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MICROVERSE INC
BROOKLYN, NY · EIN 880533161 · Form 990EZ · FY2023 · Micro (<$100K) · micro.ooo
revenue
$1K
expenses
$266K
net assets
$0
employees
—
program ratio
80%
mission · from form 990

MICROverses mission is to provide equal access to fundamental knowledge through the distribution of free educational exhibits MICROverses exhibits and activities connect communities everywhere in new conversations about the world we all share We bring education access into spaces where people already are - including hospital waiting rooms community centers and transit hubs Our programming is designed to engage children teens and their families in some of the countries most underserved neighborhoods connecting visitors of all ages and backgrounds

profile · synthesized from sources

MICROVERSE INC operates a series of free, small-scale educational exhibits designed to bring science and community conversations into everyday public spaces such as hospitals, libraries, and transit hubs. Their programming targets children, teens, and families, particularly in underserved neighborhoods, using interactive installations to explore topics like environmental science, energy systems, and healthcare. The exhibits aim to spark curiosity and engagement with fundamental knowledge through accessible, place-based learning experiences.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Museum of Care
Exhibit highlighting community-oriented healthcare through stories of frontline workers in the U.S., Liberia, and India, encouraging visitors to see themselves as caregivers
Perpetual Motion Museum
Second installment in the tiny museum series exploring Earth's energy systems, covering topics from the Big Bang to renewable energy and energy storage
Smallest Mollusk Museum
Interactive exhibit encouraging environmental action by connecting personal choices like junk mail and plastic use to their impact on mollusks and ocean ecosystems
activities · 3 groups

What they do

  • Museum-Based Educational Outreach 3 activities
    • Operate free public micro-museums in underserved communities
      Distributes free educational exhibits in hospital waiting rooms, community centers, and transit hubs, with installations in major cities collectively visited by millions. Operates as the most visited museum in the U.S. during the Covid epidemic by being present in essential spaces such as public hospitals.
    • Run educational programming for children, teens, and families through traveling museum exhibits
      Operates educational programming targeting children, teens, and families in underserved neighborhoods, serving visitors of all ages and backgrounds. Includes exhibits such as the Perpetual Motion Museum on energy science and the Museum of Care highlighting frontline health worker narratives.
    • Support educators and institutions in developing educational museum programs
      Supports educators and students using the MICRO DIY program and consults with museums, school groups, and foundations to design educational museums on critical topics.
  • Ocean and Plastic Pollution Research and Reduction 1 activity
    • Provide environmental sustainability guidance to the public
      Offers actionable steps for individuals to reduce plastic consumption and microfiber pollution and provides guidance on stopping junk mail through registration with major direct marketing lists.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Operate decentralized micro-organizations to build new economic infrastructures
      Runs a decentralized network of micro-organizations focused on building new economic infrastructures, enabling community-driven innovation and local economic development.
    • Produce and distribute DIY and digital museum educational resources
      Provides a free guide teaching individuals to research, curate, and design mini-museums using household materials, hosts submitted DIY projects in an online gallery, and may fabricate selected projects into full-sized installations. Also offers an online educational book and audio experiences about mollusks, including an audio tour with narration and original music.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$1K
Contributions & grants$676%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$266K
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising13%
Salaries & benefits$169K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$0
Cash$263K
Investments$0
Liabilities$814
Net assets$0
Liquid reserves11.9 mo
2 years on record · 2022–2023 · YoY revenue -99.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Sarah Mullens Executive Director 40 $40K
Charles Philipp Head of Partnerships Board Member 40 $35
board members · 5
  • Adam Krellenstein — Board Member
  • Chris Barr — Board Member
  • Logan McClure Davda — Board Member
  • Marlon Williams — Board Member
  • Natalia Villalobos — Board Member
relationships · 49

Who they work with

  • Abigail Gascho Landis Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk extinction.
  • Algalita Marine Research and Education Network — Recognizes Algalita and Captain Charles Moore's research on plastic pollution in the Pacific Ocean.
  • Brooklyn Public Library Partner — Collaborates with Brooklyn Public Library to provide curated book lists for children and adults related to caregiving and patient advocacy.
  • Center for Health Worker Innovation Partner — Partners with the Center for Health Worker Innovation to provide resources and policy information for frontline healthcare workers.
  • Direct Marketing Association Partner — Partners with the DMA to allow individuals to opt out of unwanted marketing mail.
  • DirectMail Partner — Collaborates with DirectMail to enable individuals to stop junk mail via the National Do Not Mail List.
  • Dr. Alan D. Wanamaker Jr. Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk death and longevity.
  • Dr. Andreas Hejnol Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk origins.
  • Dr. Chris Carrico Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk death and longevity.
  • Dr. Chris Richardson Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk death and longevity.
  • Dr. Clifton Ragsdale Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk brains.
  • Dr. Daniel Speiser Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk perception.
  • Dr. Heike Reise Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk reproduction.
  • Dr. Jakob Vinther Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk origins.
  • Dr. James Scourse Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk death and longevity.
  • Dr. Jennifer Mather Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk family behaviors.
  • Dr. John Hutchinson Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk reproduction.
  • Dr. Joris Koene Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk reproduction.
  • Dr. Kaya De Barbaro Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk family behaviors.
  • Dr. Kenneth Baets Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk origins.
  • Dr. Martin Rucklin Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk origins.
  • Dr. Matthew MacDougall Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk brains.
  • Dr. Monique Welten Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk origins.
  • Dr. Norman Blake Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk reproduction.
  • Dr. Paul Butler Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk death and longevity.
  • Dr. Paul Johnson Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk extinction.
  • Dr. Phil Donoghue Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk origins.
  • Dr. Ronald Chase Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk reproduction.
  • Dr. Russell Wyeth Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk perception.
  • Dr. Shuichi Shigeno Partner — Scientist who contributed expertise on mollusk brains.
+ 19 more
strategies · 5

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.

  • Distributed Museum Model
    methodology: distributed_museum_model
    By deploying small museums in public spaces rather than centralized institutions, we increase access to cultural and scientific knowledge, particularly for underserved populations, because proximity and familiarity reduce barriers to engagement.
  • Immersive, Hands-On Science Learning
    methodology: immersive_science_learning
    By engaging learners in self-directed, hands-on creation of exhibits using everyday materials, we cultivate scientific curiosity and understanding, because experiential interaction fosters deeper cognitive and emotional investment than passive observation.
  • Metaphor-Driven Behavior Change
    methodology: metaphor_based_behavior_change
    By using biologically grounded metaphors—like mollusk resilience—we inspire individuals to adopt small, sustainable actions, because relatable analogies make abstract environmental challenges personally meaningful and actionable.
  • Story-Based Education for Care and Community Engagement
    methodology: story_based_education
    By using first-person narratives from frontline health workers, we foster public understanding of caregiving and inspire community-oriented support systems, because personal stories create emotional resonance that abstract information cannot.
  • Trust-Based Network Scaling
    methodology: trust_based_network_scaling
    By supporting micro-organizations through trust-based relationships rather than top-down control, we enable organic societal change, because durable cultural shifts emerge from autonomous, locally rooted action that scales through relational networks.