Maine Discovery Museum

Analysis

Maine Discovery Museum is a registered charity in United States, based in Bangor, ME. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in August 1999, 27 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts, culture and humanities, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Maine Discovery Museum reported income of $809k and spending of $1.0m, spending 125% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income fell from $865k to $809k (-6.4%), an average of -1.6% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2021, when income rose by 43%. Over the whole period it spent 123% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Maine Discovery Museum sits at the 83rd percentile: it is larger than about 83% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 77th percentile, and in the 73rd percentile within ME. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Ke Kula Nui O Waimanalo ($809k), American Chemical Society ($810k) and Cottonwood Artists School ($809k).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 49% and program service revenue 48% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $72k (7.2% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $391k. At year end it held assets of $1.7m against liabilities of $694k, net assets of $975k. It reported 28 employees.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.