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San Diego Society of Natural History
San Diego Society of Natural History reported $16.3 million in revenue and $15.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $86.98 went to program services, $6.46 to management and general costs and $6.56 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 46.4% of the total. Government grants made up 9.6%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $425,108 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 11 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 62% 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 $15MFor 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 $16MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 87.0% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 6.5% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.6% | 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 | 46.4% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 9.6% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 43.6% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $425,108 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.74% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 11 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 62.6 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 16 of 16 | 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 expenseScience: the museum's jacob center for science and conservation (jcsc) serves as the leader for the preservation and interpretation of scientific specimens that document the plant and animal life of southern california and baja california. The extensive collection of the of jcsc support the museum scientists' research and publications
Public programs: the museum offers public access to exhibitions on five floors, a giant screen theater, and education classrooms. Informal education programs include exhibitions that preserve and display natural objects documenting the geological history and life of the region, educational classes, lectures and expeditions in the field of natural sciences
Education: the environmental science education center (esec) is a comprehensive resource of programs that inspire understanding, respect and responsible action for our environment. The museum offers lifelong learning through school programs and educator resources
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, 40.00 hrs/week | $424,419 | $0 | $689 | $425,108 |
| VP CFO/COO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $179,380 | $0 | $4,173 | $183,553 |
| VP PHILANTHROPY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $161,021 | $0 | $3,787 | $164,808 |
| DIR OF PALEO SERV Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $146,012 | $0 | $11,872 | $157,884 |
| VP JCSC Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $140,270 | $0 | $3,573 | $143,843 |
| CONTROLLER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $118,550 | $0 | $10,689 | $129,239 |
| DEPUTY COO Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $113,875 | $0 | $10,502 | $124,377 |
11 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from San Diego Society of Natural History (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $617K (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–1b16 · 16 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 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5231
- Volunteers Part I, line 6404
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| DIVERSIFIED CONSTRUCTION INC Construction services (new roof) | $1,368,563 |
| BRIGHTVIEW LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT INC Landscape improvements (design & constru | $1,226,469 |
| KONE INC Elevator services & improvements | $650,816 |
| PROFESSIONAL MAINTENANCE SYSTEMS Cleaning services | $342,655 |
| ORANGE RESTORATION Flood remediation services | $328,253 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 12 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
14 private foundations reported grants to San Diego Society of Natural History totaling $5.9M 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 San Diego Society of Natural History's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for San Diego Society of Natural History, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 San Diego Society of Natural History spent in FY2025, $86.98 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Ford's Theatre SocietyWashington, DC · revenue $16M · programs 77.4% · FY2025
- Asolo TheatreSarasota, FL · revenue $16M · programs 81.2% · FY2025
- The Louisville OrchestraLouisville, KY · revenue $16M · programs 83.8% · FY2025
- Museum of Discovery and ScienceFort Lauderdale, FL · revenue $16M · programs 85.1% · FY2025
- Sarasota Opera AssociationSarasota, FL · revenue $16M · programs 74.2% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of San Diego Society of Natural History's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, San Diego Society of Natural History reported that 87.0% of its $15.5 million in expenses went to program services, 6.5% to management and general and 6.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does San Diego Society of Natural History pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation San Diego Society of Natural History reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $425,108, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does San Diego Society of Natural History get its money?
Of $16.3 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 46.4% came from contributions and grants (including 9.6% from government grants) and 43.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is San Diego Society of Natural History a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 95-1643375 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 202631339349308993 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202521329349305817 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202441349349307649 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202321359349304352 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202221339349303992 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202141039349300029 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 95-1643375: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.