Discovery Museum INC FY2021 filing

Tax-deductible

Bridgeport, CT501(c)(3)Arts & CultureEIN 06-0740527Revenue $1.1M in FY2021

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

This page gets seen. Tell your story. Claim this org.

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.
72¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$69K 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

FY2021 · 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
72%
of spending
Fine: 72% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$69K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
6 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 6.4 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
$980K
17% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 17% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
14
of 14 voting members
Looks good: 14 of 14 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.1M
-33% vs prior year
Spent
$1.2M
To programs
72%
Net assets
$4.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$1.1M
FY2021▼ -33%
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
$1.2M
FY2021▼ -26%
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
$4.6M
FY2021▲ +3%
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 FY2021 Form 990 (year ending June 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2021 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

72 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 72% · $846K Management & general 17% · $198K Fundraising 11% · $131K

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

Something off? The org can add a note here. Claim this org to fix it.

Who runs it and what they're paid

16 people listed on the 990; $69K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
Interim Ex. Dir
$60,000Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Dir.
$8,811Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair
$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.

See Discovery Museum INC executive salaries →

Are you one of these people? Claim this org to confirm your role

Something off? The org can add a note here. Claim this org to fix it.

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.

Questions for Discovery Museum INC

Tap to ask. Discovery Museum INC sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Discovery Museum INC answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this organization? Claim it to add your story

1 program · $846K · in their own filed words · FY2020
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.

$846Kprogram 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 FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.1M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$37K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$25K
Money outPt IX
$1.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$846K
Managementcol C$198K
Fundraisingcol D$131K
Owns and owesPt X
$4.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$627K
Total assetsLn 16$5.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$980K
PeoplePt VI, VII
16
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a14
IndependentVI 1b14
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.1M
Government grantsLn 1e$507K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$267K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$34K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$25K
Investment incomeLn 3$37K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$208K
Total revenueLn 12$1.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$627K
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$627K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.6M
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$5.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$980K
Net assetsLn 32$4.6M
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$450K$627K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.1M$1.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.7M$3.6M
Total assetsLn 16$5.3M$5.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$738K$980K
Net assetsLn 32$4.5M$4.6M
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$100K$40K$20K$40K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$331K$226K$46K$58K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$5K$4K$541$687
Payroll taxesLn 10$48K$30K$7K$11K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$13K$23$13K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$3K$3K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$13K$13K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$67K$33K$34K$9
Advertising and promotionLn 12$16K$2K$77$14K
Office expensesLn 13$29K$10K$14K$5K
Information technologyLn 14$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$102K$100K$2K$807
TravelLn 17$86$32$54
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0
InterestLn 20$33K$33K
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$304K$299K$5K$138
InsuranceLn 23$59K$52K$6K$424
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$53K$51K$2K$336
All other expensesLn 24e$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.2M$846K$198K$131K

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 Viewing $1.1M$1.2M−$70K$4.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 $1.7M$1.6M$58K$4.5M 990 PDF

Want to add your own materials alongside these filings? Claim this org

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 FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,104,623 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,098,444$1,080,067
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $359,216$25,065
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $59,745−$170,554
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $134,062$170,045
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,651,467$1,104,623
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $761,394$484,291
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $832,151$690,548
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,593,545$1,174,839
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $57,922−$70,216
Part VI · Governance 14 of 14 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body14
VI-1b Independent voting members14
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 $1,104,623 across 13 lines filed
VIII-1b Membership dues$3,075
VIII-1c Fundraising events$33,805
VIII-1e Government grants$506,809
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$536,378
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$267,331
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,080,067
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $25,065$25,065
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $37,456$37,456
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $175,695$175,695
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission −$208,010−$208,010
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events−$5,650
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission −$7,250 · Excluded from tax $37,456$1,104,623
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,174,839 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 $39,875 · Management $20,085 · Fundraising $40,040$100,000
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $226,006 · Management $46,357 · Fundraising $58,360$330,723
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $3,840 · Management $541 · Fundraising $687$5,068
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $30,245 · Management $7,027 · Fundraising $11,228$48,500
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $23 · Management $13,000$13,023
IX-11d Lobbying feesManagement $3,000$3,000
IX-11e Professional fundraising fees$0
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $12,878$12,878
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $33,028 · Management $33,712 · Fundraising $9$66,749
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,764 · Management $77 · Fundraising $14,498$16,339
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $9,581 · Management $14,472 · Fundraising $4,561$28,614
IX-14 Information technology$0
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $99,653 · Management $1,748 · Fundraising $807$102,208
IX-17 TravelPrograms $32 · Fundraising $54$86
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 InterestManagement $32,579$32,579
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $298,681 · Management $4,704 · Fundraising $138$303,523
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $52,286 · Management $5,966 · Fundraising $424$58,676
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $50,902 · Management $1,635 · Fundraising $336$52,873
IX-24e All other expenses$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $845,916 · Management $197,781 · Fundraising $131,142$1,174,839
Part X · Balance sheet $5,611,992 assets, 21 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $450,364$627,132
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $36,175$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $15,631$26,003
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $3,886$3,886
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $31,940$34,566
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $3,658,772$3,580,925
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,056,213$1,339,480
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assets$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $5,252,981$5,611,992
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $85,792$55,679
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $29,990$59,821
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $159,722$277,934
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $737,625$980,393
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $3,231,141$3,055,165
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,284,215$1,576,434
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $4,515,356$4,631,599
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $5,252,981$5,611,992
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $4,631,599 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,104,623
XI-2 Total expenses$1,174,839
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$70,216
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$4,515,356
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$186,459
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$4,631,599

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

If you ARE the filing organization, claim this org and add context

Made it to the end? Claim this organization

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.