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Explorationworks INC

Tax-deductible

Helena, MT501(c)(3)Human Services EIN 81-0541491Revenue $941K in FY2024

On file with the IRSexplorationworks.org995 Carousel Way, 59601-3396 · Helena, MTTax-exempt since Mar 2002Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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Explorationworks ignites a lifelong love for science to enrich montana's future. With the future closely tied to stem (science, math, technology and engineering), exploration works helps children as young as 2 begin preparing for stem careers (if they so choose) and helps children and adults of all ages be comfortable with science in their daily lives. Our engaging exhibits, exceptional programs and enduring partnerships are designed to meet the needs of lewis and clark, broadwater and jefferson county kids and families, in 3 educational areas: early childhood, science and technology and making healthy living choices. Typically welcoming about 38,000 people of all ages each year, more than 700 youth participate in our summer camp and after school classes. Camp and class scholarships and free admission days ensure access for all, regardless of economic circumstance.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
50¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 50 volunteers and 36 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
1 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $27K a year · 3% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
50%
of spending
Concern: 50% of spending went to programs; under 50%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$90K
to officers and key staff · 8% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 80% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 8% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
5 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.7 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $82K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$460K
25% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 25% 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
$941K
+3% vs prior year
Spent
$1.1M
To programs
50%
Net assets
$1.3M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$941K
FY2024▲ +3%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$900K
FY2021$753K
FY2022$729K
FY2023$916K
FY2024$941K
Expenses
$1.1M
FY2024▲ +16%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$723K
FY2021$789K
FY2022$849K
FY2023$931K
FY2024$1.1M
Net assets
$1.3M
FY2024▼ -9%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$1.7M
FY2021$1.6M
FY2022$1.5M
FY2023$1.5M
FY2024$1.3M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Mar 2002.

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

Where the money goes

50 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 50% · $537K Management & general 45% · $488K Fundraising 5% · $57K

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

14 people listed on the 990; $90K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Heather O'Neill
Executive Director
$90,150Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Angela Murdo
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Adam Liston
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Heather O'Neill’s $90K as Executive Director is at the 80th percentile of top reported officer pay among 2168 $100K–1M human services 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

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Kelly Posewitz—$60,302$110,109$110,031$102,489
Heather O'Neill$90,150$17,797———
Kari Gagner——$46,435——

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

Ignites a lifelong love for science through engaging exhibits and programs for all ages.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $537K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Stem (science, technology, math and engineering) exhibits, field trips, after school programs, preschool programs and summer camps for kids of all ages, grounded in educational excellence, to ignite a lifelong love for science to enrich montana's future.

$537Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Zero to Five MontanaFY2025$82K
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$82K
Grants paid · 1 grant · $17K · 2024–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$16,769

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$941K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$534K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$396K
Other incomeLn 4–11$7K
Money outPt IX
$1.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$537K
Managementcol C$488K
Fundraisingcol D$57K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.3M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$422K
Total assetsLn 16$1.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$460K
PeoplePt VI, VII
14
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a13
IndependentVI 1b13
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$534K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$31K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$65K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$396K
Investment incomeLn 3$5K
Other incomeLn 4–11$7K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$98
Total revenueLn 12$941K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$422K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$422K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.4M
Total assetsLn 16$1.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$460K
Net assetsLn 32$1.3M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 536
VolunteersI 650
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$210K$422K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.3M$1.4M
Total assetsLn 16$1.6M$1.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$66K$460K
Net assetsLn 32$1.5M$1.3M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$17K$17K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$90K$18K$36K$36K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$521K$288K$226K$6K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$16K$9K$7K$181
Payroll taxesLn 10$89K$49K$39K$1K
Accounting feesLn 11c$37K$37K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$42K$9K$28K$5K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$12K$7K$5K$50
Office expensesLn 13$17K$871$16K
OccupancyLn 16$32K$1K$31K$35
TravelLn 17$2K$2K$35
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$165$70$95
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$48K$48K
InsuranceLn 23$35K$35K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$125K$88K$30K$8K
All other expensesLn 24e$731$481$250
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.1M$537K$488K$57K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $941K$1.1M−$140K$1.3M 990 PDF
FY2023 $916K$931K−$14K$1.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 $729K$849K−$121K$1.5M 990 PDF
FY2021 $753K$789K−$36K$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 $900K$723K$177K$1.7M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $941,264 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $647,489$533,817
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $269,979$395,848
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $5,729$4,849
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$6,843$6,750
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $916,354$941,264
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$16,769
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $595,411$715,268
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $335,236$349,668
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $930,647$1,081,705
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$14,293−$140,441
Part VI · Governance 13 of 13 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body13
VI-1b Independent voting members13
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $941,264 across 12 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $1,550 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$1,033
VIII-1b Membership dues$103,278
VIII-1c Fundraising events$65,469
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$364,037
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$31,027
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$533,817
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $395,848$395,848
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $4,947$4,947
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $22,450$22,450
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$98−$98
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$17,250−$17,250
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $397,398 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $10,049$941,264
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,081,705 across 16 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $16,769$16,769
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $18,030 · Management $36,060 · Fundraising $36,060$90,150
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $288,250 · Management $226,424 · Fundraising $6,030$520,704
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $8,631 · Management $6,780 · Fundraising $181$15,592
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $49,170 · Management $38,623 · Fundraising $1,029$88,822
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $36,679$36,679
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $8,918 · Management $27,593 · Fundraising $5,241$41,752
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $6,935 · Management $4,677 · Fundraising $50$11,662
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $871 · Management $16,073$16,944
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $1,025 · Management $30,945 · Fundraising $35$32,005
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,689 · Management $35$1,724
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $70 · Fundraising $95$165
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $48,209$48,209
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $34,832$34,832
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $87,516 · Management $29,590 · Fundraising $7,859$124,965
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $481 · Fundraising $250$731
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $536,564 · Management $488,311 · Fundraising $56,830$1,081,705
Part X · Balance sheet $1,805,628 assets, 13 lines filed
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $210,245$421,946
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $2,150$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $5,025$2,900
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $7,845$10,000
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,326,738$1,370,782
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,552,003$1,805,628
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $60,998$105,389
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $5,000$354,675
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $65,998$460,064
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,476,005$1,335,564
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $10,000$10,000
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,486,005$1,345,564
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,552,003$1,805,628
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,345,564 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$941,264
XI-2 Total expenses$1,081,705
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$140,441
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,486,005
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,345,564

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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