Discovery Science Center of Los Angeles

Analysis

Discovery Science Center of Los Angeles is a registered charity in United States, based in Santa Ana, CA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in August 2012, 14 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 (gross receipts test) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending June 2023, Discovery Science Center of Los Angeles reported income of $9.3m and spending of $6.8m, leaving 26% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from June 2019 to June 2023, income grew from $4.9m to $9.3m (+92%), an average of +18% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to June 2020, when income rose by 304%. Over the whole period it spent 75% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Discovery Science Center of Los Angeles sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 95th percentile, and in the 95th percentile within CA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Bay Org ($9.3m), Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum Inc ($9.3m) and Music Academy of the West ($9.3m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending June 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 75% and program service revenue 20% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $410k (6.0% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $2.8m. At year end it held assets of $20.2m against liabilities of $3.5m, net assets of $16.7m. It reported 73 employees.