Discovery Museum INC FY2020 filing

Tax-deductible

Bridgeport, CT501(c)(3)Arts & CultureEIN 06-0740527Revenue $1.7M in FY2020

On file with the IRSdiscoverymuseum.org4450 Park Ave, 06604-1015 · Bridgeport, CTTax-exempt since Feb 1961Publicly supported — 509(a)(2)

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The Discovery Museum strives to engage, excite, and educate young learners through experiences and programs that inspire wonder and ignite creativity as the foundation for a lifetime love of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning.The Museums core audience is young learners ages 5-14 who connect to us with their teachers and classmates during the school day or by themselves or with their families, mentors, or social groups after school, on weekends, during school vacations or in the summer. We provide a hardy portfolio of STEM learning experiences including; unmediated gallery-based exploration of STEM focused temporary and permanent exhibits; over 80 unique onsite and offsite mediated demonstrations and learning labs; a Challenger Learning Center space exploration simulation; Planetarium shows; unique grant-funded school-museum science learning partnerships; and an engaging 7-week summer STEM learning program.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
75¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$117K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $4K a year · under 1% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
75%
of spending
Looks good: 75% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$117K
to officers and key staff · 7% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 7% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.4 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $28K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$738K
14% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 14% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
13
of 13 voting members
Looks good: 13 of 13 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.7M
Spent
$1.6M
To programs
75%
Net assets
$4.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$1.7M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.7M
FY2021$1.1M
FY2022$3.0M
FY2023$2.2M
FY2024$2.0M
FY2025$1.8M
Expenses
$1.6M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.6M
FY2021$1.2M
FY2022$1.7M
FY2023$2.1M
FY2024$2.5M
FY2025$2.6M
Net assets
$4.5M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$4.5M
FY2021$4.6M
FY2022$5.6M
FY2023$5.6M
FY2024$5.1M
FY2025$4.5M

From the FY2020 Form 990 (year ending June 2020) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Feb 1961.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

75 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 75% · $1.2M Management & general 13% · $201K Fundraising 12% · $195K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

19 people listed on the 990; $117K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2019); the FY2020 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Dir.
$117,000Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Erika Eng’s $120K as Executive Dir. is at the 48th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3924 $1–10M arts & culture nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Erika Eng$120,000$118,692$107,923$96,104$8,811—
William a Finch—————$117,000
Terry O'Connor————$60,000—

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Inspires wonder and ignites creativity in young learners through hands-on STEM experiences and programs.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $1.2M · in their own filed words · FY2019
01

Educational and Guest Services Programs

Develop and deliver high-quality informal science programming supporting current national and local science education standards. Support classroom teachers to achieve their science learning goals through in-house, outreach, and professional development programming.

$1.2Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$28K
See all 3 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.7M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.1M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$359K
Other incomeLn 4–11$134K
Money outPt IX
$1.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.2M
Managementcol C$201K
Fundraisingcol D$195K
Owns and owesPt X
$4.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$450K
Total assetsLn 16$5.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$738K
PeoplePt VI, VII
19
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a13
IndependentVI 1b13
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.1M
Government grantsLn 1e$682K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$45K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$359K
Investment incomeLn 3$60K
Other incomeLn 4–11$134K
Gains on assetsLn 7$39K
Total revenueLn 12$1.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$450K
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$450K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.7M
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$5.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$738K
Net assetsLn 32$4.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 576
VolunteersI 6145
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$252K$450K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.1M$1.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.6M$3.7M
Total assetsLn 16$5.1M$5.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$632K$738K
Net assetsLn 32$4.5M$4.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$108K$30K$22K$56K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$550K$422K$55K$74K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$9K$6K$2K$517
Payroll taxesLn 10$95K$65K$11K$19K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$13K$13K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$17K$17K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$11K$11K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$95K$90K$5K$343
Advertising and promotionLn 12$40K$6K$209$33K
Office expensesLn 13$48K$24K$17K$8K
Information technologyLn 14$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$130K$127K$2K$465
TravelLn 17$17K$16K$147
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$3K$38$3K$46
InterestLn 20$25K$25K
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$322K$311K$10K$1K
InsuranceLn 23$53K$47K$5K$158
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$58K$54K$2K$2K
All other expensesLn 24e$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.6M$1.2M$201K$195K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $1.8M$2.6M−$723K$4.5M 990 PDF
FY2024 $2.0M$2.5M−$536K$5.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.2M$2.1M$19K$5.6M 990 PDF
FY2022 $3.0M$1.7M$1.2M$5.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.1M$1.2M−$70K$4.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $1.7M$1.6M$58K$4.5M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,651,467 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $932,089$1,098,444
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $532,833$359,216
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $54,005$59,745
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $207,675$134,062
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,726,602$1,651,467
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $961,257$761,394
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $969,775$832,151
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,931,032$1,593,545
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$204,430$57,922
Part VI · Governance 13 of 13 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body13
VI-1b Independent voting members13
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,651,467 across 13 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $8,816 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1b Membership dues$41,558
VIII-1c Fundraising events$44,896
VIII-1e Government grants$682,399
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$329,591
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,098,444
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $359,216$359,216
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $21,226$21,226
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $134,310$134,310
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $38,519$38,519
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events−$12,433
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $3,369$3,369
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $535,414 · Excluded from tax $30,042$1,651,467
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,593,545 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $29,775 · Management $22,018 · Fundraising $56,353$108,146
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $421,673 · Management $54,704 · Fundraising $73,574$549,951
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $6,077 · Management $2,156 · Fundraising $517$8,750
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $64,707 · Management $10,741 · Fundraising $19,099$94,547
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $13,000$13,000
IX-11d Lobbying feesManagement $17,000$17,000
IX-11e Professional fundraising fees$0
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $11,420$11,420
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $89,685 · Management $5,105 · Fundraising $343$95,133
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $6,160 · Management $209 · Fundraising $33,313$39,682
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $23,740 · Management $16,540 · Fundraising $7,926$48,206
IX-14 Information technology$0
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $127,358 · Management $2,497 · Fundraising $465$130,320
IX-17 TravelPrograms $16,458 · Management $147$16,605
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $38 · Management $3,108 · Fundraising $46$3,192
IX-20 InterestManagement $24,835$24,835
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $310,714 · Management $9,939 · Fundraising $1,362$322,015
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $47,048 · Management $5,380 · Fundraising $158$52,586
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $54,436 · Management $1,882 · Fundraising $1,839$58,157
IX-24e All other expenses$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,197,869 · Management $200,681 · Fundraising $194,995$1,593,545
Part X · Balance sheet $5,252,981 assets, 21 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $251,529$450,364
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$36,175
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $48,059$15,631
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $2,988$3,886
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $44,051$31,940
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $3,626,436$3,658,772
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,061,737$1,056,213
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $57,244$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $5,092,044$5,252,981
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $71,773$85,792
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $134,463$29,990
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payable$159,722
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $632,421$737,625
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $3,292,578$3,231,141
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,167,045$1,284,215
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $4,459,623$4,515,356
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $5,092,044$5,252,981
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $4,515,356 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,651,467
XI-2 Total expenses$1,593,545
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$57,922
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$4,459,623
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$2,189
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$4,515,356

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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