The Exploratorium
78% goes to programs $12 to raise $100 Strong reserves Growing revenue
The Exploratorium is a 501(c)(3) organization based in San Francisco, California, registered in 1969, with $66,629,029 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 78% of spending to programs.
Pier 17 Suite 100, San Francisco, CA, 94111 EIN 94-1696494 Since 1969
Revenue (FY2023)
$66.6M
▲ 9.2% vs prior year
Arts & Culture median: $159K
Expenses (FY2023)
$66.0M
Net assets
$243.0M
Employees
708
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A
AProgram efficiency40% of the rating78% to programs · $12 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For The Exploratorium: 78% to programs · $12 to raise $100 earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating44 mo reserves · +1% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For The Exploratorium: 44 mo reserves · +1% margin earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For The Exploratorium: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Transparency10% of the rating5 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For The Exploratorium: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
The exploratorium is a public learning laboratory exploring the world through science, art, and human perception.our mission is to create inquiry-based experiences that transform learning worldwide.our vision is a world where people think for themselves and can confidently ask questions, question answers, and understand the world around them.we value lifelong learning and teaching, curiosity and inquiry, our community, iteration and evidence, integrity and authenticity, sustainability, and inclusion and respect.
What they do
Global collaborations:we learn and share with partners worldwide. by drawing on the exploratorium's broad expertise, global collaborations is able to provide a comprehensive set of creative services from master planning to program development to exhibit fabrication and installation. we like to be as far upstream in our clients' creative process as possible, exploring the rich questions that lead to truly authentic, innovative problem solving.
Educator engagement:we're at the forefront of science education. by making science visible, touchable, and accessible to a wide variety of people at the museum, online, and in the classroom, our explore-for-yourself way of learning and teaching influences science education worldwide. our professional development programs provide educators with the skills, tools, and support they need to apply inquiry-based learning and teaching in their classes. we also design programs that make connections between the traditionally separate worlds of formal (school) and informal (museum) education and understanding.
Contact & location
- Address
- Pier 17 Suite 100, San Francisco, CA, 94111
- City
- San Francisco
- State
- California
- Category
- Arts, Culture & Humanities
- Subcategory
- Museums
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $62.3M (FY2013) to $66.6M (FY2023) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2023)
Liabilities $50.0MNet assets $243.0M
Operating margin
1.0%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$293.0M
Total liabilities
$50.0M
Net assets
$243.0M
Salaries & benefits
$41.4M
63% of expenses
Board members
39
39 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $66,629,029▲9.2% | $65,980,256▲1.9% | $242,973,088▲3.0% | $293,014,681▲2.9% | 990 |
| 2022 | $61,024,177▼23.3% | $64,760,247▲9.4% | $235,865,424▼0.8% | $284,732,614▲3.5% | 990 |
| 2021 | $79,571,391▲65.8% | $59,221,371▲26.2% | $237,661,269▲5.1% | $275,042,102▼4.1% | 990 |
| 2020 | $47,989,738▼1.2% | $46,912,545▼11.4% | $226,204,540▲8.3% | $286,875,309▲8.3% | 990 |
| 2019 | $48,557,720▼49.6% | $52,960,158▼1.1% | $208,846,294▼2.1% | $264,783,310▼1.9% | 990 |
| 2018 | $96,372,343▲87.1% | $53,538,400▲1.1% | $213,260,286▲23.7% | $269,815,117▲19.2% | 990 |
| 2017 | $51,507,512▼30.5% | $52,933,431▲1.4% | $172,437,392▲0.1% | $226,313,174▲0.3% | 990 |
| 2016 | $74,087,793▲43.4% | $52,213,213▼7.1% | $172,236,851▲16.4% | $225,591,402▲7.2% | 990 |
| 2015 | $51,678,709▼11.8% | $56,187,552▼6.8% | $147,984,637▼4.5% | $210,400,592▼5.5% | 990 |
| 2014 | $58,583,761▼5.9% | $60,312,129▲3.7% | $154,955,153▼1.9% | $222,691,233▼5.5% | 990 |
| 2013 | $62,277,879 | $58,155,662▲12.4% | $158,021,214▲3.9% | $235,774,674▼0.9% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $51,719,186▲30.7% | $152,049,050▲10.0% | $237,916,900▲2.9% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $39,559,813▲12.5% | $138,183,810▼1.8% | $231,227,583▲47.3% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $35,171,533▲16.8% | $140,731,521▲19.1% | $157,012,815▲27.2% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $30,112,988 | $118,157,115 | $123,436,067 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2023)
Highest-paid: Mark Bierman — $583,952 (0.89% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Bierman | Executive Director | 37.5 | $583,952 |
| Phoebe White | Chief Operating Ofc. (thru 9/22/23) | 37.5 | $344,719 |
| Robert Semper | Chief Learning Officer | 37.5 | $314,320 |
| Laura Zander | Chief Financial & Operating Officer | 37.5 | $286,820 |
| Blair Winn | Chief Advancement Officer | 37.5 | $257,640 |
| Julie Nunn | Chief Brand Officer | 37.5 | $216,235 |
| Anne Richardson | Chief Experience Officer | 37.5 | $215,636 |
| Jason Pacely | Chief People Officer | 37.5 | $209,277 |
| Thomas Rockwell | Chief Creative Officer | 37.5 | $183,092 |
| Anne Holmes | Chief Strategy Officer | 37.5 | $181,139 |
| Albert Bert Richards | Director | 2 | — |
| Alison Mauze | Director | 2 | — |
| Cameron Phleger | Director | 2 | — |
| Chris Foster | Director | 2 | — |
| Craig Silverstein | Director | 2 | — |
| Dan Yue | Director | 2 | — |
| Darren Bechtel | Director | 2 | — |
| E Payson Skip Smith | Director | 2 | — |
| Esther Wojcicki | Director | 2 | — |
| Frances Hellman | Director | 2 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2023)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor Recreation Products | Exhibit Development | $906,563 |
| Securitas Security Svcs USA | Security Service | $785,804 |
| San Francisco Chronicle | Advertising | $557,412 |
| Lookingpoint Inc | It Service | $437,231 |
| John Murray Productions Inc | Exhibit Development | $417,522 |
Grants received · $56.9M total
139 grants to The Exploratorium totaling $56.9M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
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Compare The Exploratorium
Frequently asked questions
- Is The Exploratorium a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. The Exploratorium is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 94-1696494, based in San Francisco, California. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is The Exploratorium's EIN?
- The Exploratorium's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 94-1696494.
- How much revenue does The Exploratorium report?
- The Exploratorium reported $66,629,029 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2023 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of The Exploratorium's spending goes to programs?
- The Exploratorium spends about 78% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does The Exploratorium have?
- CharityIndex grades The Exploratorium A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does The Exploratorium's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on The Exploratorium's latest Form 990 is $583,952, paid to Mark Bierman (Executive Director).
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Data for The Exploratorium (EIN 94-1696494) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.