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The Natural Science Center of Greensboro Inc. Dba Greensboro Science Center

Greensboro, NC · EIN 56-0885727 · 501(c)(3) · Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
Latest filing: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 (tax year 2024) · View the filing · Correct or respond

The Natural Science Center of Greensboro Inc. Dba Greensboro Science Center reported $23.7 million in revenue and $11.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $55.42 went to program services, $41.18 to management and general costs and $3.40 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 69.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $451,489 (CEO). 2 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 167% 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 $11M

For 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 $24M

The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades

FY2025 filing. Median across 876 covered charities in this category, from their latest filings.
MeasureFY2025Median
Program services
Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A)
55.4%78.5%
Management & general
Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A)
41.2%13.6%
Fundraising
Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A)
3.4%6.0%
Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions
Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h
$0.02$0.10
Contributions & grants share of revenue
Part VIII 1h ÷ 12
69.2%57.5%
Government grants share of revenue
Part VIII 1e ÷ 12
0.3%1.7%
Program service revenue share
Part VIII 2g ÷ 12
24.8%20.8%
Highest reported compensation
Part VII-A, columns D–F
$451,489$385,706
Highest compensation as share of expenses
Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A)
3.93%2.03%
People paid over $100,000
Part VII, line 2
28
Net assets, in months of expenses
Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses
37.336.6
Independent voting board members
Part VI 1a–1b
35 of 35100.0%

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 expense
$4.7M expenses · 73.5% of program spending · revenue $5.1M

Museum, zoo, and aquarium: for the fiscal year ending june 30, 2025, the center welcomed 597,933 guests. The facility is home to more than 1,500 rare and endangered species and plays an active role in international conservation through participation in breeding programs for species including pygmy hippos, red pandas, asian fishing cats, african penguins, and sumatran tigers.through these efforts, the center has provided millions of children, families, school groups, and lifelong learners with opportunities to engage with global ecosystems, experience real-world science and STEM education, and…

$928K expenses · 14.6% of program spending · revenue $297K

Educational programs: in alignment with its mission, the center delivers a wide range of programs designed to spark curiosity and deepen understanding of science and conservation.for the fiscal year ending june 30, 2025, the center reached 17,380 students and teachers through 382 educational programs, extending classroom learning into real-world experiences. In addition, more than 882 guests participated in 106 classes and camps, while 976 guests enjoyed unique opportunities to engage directly with staff and animals through 201 behind-the-scenes programs.educational offerings span a diverse…

$402K expenses · 6.3% of program spending · revenue $307K

Skywild and flyway: complementing the center's mission of connecting people with the natural world, the center's aerial adventure park offers guests the chance to experience animal behaviors in a uniquely physical and immersive way. Suspended high above the zoo, the course challenges participants to waddle, leap, brachiate, and crawl, mirroring the movements of the animals below while also providing an exciting outdoor workout. Since opening in 2015, skywild has become a signature experience, welcoming 8,443 guests in the fiscal year ending june 30, 2025.to further expand adventure…

$359K all other programs (line 4d)

Highest reported compensation

FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here
RoleFrom this orgFrom related orgsOtherTotal
CEO
Officer, 40.00 hrs/week
$418,971$0$32,518$451,489
COO
Officer, 40.00 hrs/week
$216,460$0$17,849$234,309

2 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Natural Science Center of Greensboro Inc. Dba Greensboro Science Center (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $703K (Part IX, line 5).

6 years of filings

Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linked
RevenueExpenses
$0$10M$20M$30M$40MFY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025$24M$11M
FilingRevenueExpensesProgramsNet assetsTop pay
FY2025 ⓘ$24M$11M55.4%$36M$451,489
FY2024 ⓘ$10M$12M53.8%$23M$425,855
FY2023 ⓘ$11M$11M54.5%$23M$456,791
FY2022 ⓘ$13M$9.4M49.2%$23M$261,041
FY2021 ⓘ$9.5M$6.2M51.7%$21M$291,623
FY2020 ⓘ$8.9M$6.8M53.4%$17M$336,710

Governance 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–1b35 · 35 independent
  • Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
  • Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
  • Whistleblower policy Part VI 13No
  • 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 18Yes
  • Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
  • Employees Part I, line 5341
  • Volunteers Part I, line 6489

Largest outside contractors

FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only
GLOBAL EXPERIENCE SPECIALISTS INC (GES
Winterwonderlights
$1,012,443
SAMET CORPORATION
Biodome construction
$429,695
MOSCA DESIGN
Winterwonderlights
$119,274

Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 4 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.

Private foundation grants it received

16 private foundations reported grants to The Natural Science Center of Greensboro Inc. Dba Greensboro Science Center totaling $88,794 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 The Natural Science Center of Greensboro Inc. Dba Greensboro Science Center'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 Natural Science Center of Greensboro Inc. Dba Greensboro Science Center, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.

Similar-sized charities in this cause

All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in North Carolina

Questions people ask

How much of The Natural Science Center of Greensboro Inc. Dba Greensboro Science Center's spending goes to programs?

In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, The Natural Science Center of Greensboro Inc. Dba Greensboro Science Center reported that 55.4% of its $11.5 million in expenses went to program services, 41.2% to management and general and 3.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).

How much does The Natural Science Center of Greensboro Inc. Dba Greensboro Science Center pay its top executive?

The largest total compensation The Natural Science Center of Greensboro Inc. Dba Greensboro Science Center reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $451,489, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).

Where does The Natural Science Center of Greensboro Inc. Dba Greensboro Science Center get its money?

Of $23.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 69.2% came from contributions and grants (including 0.3% from government grants) and 24.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).

Is The Natural Science Center of Greensboro Inc. Dba Greensboro Science Center a registered charity?

The IRS lists EIN 56-0885727 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 202543289349300519 · read the filing · XML
  • FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202522529349300812 · read the filing
  • FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202440589349300039 · read the filing
  • FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202321359349311087 · read the filing
  • FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202230359349300103 · read the filing
  • FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202013499349300336 · read the filing

All filings for EIN 56-0885727: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.