Arizona Science Center

What it reported doing in 2024

Arizona science center impacts more than 800,000 students, families, educators and visitors across the state in its mission to inspire, educate, and engage curious minds through science. Arizona science center is one of the most popular cultural and educational attractions in Arizona and is the only resource of its kind in the state. Arizona science center features a full complement of informal science programming including more than 300 hands-on exhibits, a giant screen theater, dorrance planetarium, featured exhibitions, live demonstrations, camps and workshops, adult lectures, and school services including field trips, in-class outreach programs, teacher professional development and access to our community-based maker-space, create. (continued on schedule 0)Arizona science center continues to be a state leader in providing informal science education experiences that have long-term impact on the future of our community. K-12 teachers, school leaders, and parents were provided access to an innovative combination of formal and informal professional development resources to enhance student achievement.Arizona science center's annual visitation includes 100,000 schoolchildren and teachers representing more than 100 cities and towns throughout Arizona who visit the center, including over 40,000 underserved youth who visit at no charge through the focused field trips program. In addition, more than 90,000 children and adults experienced science on wheels outreach programs in schools and community organizations throughout Arizona including rural areas and tribal nations.in create, a 6,500 - square foot community maker-space, located adjacent to the science center building, individuals used traditional and high-tech machinery, technology and materials. Guests received supervision and training, encouraging individuals to be more experimental, creative, innovative, independent and technologically proficient. In create, makers of all ages were active, engaged, playful and resourceful with a newly developed sense of curiosity and wonder with new skills and an introduction to occupations for which they may be suited.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 55.2%; rating input score 55
• Program expense ratio: 69.8%; rating input score 70
• Fundraising efficiency: $16.01 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 51; 51st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 6 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 24.4%; rating input score 85; 85th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.89; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.04; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 9.9%; rating input score 21; 21st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 0.9% per year; rating input score 100; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 4.8% per year; rating input score 100; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 3.7% per year; rating input score 100; 27th percentile among comparable filings