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Pacific Science Center Foundation
Also known as Pacific Science Center
Pacific Science Center Foundation reported $19.4 million in revenue and $22.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $72.33 went to program services, $18.99 to management and general costs and $8.68 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 49.6% of the total. Government grants made up 19.7%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $448,229 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 12 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 13% 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 $23MFor 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 $19M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$29.17 $5.8M
- Government grants$19.30 $3.8M
- Program service revenue$47.43 $9.4M
- Other revenue$4.10 $813K
Investment income was negative: −$442K. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 72.3% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 19.0% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 8.7% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.21 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 49.6% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 19.7% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 48.5% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $448,229 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.97% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 12 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 11.1 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 17 of 17 | 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 expenseExhibits - Pacific Science Center is washington's leading institution for hands-on, informal science learning for people of all ages. In 2025, 473,596 guests ignited their curiosity while visiting our iconic seven-acre campus. Pacsci provides the only opportunity in washington state to experience a tropical butterfly house and imax theater, the largest domed laser theater in the world, and one of three planetarium experiences in king county. Guests engage in hands-on exhibits, touching live marine animals, trying hands-on engineering challenges, exploring the depths of outer space, and more.…
Education programs - for decades pacsci has expanded access to highimpact, hands-on STEM learning in schools and community centers. In 2025, pacsci served 150,769 curious minds, with 75% of those served from low-income communities or schools where programs were provided for free. School field trips to pacsci's iconic campus are a timehonored tradition. Science on wheels traveling workshops reach students in every corner of the state. Live virtual STEM learning workshops deepen in-person learning experiences. In 2025, summer camps for curious minds hosted 3,837 campers, and awarded 327 full…
Theaters - Pacific Science Center is home to seattle's ultimate imax experience, which offers guests the opportunity to explore distant magical worlds like antarctica, travel back in time to when dinosaurs roamed the earth, journey to the farthest reaches of the universe, and immerse themselves in a cinematic experience like no other. Films come to life in both 2d and 3d in pacsci's paccar and boeing imax theaters with giant screens, crystal clear imagery, and 12,000 watts of digital surround sound. Pacsci's laser dome is home to the most full-color lasers permanently installed in any laser…
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 & CEO Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $438,737 | $0 | $9,492 | $448,229 |
| CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER THRU 11/24 Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $259,887 | $0 | $4,084 | $263,971 |
| VP OF FINANCE & TECHNOLOGY Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $198,817 | $0 | $8,677 | $207,494 |
| GENERAL COUNSEL Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $162,339 | $0 | $8,671 | $171,010 |
| VP OF GUEST SERVICES Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $157,292 | $0 | $9,518 | $166,810 |
| VP OF DEVELOPMENT THRU 08/24 Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $143,064 | $0 | $17,553 | $160,617 |
| CONTROLLER Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $142,825 | $0 | $9,525 | $152,350 |
| DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $139,912 | $0 | $10,842 | $150,754 |
12 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Pacific Science Center Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.0M (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–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 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 5399
- Volunteers Part I, line 634
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| KKT CORP DBA MONO ROOFTOP SOLUTIONS Construction | $642,548 |
| CAMPBELL & COMPANY Executive employment search | $200,504 |
| JH KELLY LLC Facility repairs | $179,904 |
| TESSITURA NETWORK INC Consulting, website services | $177,446 |
| SCHEMATA WORKSHOP INC Consulting | $175,052 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 7 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
9 private foundations reported grants to Pacific Science Center Foundation totaling $88,000 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 Pacific Science Center Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Pacific Science Center Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Pacific Science Center Foundation spent in FY2025, $72.33 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden MuseumLong Island City, NY · revenue $19M · programs 74.1% · 2024
- Oregon Symphony AssociationPortland, OR · revenue $19M · programs 82.0% · FY2025
- Kutztown University FoundationKutztown, PA · revenue $19M · programs 74.4% · FY2025
- The Phoenix Theatre Company and SubsidiaryPhoenix, AZ · revenue $19M · programs 84.6% · FY2025
- The 19th NewsAustin, TX · revenue $19M · programs 80.1% · 2024
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Washington
Questions people ask
How much of Pacific Science Center Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Pacific Science Center Foundation reported that 72.3% of its $22.8 million in expenses went to program services, 19.0% to management and general and 8.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Pacific Science Center Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Pacific Science Center Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $448,229, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Pacific Science Center Foundation get its money?
Of $19.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 49.6% came from contributions and grants (including 19.7% from government grants) and 48.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Pacific Science Center Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 91-0750867 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 202631079349300128 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202541279349303569 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202411159349300041 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202300969349301215 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202211309349304441 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202111349349306241 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 91-0750867: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.