irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $73.79MEDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS - THE MUSEUM WELCOMED OVER 291,000 FIELD TRIP PARTICIPANTS IN FY25. HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE EXPLORATION OF SCIENCE AND MUSEUM CAREERS. EDUCATOR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING PROGRAMS SERVED THOUSANDS OF TEACHERS ONSITE AND ONLINE. URBAN ADVANTAGE, A SCIENCE EDUCATION PROGRAM REACHED 87,240 STUDENTS FROM 324 SCHOOLS ACROSS NYC. THE MUSEUM'S MAT PROGRAM HELPS TRAIN EARTH SCIENCE TEACHERS FOR PLACEMENT IN HIGH NEEDS SCHOOLS. LECTURES AND PUBLIC EVENTS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH SCIENCE TOPICS.
- #2 $63.02MEXHIBITION - THE MUSEUM IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 363 DAYS A YEAR WITH MORE THAN 40 PERMANENT EXHIBITION HALLS. THE MUSEUM HAS A ROBUST SCHEDULE OF SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS AND PLANETARIUM SHOWS IT DESIGNS AND PRODUCES, WHICH ALSO TRAVEL TO VENUES AROUND THE U.S. AND INTERNATIONALLY, SUPPLEMENTED WITH EDUCATIONAL CONTENT, AND OTHER WEB-BASED RESOURCES FOR LEARNING.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Education and Public Programs
Field trips, lectures, and professional development for educators serving hundreds of thousands annually
Exhibitions and Planetarium Shows
Permanent and special exhibitions, including traveling shows, and planetarium presentations for public education
Graduate School of Comparative Biology
Offers Ph.D. programs in comparative biology and related fields
MAT Program
Teacher training program to prepare Earth science teachers for placement in high-needs schools
Urban Advantage
Science education program for middle school students and teachers across all five boroughs of New York City
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Teacher Professional Development 2 activities
- Provide professional learning for educatorsServes thousands of teachers annually through onsite and online professional development programs designed to strengthen science teaching practices.
- Train Earth science teachers for high-needs schoolsPrepares Earth science teachers for placement in high-needs schools through its Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program, combining academic training with practical experience.
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Hands-On STEM Education Programs 1 activity
- Deliver Urban Advantage science education programReached 87,240 students from 324 schools across New York City through Urban Advantage, a science education initiative that partners with schools to enhance science learning.
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Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
- Host field trip programs for studentsWelcomed over 291,000 field trip participants in fiscal year 2025, providing structured educational visits to the museum.
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Public Astronomy & Space Science Education 1 activity
- Operate permanent and traveling exhibitionsOperates more than 40 permanent exhibition halls and produces special exhibitions and planetarium shows that travel nationally and internationally, supported by educational content and web-based learning resources.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Expand museum facilities for science and educationOpened the Gilder Center for Science, Education and Innovation in May 2023, which added 4 new permanent exhibitions and enhanced space for science education and public engagement.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$246.76M
Contributions & grants$153.51M62%
Program service revenue$27.94M11%
Investment income$50.66M21%
Other revenue$14.66M
expenses
Total expenses$278.58M
Program expenses83%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$154.00M
Grants paid out$6.15M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.68B
Cash$77.68M
Investments$810.71M
Liabilities$552.69M
Net assets$1.12B
Liquid reserves38.3 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +4.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 19
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LISA GUGENHEIM | DIR. OF THE MUS. (END 6/30/24) | 45 | $1.80M |
| SEAN M DECATUR | PRESIDENT & EX OFFICIO TRUSTEE | 55 | $1.50M |
| MICHAEL NOVACEK | CURATOR (FMR SR VP & PROVOST) | 35 | $861K |
| WARD C WHEELER | CURATOR | 35 | $648K |
| ANNE CANTY | SR VP COMMUNICATIONS,MARKETING | 45 | $620K |
| CHERYL HAYASHI | SR VP & PROVOST | 45 | $573K |
| DANIEL STODDARD | ACTING SR VP CFO & CIO | 45 | $567K |
| JOHN FLYNN | DEAN OF GRAD SCHOOL & CURATOR | 35 | $561K |
| Juan Montes | CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER | 35 | $553K |
| RICHARD A MADONNA | SR VP & CFO-(END 3/3/25) | 45 | $542K |
| AMY SONNENBORN | SR VP CHIEF ADV OFFICER | 45 | $487K |
| RHEA GORDON | SR VP GEN COUNSEL & SECRETARY | 45 | $469K |
| MARIET MORGAN | VP EDUCATION | 35 | $455K |
| DANIEL SLIPPEN | SR VP GOV REL & COMM ENGT | 37 | $455K |
| LAURI HALDERMAN | SR VP FOR EXHIB (End 10/7/24) | 45 | $449K |
| KALA HARINARAYANAN | SR VP & CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER | 45 | $416K |
| Jennifer OBUS | ASSISTANT SEC. (ST. 12/4/24) | 45 | $234K |
| JACQUELINE POWERS | ASSISTANT SEC. (End 6/4/24) | 45 | $191K |
| CAROL TANG | SR VP LEARNING (ST. 11/6/24) | 45 | $151K |
board members · 6
- ANDREW CRAWFORD — Trustee(Start 10/9/24)
- Alexandra Mondre — TRUSTEE
- Alondra Nelson — Trustee(Start 10/9/24)
- Amabel James — TRUSTEE
- Ann Tisch — TRUSTEE
- Ben Gottesman — Trustee
relationships · 1
Who they work with
- Urban Advantage Partner — Collaborative science education program serving middle school students across New York City.
strategies · 2
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Teacher Pipeline for High-Needs Schoolsmethodology: teacher_pipeline_for_high_needs_schoolsBy training and placing Earth science teachers through a master’s accreditation program, the museum improves science education in high-needs schools because certified, well-prepared teachers increase classroom effectiveness and student engagement.
- Urban Science Education Partnershipmethodology: urban_science_education_partnershipBy partnering with schools and community organizations across New York City, the museum extends its educational reach to middle school students citywide, increasing access to science learning because collaborative networks amplify impact beyond museum walls.