To inspire & nurture everyday exploration for lifelong engagement with Science & technology.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
80¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$181K 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
4 of 7
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $60K a year · 11% of revenue · last 7 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 4 of the last 7 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 7 filings
Spent on programs
80%
of spending
Looks good: 80% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$181K
to officers and key staff · 36% of spending
Concern: pay to officers and key staff is 36% of spending; over 30%.
Pt VII · Sec A
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $133K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$17K
9% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 9% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
6
of 6 voting members
Looks good: 6 of 6 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$504K
+70% vs prior year
Spent
$507K
To programs
80%
Net assets
$184K
By yearFY2019–FY2025
Revenue
$504K
FY2021▲ +70%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2019$403K
FY2020$296K
FY2021$504K
FY2022$564K
FY2023$600K
FY2024$601K
FY2025$713K
Expenses
$507K
FY2021▲ +65%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2019$325K
FY2020$308K
FY2021$507K
FY2022$376K
FY2023$418K
FY2024$568K
FY2025$760K
Net assets
$184K
FY2021▼ -2%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2019$200K
FY2020$187K
FY2021$184K
FY2022$371K
FY2023$554K
FY2024$586K
FY2025$540K

From the FY2021 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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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 Jun 2018.

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

Where the money goes

80 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 80% · $408K Management & general 16% · $80K Fundraising 4% · $19K

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

10 people listed on the 990; $181K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Chief Learning Officer
$138,217Pt VII · Sec A
$42,739Pt VII · Sec A
Director, Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director, CEO
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Caleb Cheung’s $145K as Chief Learning Officer is at the 84th percentile of top reported officer pay among 312 $100K–1M science & technology 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 · 4 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Caleb Cheung$144,955$144,955$134,633$144,217$138,217
Cynthia Margulis$114,111————
Michael Mosby$47,000————
Katherine Young————$42,739

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 Quest Science Center executive salaries →

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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 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Inspires and nurtures everyday exploration for lifelong engagement with science and technology.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $283K · in their own filed words · FY2021
01

Science in the Park Development and Programming

Quest prepared the quest plaza at stockman's park location and programmed six hands-on programs for kids, teens, and adults from june-october. These programs were well attended, attracting 200-400+ kids and adults.

$125Kprogram expense
02

Education Programming

Quest developed and programmed several educational programs, including a summer camp with over 100 students, a green engineering academy at a local high school, science programs for a boys & girls club, a computer generated art exhibition, a "physics of phones" program provided area high schools, and an on-line speaker series.

$84Kprogram expense
03

Tri-Valley Innovation Fair

Quest planned and developed the 4TH annual tri-valley innovation fair to be held at the alameda county fairgrounds. This event will connect everyone to the excitement of science, engineering, and technology, and showcase innovative regional organizations.

$73Kprogram 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 · FY2024
See all 3 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$504K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$482K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$20K
Other incomeLn 4–11$2K
Money outPt IX
$507K
Ln 25
Programscol B$408K
Managementcol C$80K
Fundraisingcol D$19K
Owns and owesPt X
$184K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$128K
Total assetsLn 16$202K
LiabilitiesLn 26$17K
PeoplePt VI, VII
10
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$482K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$45K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$20K
Investment incomeLn 3$269
Other incomeLn 4–11$2K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$284
Total revenueLn 12$504K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$128K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$128K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$70K
Total assetsLn 16$202K
LiabilitiesLn 26$17K
Net assetsLn 32$184K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 53
VolunteersI 690
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$196K$128K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$70K
Total assetsLn 16$202K$202K
LiabilitiesLn 26$14K$17K
Net assetsLn 32$187K$184K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$181K$129K$41K$11K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$15K$15K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$4K$1K$2K$1K
Payroll taxesLn 10$16K$12K$4K$1K
Legal feesLn 11b$1K$1K
Accounting feesLn 11c$17K$17K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$6K$2K$4K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$28K$26K$2K$365
InsuranceLn 23$4K$4K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$234K$223K$5K$6K
Total functional expensesLn 25$507K$408K$80K$19K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $713K$760K−$46K$540K 990 PDF
FY2024 $601K$568K$33K$586K 990 PDF
FY2023 $600K$418K$183K$554K 990 PDF
FY2022 $564K$376K$188K$371K 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $504K$507K−$3K$184K 990 PDF
FY2020 $296K$308K−$11K$187K 990 PDF
FY2019 $403K$325K$79K$200K 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 FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $503,856 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $289,891$481,807
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,190$20,080
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $4,527$269
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $810$1,700
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $296,418$503,856
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 $0$216,176
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $307,559$290,373
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $307,559$506,549
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$11,141−$2,693
Part VI · Governance 6 of 6 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body6
VI-1b Independent voting members6
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
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 $503,856 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$481,807
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$45,227
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$481,807
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $20,080$20,080
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $553$553
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$284−$284
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $1,700$1,700
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $21,780 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $269$503,856
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $506,549 across 10 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $128,869 · Management $41,402 · Fundraising $10,685$180,956
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $14,775$14,775
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,000 · Management $2,000 · Fundraising $1,000$4,000
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $11,652 · Management $3,711 · Fundraising $1,082$16,445
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $1,285$1,285
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $17,306$17,306
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $2,494 · Management $3,512$6,006
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $25,639 · Management $2,072 · Fundraising $365$28,076
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $3,660$3,660
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $223,147 · Management $5,235 · Fundraising $5,658$234,040
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $407,576 · Management $80,183 · Fundraising $18,790$506,549
Part X · Balance sheet $201,623 assets, 10 lines filed
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $195,957$128,148
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $5,690$3,300
X-12 Other securities$70,175
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $201,647$201,623
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $14,241$17,147
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $14,241$17,147
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $52,097$106,945
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $135,309$77,531
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $187,406$184,476
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $201,647$201,623
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $184,476 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$503,856
XI-2 Total expenses$506,549
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$2,693
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$187,406
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$187
XI-8 Prior period adjustments−$50
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$184,476

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

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