Discovery Place Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Educational programs, experiences & exhibits: discovery place, inc, operates four museums serving 539,951 guests annually. This includes 64,384 through welcome, an economic accessibility program.significant progress was made on two major capital facility projects during fiscal year 2025. Construction of the charlotte museum of nature continued steadily and remains on track for a mid-to-late 2026 opening. Although renovations at discovery place kids rockingham were completed in fiscal year 2024, final expenditures from the project's allocated funds were completed in fiscal year 2025. We recognized restricted contribution revenues tied to both initiatives and incurred additional expenses to support their continued development. These activities are reflected in our overall revenue and support totals.imax: in fiscal year 2025, discovery place operated the charlotte imax dome theatre, welcoming 69,668 guests to experience its state-of-the-art laser projection, immersive 12-channel sound system, and the sophisticated digistar 7 planetarium platform. The theatre's rich programming lineup included first-run hollywood films, educational documentaries, captivating planetarium presentations, and distinctive alternative content such as mesmerica. These engaging experiences continued to attract new audiences, with increasing interest from adult visitors.outreach: in fiscal year 2025, outreach programming engaged 18,285 students through 419 delivered programs. This strong performance was driven in part by multiple afterschool contracts, enabling the team to provide hands-on stem learning experiences to youth across the community.youth development: in fiscal year 2025, youth development programming delivered 14 distinct initiatives, reaching 620 students from 54 schools. This robust portfolio offers multiple entry points and pathways for middle school, high school, and early college students to engage in stem education and workforce development. Signature programs include stem apprenticeship, mayor's youth employment interns, girls day out, girls in stem, stem pathways internship, club code, stem youth summit, and qc code quest.summer camps: during fiscal year 2025, discovery place science and discovery place kids huntersville hosted a vibrant season of summer camps. With 30 themed camps offered over 50 total sessions, the program delivered another successful year of hands-on learning, featuring weekly themes designed for children from pre-k through 8th grade.adult programming: in fiscal year 2025, discovery place hosted a series of adult-only programs, welcoming a total of 8,248 guests. These events included science on the rocks, macabre masquerade, and a science studio terrarium build workshop, all designed specifically for audiences aged 21 and older.science on the rocks is an evening experience that offers exclusive after-hours access to museum exhibits, hands-on science activities, live performances, music, imax screenings, workshops, and a variety of food and beverage options. Macabre masquerade, a signature halloween event for adults, transforms the museum with themed environments, specialty cocktails, a vip lounge featuring exclusive experiences, costume contests, immersive activities, and performances by aerialists, forensic science experts, and other professional entertainers. The science studio terrarium build workshop was a unique blend of interactive workshop and exhibit, focused on conservation and inspired by the national geographic's becoming jane goodall exhibition. Together, these programs have enabled discovery place to engage new adult audiences and diversify our offerings, expanding our reach across different audience segments.dpk special programs: alongside daily programming, discovery place kids locations in huntersville and rockingham hosted a variety of signature events during fiscal year 2025, welcoming a combined total of 4,396 guests. Both museums featured countdown to kindergarten, noon year's eve, and storybook

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 80.1%; rating input score 80
• Program expense ratio: 75.1%; rating input score 75
• Fundraising efficiency: $7.13 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 29; 29th 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: Limited
• 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: -2.4%; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 7.72; rating input score 89; 89th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.05; rating input score 82; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 14%; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -0.1% per year; rating input score 0; 11th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 0.6% per year; rating input score 100; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2.5% per year; rating input score 100; 20th percentile among comparable filings