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Science Museum of Minnesota
Science Museum of Minnesota reported $40.1 million in revenue and $44.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $84.60 went to program services, $9.17 to management and general costs and $6.23 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 51.3% of the total. Government grants made up 15.5%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $390,159 (PRESIDENT AND CEO). 34 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 51% 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 $44MFor 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) | 84.6% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.2% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.2% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.13 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 51.3% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 15.5% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 42.1% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $390,159 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.88% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 34 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 27.2 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 42 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
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseMuseum experiences:the Science Museum of Minnesota is an essential cultural institution in downtown st. Paul, engaging hundreds of thousands of visitors annually in the joy of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Most known for its expansive campus full of artifacts, interactive exhibits, and state-of-the-art digital omnitheater, the Science Museum is internationally respected for its STEM education programming, groundbreaking scientific research, and public policy advocacy. (continued on schedule o)in FY25, we experienced millions of engagements through onsite, offsite, and…
The work of the Science Museum's center for research and collections (crc) makes a profound impact on minnesota's understanding and science. Science Museum scientists in the field and in our labs collect and analyze samples and objects that drive decisions to improve water quality, teach US about our changing planet, contribute to global knowledge, and develop our STEM workforce. Crc scientists and specialists answer questions about the world around US, bringing together our scientific disciplines (anthropology, biology, collections stewardship, hydrology, and paleontology) to synergistically…
Stem equity & education:the Science Museum facilitates a host of onsite programs and offsite outreach to address opportunity gaps in k-12 STEM education, fostering a childhood interest in subjects that eventually translate to lifelong STEM careers. Fy25 continued to build on this mission through in-person programming, with engagements increasing most notably among school outreach and off-site programming. K-12 programming highlights:-STEM education instructors traveled statewide to deliver programming through more than 50,000 engagements, reaching students in 52 minnesota counties. The…
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 AND CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $361,685 | $0 | $28,474 | $390,159 |
| VP OF MISSION ADVANCEMENT Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $205,342 | $0 | $31,675 | $237,017 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $221,336 | $0 | $12,059 | $233,395 |
| VP SCIENCE, EQUITY & EDUCATION Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $215,315 | $0 | $9,327 | $224,642 |
| VP OF MUSEUM EXPERIENCES Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $207,490 | $0 | $7,539 | $215,029 |
| SR. DIRECTOR OF HR Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $181,838 | $0 | $7,459 | $189,297 |
| SR. DIR OF FINANCE & ACCOUNTING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $165,371 | $0 | $13,885 | $179,256 |
| SR DIRECTOR PART & GOV RELATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $142,677 | $0 | $28,840 | $171,517 |
34 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Science Museum of Minnesota (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.1M (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–1b43 · 42 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 5453
- Volunteers Part I, line 6158
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| BWBR Architectural services | $1,137,797 |
| MMC CONSULTING Accounting services | $718,518 |
| MARSDEN CENTRAL LLC Custodial services | $636,306 |
| LEVY Food services | $553,567 |
| METRE LLC Media planning | $406,856 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 33 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
39 private foundations reported grants to Science Museum of Minnesota totaling $1.3M 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 Science Museum of Minnesota's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Science Museum of Minnesota, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Science Museum of Minnesota spent in FY2025, $84.60 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Children's Museum of ManhattanNew York, NY · revenue $40M · programs 65.3% · FY2025
- The American Film InstituteLos Angeles, CA · revenue $40M · programs 80.9% · FY2025
- Hope Media GroupNew Caney, TX · revenue $40M · programs 68.0% · FY2025
- American Printing House for the BlindLouisville, KY · revenue $40M · programs 71.2% · FY2025
- Memphis Brooks Museum of ArtMemphis, TN · revenue $40M · programs 59.1% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Minnesota
Questions people ask
How much of Science Museum of Minnesota's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Science Museum of Minnesota reported that 84.6% of its $44.1 million in expenses went to program services, 9.2% to management and general and 6.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Science Museum of Minnesota pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Science Museum of Minnesota reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $390,159, for the role of PRESIDENT AND CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Science Museum of Minnesota get its money?
Of $40.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 51.3% came from contributions and grants (including 15.5% from government grants) and 42.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Science Museum of Minnesota a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 41-0706172 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 202631349349306478 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202511349349305961 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202420619349300457 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202321359349306662 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202230549349301018 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202110809349300056 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 41-0706172: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.