Discovery World Ltd
Discovery World Ltd reported $15.7 million in revenue and $8.8 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $82.72 went to program services, $11.77 to management and general costs and $5.51 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 66.3% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $255,610 (CEO AND PRESIDENT). 3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 78% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $8.8MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $16MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.7% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 11.8% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 5.5% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.05 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 66.3% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 28.7% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $255,610 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.91% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 3 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 74.0 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 43 of 43 | 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseDiscovery World is an extraordinary experience devoted to sharing the wonders of science and igniting a love of endless exploration. We are the spark of joy in a childs eyes when they make a connection with a living creature. We are the sudden and satisfying Aha when you discover something you didnt even know you were looking for. We are the beginning of your lifelong learning adventure. Here at our world-class facility on Lake Michigans shoreline (part of the largest freshwater system in the world!), a new discovery is always just around the corner, from exploring the underwater wonders of…
Highest reported compensation
2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO AND PRESIDENT Director/trustee, officer, 55.00 hrs/week | $226,683 | $0 | $28,927 | $255,610 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 55.00 hrs/week | $152,340 | $0 | $31,831 | $184,171 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 55.00 hrs/week | $100,280 | $0 | $4,125 | $104,405 |
3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Discovery World Ltd (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $479K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · 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–1b43 · 43 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 5127
- Volunteers Part I, line 6247
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| PSAB Office cleaning | $348,807 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
28 private foundations reported grants to Discovery World Ltd totaling $972K 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 World Ltd'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 World Ltd, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Discovery World Ltd spent in 2025, $82.72 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Questions people ask
How much of Discovery World Ltd's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Discovery World Ltd reported that 82.7% of its $8.8 million in expenses went to program services, 11.8% to management and general and 5.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Discovery World Ltd pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Discovery World Ltd reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $255,610, for the role of CEO AND PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Discovery World Ltd get its money?
Of $15.7 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 66.3% came from contributions and grants and 28.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Discovery World Ltd a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 39-1691578 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, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202611679349301566 · read the filing · XML
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202541689349300314 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202411709349301451 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202311799349301466 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202242799349300819 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202112659349301611 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202043219349310919 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 39-1691578: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.