Society for Science & the Public
Also known as Society for Science
Society for Science & the Public reported $91.1 million in revenue and $40.9 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $83.82 went to program services, $8.42 to management and general costs and $7.76 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 90.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $787,213 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 46 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 248% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $41MFor 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
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $91MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 83.8% | 83.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.4% | 15.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.8% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.04 | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 90.1% | 51.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.1% | 3.2% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 6.6% | 19.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $787,213 | $513,729 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.93% | 1.72% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 46 | 27 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 44.6 | 14.7 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 17 of 17 | 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
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseScience education programs - for decades, society for science has offered world-class science and engineering research competitions for young people. The regeneron science talent search (regeneron sts) is the nation's oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. The regeneron international science and engineering fair (regeneron isef) is the world's largest global science competition for high schoolers. The thermo fisher scientific junior innovators challenge (thermo fisher jic) is the society's premier middle school STEM competition for U.S. Students in…
Society for science was founded in 1921 with a mission to provide in-depth, trustworthy, accurate science journalism for the public. Since then, our offerings have grown to include our flagship print magazine science news and its website. We also created science news explores, where younger readers, their families and teachers can explore new discoveries across science, technology, engineering, and medicine, and learn how research helps US all understand our world and our lives. Through its science news learning program, the society provides science news magazine and supplementary educator…
Alumni program: in 2014, the society established an alumni program that seeks to engage society alumni through online networks, events and volunteer opportunities. The program also works to re-establish connections with alumni who have lost touch with the society. The community is comprised of more than 75,000 sts, isef and middle school competition alumni across the globe
Highest reported compensation
2024 · 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, 37.50 hrs/week | $705,145 | $0 | $82,068 | $787,213 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $277,122 | $0 | $50,462 | $327,584 |
| PUBLISHER Key employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $254,357 | $0 | $58,764 | $313,121 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $247,977 | $0 | $37,531 | $285,508 |
| CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER Key employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $237,646 | $0 | $36,174 | $273,820 |
| CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER Key employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $226,765 | $0 | $45,837 | $272,602 |
| EDITOR IN CHIEF Key employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $248,476 | $0 | $24,113 | $272,589 |
| CHIEF COMMS. & MARKETING OFFICER Key employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $215,303 | $0 | $55,985 | $271,288 |
46 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Society for Science & the Public (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.4M (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
2024 · 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–1b17 · 17 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5127
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,900
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| RMRK LLC Event services | $1,521,986 |
| QUADGRAPHICS INC Manufacturing/printing services | $1,194,924 |
| REINKING ENTERPRISES INC Direct mail/printing services | $974,819 |
| TASTE OF LOS ANGELES Food and beverage services | $937,688 |
| AVALON CONSULTING GROUP INC Consulting services | $676,468 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 38 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
34 private foundations reported grants to Society for Science & the Public totaling $5.0M 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 Society for Science & the Public's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Society for Science & the Public, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Society for Science & the Public spent in 2024, $83.82 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Institute for Advanced Study - Louis Bamberger & Mrs Felix Fuld FoundationPrinceton, NJ · revenue $89M · programs 62.4% · FY2025
- American Institute of PhysicsCollege Park, MD · revenue $92M · programs 78.1% · 2024
- For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST)Manchester, NH · revenue $85M · programs 82.7% · FY2025
- Sae InternationalWarrendale, PA · revenue $95M · programs 87.3% · 2024
- Parallax Advanced Research CorporationBeavercreek, OH · revenue $83M · programs 68.2% · FY2025
All science & technology charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Society for Science & the Public's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Society for Science & the Public reported that 83.8% of its $40.9 million in expenses went to program services, 8.4% to management and general and 7.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Society for Science & the Public pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Society for Science & the Public reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $787,213, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Society for Science & the Public get its money?
Of $91.1 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 90.1% came from contributions and grants (including 0.1% from government grants) and 6.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Society for Science & the Public a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 53-0196483 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
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202533179349312503 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202423209349305562 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202323189349316007 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202223149349302572 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202112819349301136 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202032729349300968 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 53-0196483: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.