To provide children with opportunities to connect science to everyday life through problem-solving, discovery and critical thinking.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
60¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 75 volunteers and 45 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $40K a year · 3% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
60%
of spending
Worth a look: 60% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$157K
to officers and key staff · 10% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 10% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $278K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$744K
12% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 12% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
9
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 9 of 9 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
-44% vs prior year
Spent
$1.6M
To programs
60%
Net assets
$5.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$1.1M
FY2025▼ -44%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$626K
FY2021$1.0M
FY2022$1.3M
FY2023$1.4M
FY2024$1.9M
FY2025$1.1M
Expenses
$1.6M
FY2025▲ +7%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.0M
FY2021$882K
FY2022$1.3M
FY2023$1.4M
FY2024$1.5M
FY2025$1.6M
Net assets
$5.6M
FY2025▼ -9%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$5.4M
FY2021$5.6M
FY2022$5.6M
FY2023$5.8M
FY2024$6.2M
FY2025$5.6M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · 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: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jul 2001.

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

Where the money goes

60 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 60% · $963K Management & general 31% · $501K Fundraising 9% · $145K

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; $157K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
$156,600Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Preside
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Megan Baughman’s $157K as CEO is at the 36th percentile of top reported officer pay among 363 $1–10M 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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Megan Baughman$156,600$156,000$127,313$60,975——
Tonja Lucchese——$122,625$57,469——
Jim Finan————$71,900$10,769
Lindsay Aguilar——$3,125———

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 Ethos INC 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 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Connects children with science through everyday problem-solving and discovery.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $842K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Grade level certified (GLC) is ethos's nationally aligned, hands-on science curriculum for PREK-6 classrooms. GLC provides teachers with standards- based lab lessons that integrate science, literacy, and stem career connections through experiential learning.

$464Kprogram expense
02

Sea research provides consumable stem learning materials to students through partnersips with national science organizations, including aquariums and youth-serving organizations. These materials support hands- on exploration of marine science concepts and extend stem learning opportunities to students participating in enrichment and…

$284Kprogram expense
03

Ethos in a bag (eib) provides hands-on stem lab experiences for students through camps, field trips, community programs, and at-home learning. Each eib lab includes all consumable materials needed for students to explore scientific concepts through guided experimentation.

$94Kprogram 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
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$278K

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.1M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$492K
Other incomeLn 4–11$461K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$89K
Money outPt IX
$1.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$963K
Managementcol C$501K
Fundraisingcol D$145K
Owns and owesPt X
$5.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$568K
Total assetsLn 16$6.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$744K
PeoplePt VI, VII
10
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b9
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$492K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$26K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$89K
Investment incomeLn 3$31K
Other incomeLn 4–11$461K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$3K
Total revenueLn 12$1.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$39K
SavingsLn 2$529K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$568K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$108K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$5.5M
Other assetsLn 15$17K
Total assetsLn 16$6.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$744K
Net assetsLn 32$5.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 545
VolunteersI 675
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.0M$568K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$10K$108K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$5.6M$5.5M
Total assetsLn 16$6.9M$6.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$749K$744K
Net assetsLn 32$6.2M$5.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$157K$84K$54K$19K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$698K$373K$241K$85K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$22K$12K$8K$3K
Payroll taxesLn 10$65K$35K$22K$8K
Accounting feesLn 11c$26K$26K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$76K$70K$6K$199
Office expensesLn 13$10K$10K
OccupancyLn 16$249K$186K$50K$12K
TravelLn 17$39K$39K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$201$185$15$1
InterestLn 20$39K$30K$10K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$179K$134K$27K$18K
InsuranceLn 23$39K$39K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$10K$2K$8K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.6M$963K$501K$145K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $1.1M$1.6M−$535K$5.6M 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.9M$1.5M$429K$6.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.4M$1.4M$63K$5.8M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.3M$1.3M$42K$5.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.0M$882K$167K$5.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 $626K$1.0M−$407K$5.4M 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 J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,073,309 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,349,305$491,894
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $166,908$89,447
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $41,976$31,372
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $369,755$460,596
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,927,944$1,073,309
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $920,158$941,930
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $579,009$666,818
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,499,167$1,608,748
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $428,777−$535,439
Part VI · Governance 9 of 9 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members9
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 $1,073,309 across 8 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $326,818 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$491,894
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$25,700
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$491,894
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $89,447$89,447
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $33,970$33,970
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $133,778$133,778
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission −$2,598−$2,598
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $547,445 · Excluded from tax $33,970$1,073,309
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,608,748 across 14 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $83,626 · Management $53,963 · Fundraising $19,012$156,601
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $372,763 · Management $240,539 · Fundraising $84,744$698,046
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $11,802 · Management $7,616 · Fundraising $2,683$22,101
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $34,808 · Management $22,461 · Fundraising $7,913$65,182
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $26,473$26,473
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $70,086 · Management $5,643 · Fundraising $199$75,928
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $9,845$9,845
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $185,718 · Management $50,418 · Fundraising $12,381$248,517
IX-17 TravelPrograms $38,527$38,527
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $185 · Management $15 · Fundraising $1$201
IX-20 InterestPrograms $29,523 · Management $9,841$39,364
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $134,090 · Management $26,818 · Fundraising $17,879$178,787
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $39,323$39,323
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,733 · Management $8,120$9,853
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $962,861 · Management $501,075 · Fundraising $144,812$1,608,748
Part X · Balance sheet $6,355,760 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $95,886$39,044
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $907,383$529,383
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $149,917$63,061
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $102,266$113,971
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $5,806$9,964
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $5,648,987$5,475,352
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $10,037$108,007
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $15,973$16,978
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $6,936,255$6,355,760
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $143,612$139,427
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $15,790$6,228
X-25 Other liabilities$41,395
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $749,269$744,281
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $5,375,279$5,168,487
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $811,707$442,992
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $6,186,986$5,611,479
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $6,936,255$6,355,760
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $5,611,479 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,073,309
XI-2 Total expenses$1,608,748
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$535,439
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$6,186,986
XI-8 Prior period adjustments−$41,049
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$981
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$5,611,479

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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