Disable all preview features

Arts, Culture, Humanities : Museums

Science Central

A catalyst for learning

three stars

88.22

1950 North Clinton Street Fort Wayne, IN 46805
tel: (260) 424-2400   Web Site
EIN: 31-1032583

Board Leadership
Michael Gerue
Chair

CEO
Martin Fisher
Executive Director

 
 
  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 88.22 three stars
  Financial 87.49 three stars
  Accountability & Transparency 89.00 three stars
This rating was published 03/01/2020 and includes data from FY2019, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

Founded in 1995, Science Central was originally incorporated by a group of teachers, parents, engineers, and community/business leaders who wanted to see the creation of a local science discovery center. Science Central became Indiana's first hands-on science center and is now a regional resource that provides inspiring and fun hands-on science education for people of all ages.

Founded in 1995, Science Central was originally incorporated by a group of teachers, parents, engineers, and community/business leaders who wanted to see the creation of a local science discovery center. Science Central became Indiana's first hands-on science center and is now a regional resource that provides inspiring and fun hands-on science education for people of all ages.

Impact Information

data icon Looking for Impact Information?

Charity Navigator is collaborating with GuideStar, GlobalGiving, Classy, and ImpactMatters to display impact-related information on our rated profile pages. Each partner collects this data directly from nonprofits and provides updates to Charity Navigator when available.

If you are interested in seeing this charity provide its impact information, please click below. This will indicate your interest and encourage the nonprofit to share data with partners that are currently collecting information.

Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

three stars

87.49

Accountability & Transparency

three stars

89.00

This rating was published 03/01/2020 and includes data from FY2019, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 70.2%
  Administrative Expenses 23.6%
  Fundraising Expenses 6.0%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.07
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 3.05
  Program Expenses Growth 1.9%
  Liabilities to Assets 2.1%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Science Central on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Science Central on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Information Provided on the Form 990  
  Independent Voting Board Members
  No Material diversion of assets
  Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
  Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
  Documents Board Meeting Minutes
  Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
  Conflict of Interest Policy
  Whistleblower Policy
  Records Retention and Destruction Policy
  CEO listed with salary
  Process for determining CEO compensation
  Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?  
  Donor Privacy Policy
  Board Members Listed
  Audited Financials
  Form 990
  Key staff listed

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Science Central (IN) 88.22 three stars
South Florida Science Center and Aquarium (FL) 93.47 four stars
The Franklin Institute (PA) 87.99 three stars
Great Lakes Science Center (OH) 86.15 three stars
The Computer History Museum (CA) 90.34 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $1,155,636
   Federated Campaigns $0
   Membership Dues $200,655
   Fundraising Events $76,696
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $0
Total Contributions $1,432,987
   Program Service Revenue $527,868
Total Primary Revenue $1,960,855
   Other Revenue $64,605
TOTAL REVENUE $2,025,460
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $1,228,439
   Administrative Expenses $369,655
   Fundraising Expenses $102,185
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $1,700,279
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $325,181
   
Net Assets $5,241,592

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Due to an error on this organization's Form 990, we are unable to display program information.

Ratings History

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2019-03 03/01/2020 88.22 three stars
2018-03 03/01/2019 88.58 three stars
2017-03 03/01/2018 87.61 three stars
2016-03 05/01/2017 93.22 four stars
2015-03 06/01/2016 89.60 three stars
 
CN 2.0
2015-03 02/01/2016 84.37 three stars
2014-03 09/01/2015 91.34 four stars
2013-03 06/01/2014 88.04 three stars

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 31-1032583
Name in IRS Master File SCIENCE CENTRAL INC
NTEE Code A50
NTEE Classification Museum, Museum Activities
NTEE Type Arts, Culture and Humanities
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities (379) Other conservation, environmental or beautification activities
Foundation Status Organization that normally receives no more than one-third of its support from gross investment income and unrelated business income and at the same time more than one-third of its support from contributions, fees, and gross receipts related to exempt purposes.  509(a)(2)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
Affiliation Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations).
Group Name [Not Applicable]
Ruling Date February, 1988
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End March
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • March, 2019
  • March, 2018
  • March, 2017
  • March, 2016
  • March, 2015
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$85,780 5.04% Martin S. Fisher President, Executive Director

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Science Central (IN) 88.22 three stars
Adler Planetarium (IL) 85.36 three stars
New York Hall of Science (NY) 92.57 four stars
Great Lakes Science Center (OH) 86.15 three stars
Orlando Science Center (FL) 90.47 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

Are you the representative for this organization? If so, click here to access the application form. As an official representative you will have the ability to update some of the information on this page.

Charity Contact Info

Science Central
1950 North Clinton Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
tel: (260) 424-2400
EIN: 31-1032583

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Michael Gerue
Chair

CEO

Martin Fisher
Executive Director

please wait...

    • I want to donate to Science Central

      $
      next

    • Frequency

      back
      next

    • Would you like us to email someone and CC you?

      This email identifies you as the donor but does not specify the amount of your gift.
      back
    A donation of to has been added to your Giving Basket!

    Basket Total:
    Check Out Now or Continue Researching

Join Our Mailing List

Join over 400,000 other informed givers and get updates on charity ratings, new features, hot topics, and tips for donating.

As seen on