284
- Volunteers Part I, line 6709
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| PEBBLE BEACH RESORTS Constractor for golf event | $567,169 |
| STERLING OC ENTERPRISES LLC Event tech services | $223,222 |
| BUBBLE MELODY LLC Contractor for bubblefest entertainment | $190,395 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
11 private foundations reported grants to Discovery Science Center of Orange County totaling $847K 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 Discovery Science Center of Orange County's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Discovery Science Center of Orange County, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Discovery Science Center of Orange County spent in FY2025, $82.02 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Capital of Texas Public Telecommunications CouncilAustin, TX · revenue $21M · programs 60.8% · FY2025
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- Cincinnati Arts AssociationCincinnati, OH · revenue $21M · programs 76.4% · FY2025
- Greater Dayton Public TelevisionDayton, OH · revenue $22M · programs 67.0% · FY2025
- Creative Visions FoundationMalibu, CA · revenue $21M · programs 97.0% · 2024
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Discovery Science Center of Orange County's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Discovery Science Center of Orange County reported that 82.0% of its $17.1 million in expenses went to program services, 12.4% to management and general and 5.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Discovery Science Center of Orange County pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Discovery Science Center of Orange County reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $761,338, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Discovery Science Center of Orange County get its money?
Of $21.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 55.5% came from contributions and grants (including 23.5% from government grants) and 37.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Discovery Science Center of Orange County a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 33-0828380 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 202600829349300225 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202510709349301416 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202440749349301624 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202300809349300830 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202240989349301424 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202120919349301357 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 33-0828380: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.