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

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
89¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$135K 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

FY2023 · 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
89%
of spending
Looks good: 89% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$135K
to officers and key staff · 32% of spending
Concern: pay to officers and key staff is 32% of spending; over 30%.
Pt VII · Sec A
11 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 11.1 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
$10K
2% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 2% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
8
of 8 voting members
Looks good: 8 of 8 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$600K
+6% vs prior year
Spent
$418K
To programs
89%
Net assets
$554K
By yearFY2019–FY2025
Revenue
$600K
FY2023▲ +6%
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
$418K
FY2023▲ +11%
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
$554K
FY2023▲ +49%
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 FY2023 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 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

89 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 89% · $370K Management & general 7% · $28K Fundraising 5% · $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; $135K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Chief Learning Officer
$134,633Pt VII · Sec A
Director, Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director, CEO
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$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 · $370K · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

Other Community Science and Engineering Events

Quest developed and fielded 40 outreach events, including 15 science programs at local schools (including title 1 schools) and 24 outreach events at various community locations including libraries, parks, theaters, and other sites. Total attendance at these events was over 12,000.

$170Kprogram expense
02

Tri-Valley Innovation Fair

Quest planned and led the 5TH annual tri-valley innovation fair which was held at the alameda county fairgrounds. This popular event had 2,800 attendees in 2023, primarily youth and their families to see hands-on exhibits and demonstrations that showcased innovative regional science, technology, and education organizations.

$144Kprogram expense
03

Science in Quest Plaza Development and Programming

Quest enhanced the quest plaza at stockman's park location and programmed six hands-on science and engineering programs for kids, teens, and adults from june-october. These free programs were well attended, each event attracting 300-2000 kids and adults.

$56Kprogram 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 FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$600K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$592K
Investment incomeLn 3$7K
Other incomeLn 4–11$2K
Money outPt IX
$418K
Ln 25
Programscol B$370K
Managementcol C$28K
Fundraisingcol D$19K
Owns and owesPt X
$554K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$386K
Total assetsLn 16$564K
LiabilitiesLn 26$10K
PeoplePt VI, VII
10
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a8
IndependentVI 1b8
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$592K
Government grantsLn 1e$8K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$36K
Investment incomeLn 3$7K
Other incomeLn 4–11$2K
Total revenueLn 12$600K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$386K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$386K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$157K
Other assetsLn 15$807
Total assetsLn 16$564K
LiabilitiesLn 26$10K
Net assetsLn 32$554K
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$273K$386K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$81K$157K
Total assetsLn 16$375K$564K
LiabilitiesLn 26$3K$10K
Net assetsLn 32$371K$554K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$135K$135K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$51K$51K$124
Other employee benefitsLn 9$3K$3K
Payroll taxesLn 10$15K$15K$16
Accounting feesLn 11c$9K$9K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$82K$61K$3K$18K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$37K$37K
Information technologyLn 14$5K$893$4K$149
OccupancyLn 16$5K$15$5K
TravelLn 17$381$372$9
InsuranceLn 23$4K$4K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$71K$66K$4K$1K
Total functional expensesLn 25$418K$370K$28K$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 Viewing $600K$418K$183K$554K 990 PDF
FY2022 $564K$376K$188K$371K 990 PDF
FY2021 $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 FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $600,267 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $563,098$591,557
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $300$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,055$6,513
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$2,197
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $564,453$600,267
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 $159,966$204,362
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $216,481$213,392
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $376,447$417,754
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $188,006$182,513
Part VI · Governance 8 of 8 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body8
VI-1b Independent voting members8
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 $600,267 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$7,500
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$584,057
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$35,807
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$591,557
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $6,513$6,513
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $2,197$2,197
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,197 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $6,513$600,267
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $417,754 across 12 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $134,633$134,633
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $51,300 · Fundraising $124$51,424
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $3,312$3,312
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $14,977 · Fundraising $16$14,993
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $8,673$8,673
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $60,911 · Management $2,930 · Fundraising $18,039$81,880
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $37,454$37,454
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $893 · Management $3,574 · Fundraising $149$4,616
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $15 · Management $5,430$5,445
IX-17 TravelPrograms $372 · Management $9$381
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $3,587$3,587
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $66,239 · Management $3,970 · Fundraising $1,147$71,356
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $370,106 · Management $28,173 · Fundraising $19,475$417,754
Part X · Balance sheet $563,687 assets, 11 lines filed
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $273,138$386,069
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $21,000$20,000
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $80,591$156,811
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $0$807
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $374,729$563,687
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $3,325$9,704
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $3,325$9,704
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $237,619$400,302
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $133,785$153,681
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $371,404$553,983
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $374,729$563,687
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $553,983 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$600,267
XI-2 Total expenses$417,754
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$182,513
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$371,404
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$66
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$553,983

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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