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BUFFALO SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCES
BUFFALO, NY · EIN 166000178 · Form 990 · FY2023 · NTEE A560 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Medium ($1M-$10M) · sciencebuff.org
revenue
$6.4M
expenses
$6.5M
net assets
$27.7M
employees
120
volunteers
320
program ratio
62%
mission · from form 990

TO INSPIRE JOYFUL EXPLORATION OF SCIENCE AND NATURE THROUGH A MUSEUM AND A NATURE PRESERVE.

profile · synthesized from sources

Museum and nature preserve in Buffalo, NY dedicated to science education and public engagement. Operates the Buffalo Museum of Science and the 264-acre Tifft Nature Preserve, offering interactive exhibits, educational programs, and outdoor experiences. Serves the Western New York region with a mission to inspire joyful exploration of science and nature through hands-on learning and community events.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $1.93M
    EDUCATION AND EXHIBITS - OPERATIONS TO INCLUDE PROVIDING EXHIBITS AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE NATURAL SCIENCES. THIS INCLUDES SCIENTIFIC LECTURES, PUBLICATIONS, CLASSES, AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.
  2. #2 $1.36M
    TIFFT NATURE PRESERVE - 264 ACRE NATURE REFUGE DEDICATED TO CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.
named programs · 7 · from sources

What they call their work

Buffalo Museum of Science Exhibits
Eight interactive science studio exhibit spaces featuring immersive experiences and historical collections in natural sciences; includes permanent and rotating exhibits
Discovery Camps
Summer and school-break science camps for children, offering hands-on STEM activities and educational programming
Science After Hours
Adult-only evening events for ages 21+ with themed science activities, drinks, and access to museum exhibits
Science at Home Kits
Curated STEM activity kits for children ages 5–12, including materials and video instruction for hands-on science engagement
Solar Saturdays
Select Saturday events allowing safe solar viewing through specialized telescopes and rooftop observation
Tifft Nature Preserve
264-acre urban nature refuge with five miles of trails, freshwater marsh, and man-made lakes; used for environmental education and public recreation
Twilight at the Museum
Friday evening events for all ages featuring astronomer talks, celestial observations from the roof deck, and access to museum exhibits
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Public Astronomy & Space Science Education 3 activities
    • Conduct DIY and hands-on maker workshops
      Hosts hands-on workshops for visitors, such as creating sports-themed foam fingers and foam jerseys, combining creativity with informal science engagement.
    • Deliver immersive planetarium and exhibit experiences
      Offers immersive planetarium films exploring space travel and scientific concepts, alongside permanent and rotating exhibit experiences such as the Science Stadium exhibit opened in summer 2026. Provides access to four floors of interactive science exhibits during public and special events.
    • Provide astronomy and celestial observation programs
      Hosts monthly Friday night events and Solar Saturdays on select weekends from May to October, featuring astronomer-led talks, safe solar viewing with specialized telescopes, and rooftop celestial observations. Past events have included focused viewing of Saturn’s rings and moons, potential observation of Neptune, and educational sessions on constellations like the Summer Triangle.
  • Hands-On STEM Education Programs 2 activities
    • Deliver educational programming for children and families
      Offers a range of educational programs for youth, including weekly Discovery Camps during summer, school break camps, Museum overnights, and at-home STEM kits focused on Western New York science. Also hosts large-scale family events such as BubbleFEST and DinoFEST throughout the year.
    • Support science education through school partnerships
      Hosts the Dr. Charles R. Drew Science Magnet Elementary School within a multi-story museum addition, providing specialized science education facilities and programming for over 1,100 students.
  • Organizational DEI Capacity Building 1 activity
    • Advance diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI) internally
      Operates a DEAI Committee to address systemic inequity within organizational operations and provides staff training and resources on diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion topics.
  • Museum-Based Educational Outreach 1 activity
    • Host adult-focused science events and workshops
      Provides regular adult-oriented programming including Science After Hours (an adults-only evening series with themed science activities, museum access, and alcoholic beverages), Wednesday SciNights workshops, and Behind-the-Scenes Collections tours. Events often include hands-on activities and access to all four floors of exhibits.
  • Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
    • Operate the Buffalo Museum of Science and Tifft Nature Preserve
      Manages and maintains the Buffalo Museum of Science and the 264-acre Tifft Nature Preserve, providing public access to interactive exhibits, conservation areas, and educational infrastructure. The museum features eight renovated interactive science studios and a restored rooftop observatory reopened in 2018.
  • Art Appreciation and Public Engagement 1 activity
    • Produce cultural programming in museum exhibits
      Creates public programming that celebrates and respects the cultures represented in museum exhibits, integrating cultural awareness into science education.
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$6.37M
Contributions & grants$3.02M47%
Program service revenue$2.28M36%
Investment income$979K15%
Other revenue$92K
expenses
Total expenses$6.47M
Program expenses62%
Admin / overhead25%
Fundraising13%
Salaries & benefits$3.68M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$28.99M
Cash$360K
Investments$22.41M
Liabilities$1.34M
Net assets$27.65M
Liquid reserves42.2 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue +16.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023

Who runs it

paid leadership · 5
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
KATHERYN LEACOCK SVP, COLLECT./INT. CEO THRU 1/31/24 40 $158K
MARISA WIGGLESWORTH FORMER PRESIDENT & CEO THRU 6/30/23 40 $143K
JEFFREY KNAPP VP, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION 40 $131K
MELANIE JASKOLKA VP, DEVELOPMENT 40 $116K
AMY BIBER VP, MARKETING & OUTREACH 40 $110K
board members · 20
  • ANN BISANTZ — BOARD MEMBER
  • AUSTIN KELLY — TREASURER
  • BEN PEARSON — BOARD MEMBER
  • CAROLYN HOYT STEVENS — BOARD MEMBER
  • CYNTHIA HOOVER — BOARD MEMBER
  • CYNTHIA SCHWARTZ — BOARD MEMBER
  • GARY SIDDALL — PRESIDENT & CEO EFFECT. 2/1/24
  • JENAE PITTS — BOARD MEMBER
  • JESSICA COPELAND — VICE CHAIR
  • JOSEPH LOMBARDO — SECRETARY
  • KATHERINE CAULEY — BOARD MEMBER
  • KATHY HOELSCHER GLIECO — BOARD MEMBER
  • KEITH LUKASIK — CHAIR
  • KELLY WOFFORD — BOARD MEMBER - EX-OFFICIO
  • LAURIE COLLINS — BOARD MEMBER
  • MATTHEW FRANK — ASSISTANT TREASURER
  • MUHAMMED SUMBUNDU — BOARD MEMBER
  • OLUWOLE MCFOY PE — BOARD MEMBER - EX-OFFICIO
  • RALPH ELBERT — BOARD MEMBER
  • RAYMOND VAUGHAN PHD — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 14

Who they work with

  • Buffalo Bandits Partner — Partnered with the Buffalo Bandits on the development and opening of the Science Stadium exhibit.
  • Buffalo Bills Partner — Partnered with the Buffalo Bills on the development and opening of the Science Stadium exhibit.
  • Buffalo Museum of Science Network — Operating name used for public engagement by the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences
  • Buffalo Museum of Science Partner — Jointly operated under shared vision, mission, and values with the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences.
  • Buffalo Sabres Partner — Partnered with the Buffalo Sabres on the development and opening of the Science Stadium exhibit.
  • CampDoc Partner — Electronic platform used to collect camper health and emergency information.
  • City of Buffalo Government — Provides public funding support for museum programs.
  • County of Erie Government — Provides public funding support for museum programs.
  • Dr. Charles R. Drew Science Magnet Elementary School Partner — Hosts the Dr. Charles R. Drew Science Magnet Elementary School in a multi-story addition, providing specialized science education.
  • New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Government — Provides public funding support for museum programs.
  • Tifft Nature Preserve Network — Operates in partnership with the Buffalo Museum of Science as part of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences.
  • Tifft Nature Preserve Partner — Collaborates to offer additional 18+ programs at Tifft Nature Preserve.
  • Tifft Nature Preserve Partner — Jointly operated under shared vision, mission, and values with the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences.
  • Tifft Nature Preserve Partner — Operates the Tifft Nature Preserve for environmental education.
strategies · 4

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.

  • Collaborative Impact Model
    methodology: collaborative_partnerships
    By partnering with other organizations, the society amplifies its reach and impact because shared resources, expertise, and networks enable more effective and expansive public science education than could be achieved independently.
  • Equity and Representation in Science Education
    methodology: intersectional_deai
    By applying an intersectional DEAI framework and addressing colonial legacies in collections, the organization works to create more inclusive and trustworthy science education experiences because acknowledging historical harm and systemic inequity enables broader community participation and authentic representation.
  • Experiential Science Education
    methodology: experiential_science_education
    By combining immersive environments, hands-on activities, and direct observation with storytelling and expert guidance, the organization fosters deeper public engagement in science and nature because experiential learning increases accessibility, retention, and emotional connection to scientific concepts.
  • Inclusive Audience Engagement Through Diverse Formats
    methodology: adult_learning_engagement
    By offering varied formats—including family-centered programming, adults-only social events, and multi-modal adult learning experiences—the organization increases participation across demographics because aligning programming with audience preferences (e.g., social context, hands-on involvement, or self-directed pacing) lowers barriers to engagement and strengthens relevance.