EIN 94-1696494

The Exploratorium

IRS 501(c) type
501(c)(3)
Num. employees
571
Year formed
1968
Most recent tax filings
2022-06-01
Description
The Exploratorium explores the world through science, art, and human perception with a mission to transform learning worldwide. They engage educators by making science visible, touchable, and accessible both at the museum and in the classroom. As an R&D laboratory, they experiment with cutting-edge ideas, creating almost everything themselves and always pursuing the most interesting and important concepts. The Exploratorium is located in San Francisco, CA.
Total revenues
$79,571,391
2022
Total expenses
$59,221,371
2022
Total assets
$275,042,102
2022
Num. employees
571
2022

Program areas at The Exploratorium

Museum and visitor experience:we're an r&d laboratory that experiments with cutting-edge ideas. We create, experiment, test, and build nearly everything at The Exploratorium ourselves, always looking for The most interesting and important ideas to pursue, often pushing The limits of what's possible. In this sense, we're a classic research-and-development organization, constantly creating new activities, websites, events, artworks, exhibits, and more.
Educator engagement:we're at The forefront of science education. By making science visible, touchable, and accessible to a wide variety of peopleat The museum, online, and in The classroom. Our explore-for-yourself way of learning and teaching influences science education worldwide. Our professional development programs provide educators with The skills, tools, and support they need to apply inquiry-based learning and teaching in their classes. We also design programs that make connections between The traditionally separate worlds of formal (school) and informal (museum) education and understanding.
Global collaborations:we learn and share with partners worldwide. By drawing on The Exploratorium's broad expertise, global collaborations is able to provide a comprehensive set of creative servicesfrom master planning to program development to exhibit fabrication and installation. We like to be as far upstream in our clients' creative process as possible, exploring The rich questions that lead to truly authentic, innovative problem solving.

Who funds The Exploratorium

Grants from foundations and other nonprofits
GrantmakerDescriptionAmount
Schwab Charitable FundArts, Culture & Humanities$2,530,936
William K. Bowes Jr. FoundationGeneral Operating Support; To Support 2022 Party at the Piers$2,025,000
Gordon E and Betty I Moore FoundationIn Support of Increased Fundraising and Growth in Organization Donor Base.$1,103,678
...and 79 more grants received totalling $11,402,964

Personnel at The Exploratorium

NameTitleCompensation
Lindsay BiermanExecutive Director and Chief Executive Officer
Phoebe WhiteChief Museum Officer$228,995
Laura ZanderChief Financial Officer$231,074
Anne HolmesChief of Staff
Blair Richard WinnChief Advancement Officer$209,571
...and 19 more key personnel

Financials for The Exploratorium

RevenuesFYE 06/2022
Total grants, contributions, etc.$48,610,555
Program services$25,897,818
Investment income and dividends$698,741
Tax-exempt bond proceeds$0
Royalty revenue$0
Net rental income$2,558,433
Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets$1,821,152
Net income from fundraising events$-606,630
Net income from gaming activities$0
Net income from sales of inventory$591,322
Miscellaneous revenues$0
Total revenues$79,571,391

Form 990s for The Exploratorium

Fiscal year endingDate received by IRSFormPDF link
2022-062023-05-08990View PDF
2021-062022-04-08990View PDF
2020-062021-04-14990View PDF
2019-062020-09-22990View PDF
2018-062019-05-14990View PDF
...and 8 more Form 990s
Data update history
January 3, 2024
Received grants
Identified 40 new grant, including a grant for $2,025,000 from William K. Bowes Jr. Foundation
October 26, 2023
Received grants
Identified 10 new grant, including a grant for $405,000 from Lego Community Fund Us
August 19, 2023
Received grants
Identified 72 new grant, including a grant for $22,500,000 from Gordon E and Betty I Moore Foundation
August 11, 2023
Posted financials
Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2021
July 13, 2023
Used new vendors
Identified 5 new vendors, including , , , , and
Nonprofit Types
Arts, culture, and humanities nonprofitsMuseumsCharities
Issues
Arts, cultural, and humanities
Characteristics
MembershipsLobbyingFundraising eventsOperates internationallyState / local levelReceives government fundingEndowed supportGala fundraisersTax deductible donations
General information
Address
17 Pier Ste 100
San Francisco, CA 94111
Metro area
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
County
San Francisco County, CA
Website URL
exploratorium.edu/ 
Phone
(415) 528-4444
Facebook page
exploratorium 
Twitter profile
@exploratorium 
IRS details
EIN
94-1696494
Fiscal year end
June
Taxreturn type
Form 990
Year formed
1968
Eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions (Pub 78)
Yes
Categorization
NTEE code, primary
A57: Science and Technology Museums
NAICS code, primary
7121: Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions
Parent/child status
Independent
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