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Curiodyssey FY2020 filing

Tax-deductible

San Mateo, CA501(c)(3)Since 1953Arts & CultureEIN 94-1262434Revenue $3.8M in FY2020

On file with the IRScuriodyssey.org1651 Coyote Point Dr, 94401-1002 · San Mateo, CATax-exempt since Dec 1955Publicly supported — 509(a)(2)

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Curiodyssey, a science playground and zoo, inspires a love for science and curiosity about the world to create a brighter future. We DO this by letting kids loose to observe what is, ask "what if and let the natural world answer their questions. We give kids the real power of science.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
65¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$568K 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
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
2 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $176K a year · 3% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
65%
of spending
Fine: 65% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$568K
to officers and key staff · 14% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 14% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
17 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 17.3 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $1K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$792K
6% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 6% 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
$3.8M
Spent
$4.2M
To programs
65%
Net assets
$12.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$3.8M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$3.8M
FY2021$5.4M
FY2022$7.7M
FY2023$5.9M
FY2024$6.4M
FY2025$5.3M
Expenses
$4.2M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$4.2M
FY2021$3.7M
FY2022$5.0M
FY2023$6.7M
FY2024$7.5M
FY2025$6.5M
Net assets
$12.5M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$12.5M
FY2021$14.2M
FY2022$15.8M
FY2023$15.1M
FY2024$14.2M
FY2025$13.1M

From the FY2020 Form 990 (year ending September 2020) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 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 Dec 1955.

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

Where the money goes

65 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 65% · $2.7M Management & general 17% · $698K Fundraising 18% · $769K

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

18 people listed on the 990; $568K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2019); the FY2020 filing did not itemize Part VII
Rachel Meyer
Executive Director to 6/30/20
$225,051Pt VII · Sec A
$125,539Pt VII · Sec A
Pat Jenkins
Dir or Marketing
$114,030Pt VII · Sec A
Ts Rowell
Dir of Development
$103,125Pt VII · Sec A
Christina Diercks
Nominating Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Andrea Irvin
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Don Walton
Volunteer Representative
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Aragon Burlingham’s $248K as Executive Director (thru 9/25) is at the 92nd percentile of top reported officer pay among 3924 $1–10M arts & culture 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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Aragon Burlingham$247,887——$167,211$74,754—
Rachel Meyer————$185,318$225,051
Aragon Buringham—$220,787$203,191———
Maureen Garrett$154,825$147,601$166,790———
Jessa Barzelay$150,340$143,340————
Sierra Gonzalez$132,461$139,696————
Jessa Barzelay -Chief Programs——$132,156———
Joan Martel————$125,539$125,539

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 passion for science and world curiosity, fostering a brighter future.

Questions for Curiodyssey

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $2.0M · in their own filed words · FY2019
01

Wildlife Habitats

See schedule o

$772Kprogram expense
02

Community Outreach/Guest Services

See schedule o

$647Kprogram expense
03

Changing Exhibits/Public Programs

See schedule o

$603Kprogram 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
Blooming Jade Legacy FoundationFY2025$1K
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$1K

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.9M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$665K
Other incomeLn 4–11$165K
Money outPt IX
$4.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.7M
Managementcol C$698K
Fundraisingcol D$769K
Owns and owesPt X
$12.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$6.0M
Total assetsLn 16$13.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$792K
PeoplePt VI, VII
18
listed · VII A
PaidVII A4
Voting boardVI 1a13
IndependentVI 1b13
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.9M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$15K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$665K
Investment incomeLn 3$30K
Other incomeLn 4–11$165K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$47K
Total revenueLn 12$3.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$269K
SavingsLn 2$5.8M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$6.0M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$916K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.8M
Total assetsLn 16$13.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$792K
Net assetsLn 32$12.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 592
VolunteersI 6370
Fiscal year endsHeaderSeptember
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$2.5M$6.0M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$3.4M$916K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4.0M$1.8M
Total assetsLn 16$16.5M$13.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$512K$792K
Net assetsLn 32$15.9M$12.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$448K$60K$236K$152K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.1M$1.6M$234K$310K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$206K$190K$16K−$616
Payroll taxesLn 10$174K$114K$28K$31K
Legal feesLn 11b$37K$4K$8K$26K
Accounting feesLn 11c$30K$30K
Investment management feesLn 11f$6K$6K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$472K$228K$44K$200K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$27K$24K$3K
Office expensesLn 13$90K$62K$21K$7K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$18K$5K$3K$10K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$196K$189K$3K$3K
InsuranceLn 23$46K$24K$14K$8K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$282K$241K$24K$18K
All other expensesLn 24e$41K$9K$29K$3K
Total functional expensesLn 25$4.2M$2.7M$698K$769K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $5.3M$6.5M−$1.2M$13.1M 990 PDF
FY2024 $6.4M$7.5M−$1.0M$14.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 $5.9M$6.7M−$749K$15.1M 990 PDF
FY2022 $7.7M$5.0M$2.8M$15.8M 990 PDF
FY2021 $5.4M$3.7M$1.7M$14.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $3.8M$4.2M−$422K$12.5M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $3,771,596 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $3,317,150$2,911,321
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,398,026$664,964
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $140,240$29,995
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $306,513$165,316
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $5,161,929$3,771,596
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 $3,110,272$2,948,771
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,053,724$1,244,724
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $5,163,996$4,193,495
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$2,067−$421,899
Part VI · Governance 13 of 13 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body13
VI-1b Independent voting members13
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 $3,771,596 across 9 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $69,128 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1b Membership dues$337,586
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,573,735
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$14,517
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,911,321
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $664,964$664,964
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $77,099$77,099
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $96,188$96,188
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$47,104−$47,104
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $664,964 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $195,311$3,771,596
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $4,193,495 across 15 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $60,005 · Management $236,315 · Fundraising $151,576$447,896
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,577,867 · Management $233,973 · Fundraising $309,512$2,121,352
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $190,244 · Management $16,116 · Fundraising −$616$205,744
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $114,072 · Management $28,296 · Fundraising $31,411$173,779
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $3,625 · Management $7,619 · Fundraising $25,555$36,799
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $30,000$30,000
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $5,702$5,702
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $227,851 · Management $44,473 · Fundraising $199,945$472,269
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $24,296 · Fundraising $2,832$27,128
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $62,240 · Management $21,346 · Fundraising $6,868$90,454
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $4,752 · Management $3,290 · Fundraising $10,014$18,056
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $188,858 · Management $3,422 · Fundraising $3,273$195,553
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $24,059 · Management $13,649 · Fundraising $8,118$45,826
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $240,517 · Management $24,375 · Fundraising $17,537$282,429
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $8,969 · Management $28,952 · Fundraising $2,587$40,508
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,727,355 · Management $697,528 · Fundraising $768,612$4,193,495
Part X · Balance sheet $13,302,387 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $308,441$268,776
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $2,209,181$5,778,850
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $6,456,062$4,413,147
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $53,485$16,428
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $40,464$53,746
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $54,575$12,557
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $3,953,066$1,842,521
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $3,379,131$916,362
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $16,454,405$13,302,387
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $431,096$628,061
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $80,846$164,102
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $511,942$792,163
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $7,990,377$5,293,281
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $7,952,086$7,216,943
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $15,942,463$12,510,224
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $16,454,405$13,302,387
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $12,510,224 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,771,596
XI-2 Total expenses$4,193,495
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$421,899
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$15,942,463
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$64,679
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities−$141,208
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$2,933,810
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$12,510,224

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

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