Michigan Science Center FY2020 filing

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The mission of the Michigan Science Center is to inspire curious minds of all ages to discover, explore and appreciate Science, technology, engineering and math in a creative, dynamic learning environment.

Form 990 Part I, line 1, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 45-5190355) · Dispute this line
501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
72¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$418K 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
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
The IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $797K a year · 14% of revenue · last 5 filings
A surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
72%
of spending
72% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$418K
to officers and key staff · 13% of spending
Pay to officers and key staff is 13% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
4.3 mo
of spending, in cash
4.3 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $20K
1 funder names it on their filings.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$644K
17% of total assets
Liabilities are 17% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
27
of 27 voting members
27 of 27 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$3.1M
Spent
$3.2M
To programs
72%
Net assets
$3.1M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$3.1M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$3.1M
FY2021$4.2M
FY2022$5.0M
FY2023$6.6M
FY2024$8.9M
Expenses
$3.2M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$3.2M
FY2021$4.4M
FY2022$4.3M
FY2023$5.9M
FY2024$6.1M
Net assets
$3.1M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$3.1M
FY2021$3.0M
FY2022$3.7M
FY2023$4.5M
FY2024$7.3M

From the FY2020 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Aug 2012.

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% · $2.3M Management & general 17% · $533K Fundraising 11% · $345K

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

30 people listed on the 990; $418K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President and CEO
$208,187Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Development Officer
$110,918Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Operating Officer
$99,228Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chairperson
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Christian Greer’s $358K as President and CEO is at the 98th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3395 $1–10M education 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Christian Greer$357,540$296,029$303,087$255,865$208,187
Lucy Hale—$139,001———
Katora Cole$131,782————
Katora Cole Begin 022023—$118,250———
Paul Andrews————$110,918
Andrea Harp$108,885$102,424———
Lucy Hale Start 222——$108,006——
John Anderson————$99,228

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 Michigan Science Center executive salaries →

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 all ages to discover science, technology, engineering, and math through creative learning.

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3 programs · $1.8M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Admissions to the museum (over 43,000 visitors to the museum during the year, even with the closure from march to june and limited capacity restrictions).

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 45-5190355) · Dispute this line
$1.3Mprogram expense
02

Gift shop sales of science and exhibit related merchandise and other program services.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 45-5190355) · Dispute this line
$294Kprogram expense
03

Education programs, outreach, workshops, camps (over 42,000 people experienced outreach and traveling science experiences); hands on interactive programs for schools prior to march. Transistioned to virtual programs through the remainder of the year once center opened again in july.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 45-5190355) · Dispute this line
$237Kprogram 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 1 funder$20K

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.1M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$321K
Investment incomeLn 3$47K
Money outPt IX
$3.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.3M
Managementcol C$533K
Fundraisingcol D$345K
Owns and owesPt X
$3.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.1M
Total assetsLn 16$3.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$644K
PeoplePt VI, VII
30
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a27
IndependentVI 1b27
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$321K
Investment incomeLn 3$47K
Other incomeLn 4–11$4K
Total revenueLn 12$3.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$923K
SavingsLn 2$205K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.1M
Accounts receivableLn 4$278K
Inventories for sale or useLn 8$14K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$66K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2.3M
Total assetsLn 16$3.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$644K
Net assetsLn 32$3.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 562
VolunteersI 625
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
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$1.0M$1.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2.1M$2.3M
Total assetsLn 16$3.5M$3.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$266K$644K
Net assetsLn 32$3.2M$3.1M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5$381K$203K$100K$78K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.0M$734K$79K$210K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$69K$58K$3K$8K
Payroll taxesLn 10$89K$67K$6K$17K
Management feesLn 11a$223K$171K$32K$20K
Legal feesLn 11b$4K$4K
Accounting feesLn 11c$138K$138K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$102K$44K$58K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$36K$32K$2K$2K
Office expensesLn 13$116K$98K$16K$900
Information technologyLn 14$160K$120K$40K
RoyaltiesLn 15$8K$6K$2K
OccupancyLn 16$461K$454K$5K$2K
TravelLn 17$17K$12K$4K$121
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$26K$13K$11K$2K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$157K$155K$2K$810
InsuranceLn 23$85K$83K$871$436
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$66K$32K$30K$4K
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.2M$2.3M$533K$345K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 LatestFiled with the IRS Nov 17, 2025 $8.9M$6.1M$2.8M$7.3M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Nov 14, 2024 $6.6M$5.9M$740K$4.5M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Nov 15, 2023 $5.0M$4.3M$703K$3.7M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Nov 14, 2022 $4.2M$4.4M−$175K$3.0M 990 PDF
FY2020 ViewingFiled with the IRS Nov 3, 2021 $3.1M$3.2M−$96K$3.1M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support I · Grants J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990
Part I · Summary $3,064,273 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,883,206$2,692,869
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,256,608$320,810
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $45,623$46,570
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $33,270$4,024
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $4,218,707$3,064,273
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,930,133$1,562,238
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,137,502$1,598,220
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $4,067,635$3,160,458
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $151,072−$96,185
Part VI · Governance 27 of 27 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body27
VI-1b Independent voting members27
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 $3,064,273 across 6 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $4,024 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1b Membership dues$91,409
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,601,460
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,692,869
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $320,810$320,810
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $46,570$46,570
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $324,834 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $46,570$3,064,273
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,160,458 across 18 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Programs $202,567 · Management $100,258 · Fundraising $78,268$381,093
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $734,142 · Management $79,020 · Fundraising $209,673$1,022,835
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $57,767 · Management $3,288 · Fundraising $7,795$68,850
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $66,884 · Management $5,972 · Fundraising $16,604$89,460
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $171,482 · Management $31,570 · Fundraising $20,147$223,199
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $3,924$3,924
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $137,695$137,695
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $44,098 · Management $58,027$102,125
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $31,906 · Management $2,059 · Fundraising $1,954$35,919
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $98,480 · Management $16,240 · Fundraising $900$115,620
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $120,262 · Management $40,088$160,350
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $6,188 · Management $2,062$8,250
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $453,797 · Management $4,748 · Fundraising $2,374$460,919
IX-17 TravelPrograms $12,484 · Management $4,202 · Fundraising $121$16,807
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $12,815 · Management $10,640 · Fundraising $2,200$25,655
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $154,837 · Management $1,620 · Fundraising $810$157,267
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $83,293 · Management $871 · Fundraising $436$84,600
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $31,727 · Management $30,306 · Fundraising $3,857$65,890
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,282,729 · Management $532,590 · Fundraising $345,139$3,160,458
Part X · Balance sheet $3,789,948 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $922,099$923,282
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $100,946$205,364
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $313,292$278,444
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $7,804$13,862
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $68,943$65,961
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $2,095,851$2,303,035
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $3,508,935$3,789,948
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $239,629$237,459
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $26,715$55,984
X-23 Secured mortgages and notes payableStart of year $0$350,100
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $266,344$643,543
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,206,196$2,385,983
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,036,395$760,422
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,242,591$3,146,405
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $3,508,935$3,789,948
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $3,146,405 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,064,273
XI-2 Total expenses$3,160,458
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$96,185
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,242,591
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$3,146,405

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

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