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California Academy of Sciences
California Academy of Sciences reported $89.4 million in revenue and $109.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $74.80 went to program services, $19.22 to management and general costs and $5.98 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 48.3% of the total. Government grants made up 12.1%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $883,675 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 130 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 35% 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 $109MFor 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 $89MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 74.8% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 19.2% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.0% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.15 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 48.3% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 12.1% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 28.8% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $883,675 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.81% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 130 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 51.7 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 42 of 44 | 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 and public engagement: the all-digital morrison planetarium uses cutting-edge visualizations and scientific data to share current discoveries and increase science literacy through immersive shows that rotate throughout the year. The newest permanent exhibition california: state of nature, which opened in may 2024, illuminates the unexpected connections between the species, places, and people that enable california to thrive, the hidden wonders exhibit provides an unprecedented peek at some of the standout specimens from our scientific collections-including some on view for the very…
Biodiversity science and sustainability: the academy's institute for biodiversity science and sustainability ("ibss") is home to nearly 80 world-class scientists, over 100 research associates globally, and more than 500 distinguished fellows who gather new knowledge about life's diversity and the process of evolution and rapidly apply that understanding to our efforts to regenerate the natural world. Through innovative partnerships and community engagement initiatives, they also guide critical conservation decisions worldwide, inspire and mentor the next generation of scientists, and foster…
Aquarium: the steinhart aquarium is home to more than 60,000 live animals representing more than 800 unique species, and its innovative exhibits include one of the largest and deepest indoor coral reefs in the world. The four-story rainforest has free-flying birds and butterflies and exotic reptiles and amphibians. In addition to delighting guests with its living creatures, the aquarium has played a critical role for decades in species survival plans for endangered animals like its charismatic colony of african penguins. For more than 25 years, the steinhart aquarium has proudly held the gold…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $705,728 | $0 | $177,947 | $883,675 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (THRU 05/25) Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $463,777 | $0 | $34,601 | $498,378 |
| DIR. OF EDU K-12/ONLINE (THRU 6/24) Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $406,104 | $0 | $33,102 | $439,206 |
| MANAGING DIR., CHIEF OF STRATEGY Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $414,031 | $0 | $23,245 | $437,276 |
| CHIEF EXPERIENCE OFFICER (THRU 05/25) Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $370,545 | $0 | $54,569 | $425,114 |
| GENERAL COUNSEL & CHIEF RISK OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $308,210 | $0 | $51,854 | $360,064 |
| CHIEF OF SCIENCE & DEAN OF RESEARCH Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $297,683 | $0 | $50,664 | $348,347 |
| CHIEF PEOPLE & CULTURE OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $317,840 | $0 | $18,018 | $335,858 |
130 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from California Academy of Sciences (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $5.6M (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–1b44 · 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5704
- Volunteers Part I, line 6591
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| RON FOTH RETAIL INC Advertising services | $4,594,884 |
| CINNABAR CALIFORNIA INC Exhibit fabrication | $2,187,075 |
| ONERHYTHM LLC Marketing services | $1,837,737 |
| ROSENDIN ELECTRIC INC Electrical services | $842,826 |
| PICTURAE INC Herbarium digitization | $838,510 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 42 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
85 private foundations reported grants to California Academy of Sciences totaling $6.9M 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 California Academy of Sciences's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for California Academy of Sciences, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 California Academy of Sciences spent in FY2025, $74.80 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Denver Center for the Performing ArtsDenver, CO · revenue $89M · programs 86.1% · FY2025
- Manhattan School of MusicNew York, NY · revenue $90M · programs 88.7% · FY2025
- Playhouse Square FoundationCleveland, OH · revenue $89M · programs 88.5% · FY2025
- National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade CenterNew York, NY · revenue $93M · programs 76.9% · 2024
- Solomon R Guggenheim FoundationNew York, NY · revenue $88M · programs 66.4% · 2024
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of California Academy of Sciences's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, California Academy of Sciences reported that 74.8% of its $109.5 million in expenses went to program services, 19.2% to management and general and 6.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does California Academy of Sciences pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation California Academy of Sciences reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $883,675, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does California Academy of Sciences get its money?
Of $89.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 48.3% came from contributions and grants (including 12.1% from government grants) and 28.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is California Academy of Sciences a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 94-1156258 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 202533189349314673 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202531339349309183 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202323189349317127 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202223129349302572 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202103139349304840 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202111349349304396 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 94-1156258: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.