Nonprofit · EIN 56-0529944
DISCOVERY PLACE INC
Tax-exempt · CHARLOTTE, NC 28202
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $16,413,291 | $16,802,023 | -$388,732 | $129,722,007 | $6,862,821 | $122,859,186 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $14,080,976 | $17,680,569 | -$3,599,593 | $122,863,847 | $4,342,237 | $118,521,610 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $6,408,423
- of which government grants
- $1,348,005
- Program service revenue
- $8,175,943
- Investment income
- $423,315
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $147,362
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $441,209
- Other revenue
- $1,405,610
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $1,493,991
- Other salaries and wages
- $6,782,145
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $9,852,521
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $12,435
- Accounting fees
- $75,337
- Occupancy
- $603,733
- Travel
- $120,468
- Depreciation
- $1,160,864
- Program services (functional)
- $12,615,383
- Management and general (functional)
- $3,288,343
- Fundraising (functional)
- $898,297
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $122,863,847
- Total assets, end of year
- $129,722,007
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $6,862,821
- Net assets, end of year
- $122,859,186
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $17,592,558
- Publicly traded securities
- $219,767
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $15,559,147
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $107,300,039
- Gross unrelated business income
- $281,286
- Gross receipts
- $18,859,316
- Employees
- 253
- Volunteers
- 194
- Year formed
- 1947
- State of legal domicile
- NC
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CATHERINE W HORNE | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer | 55 | $500,572 | $37,590 |
| ANNE N IBEKWE | FORMER CFO Officer | 60 | $222,781 | $19,161 |
| JENNIFER MEEKER JOYCE | CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Key employee | 50 | $188,723 | $20,997 |
| ERVIN L GOURDINE | CHIEF TALENT OFFICER Key employee | 50 | $176,446 | $20,563 |
| HEATHER MARIE NORTON | CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER Key employee | 50 | $172,725 | $16,428 |
| NIKOLE LEE HILL | CHIEF LEARNING OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 50 | $148,865 | $10,571 |
| SARAH BORDY LANE | FORMER CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER Former | 50 | $151,542 | $1,975 |
| DAN STREELMAN | CHIEF EXHIBIT & ENVIRONMENT OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 50 | $135,768 | $13,258 |
| KEN DAVIDSON | CONTROLLER Officer | 60 | $129,944 | $11,093 |
| BARRETT LONG | SENIOR DIRECTOR, IT Highest-paid employee | 50 | $112,385 | $10,272 |
| SARAH HYLTON FANTLE | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 50 | $112,897 | $9,483 |
| LUCY LIVINGSTONE | DIRECTOR, IND. GIVING Highest-paid employee | 50 | $116,303 | $4,995 |
| ADITYA BHASIN | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| PAUL CAMUTI | GOVERNANCE VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| SAGAR RATHIE | EDUCATION, EXPERIENCES & INNOVATION Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
23 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEFF WALLACE | FINANCE & INVESTMENT Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 |
| LAURA BOWLES | AUDIT VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 |
| STEFANIE HOLLAND | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 |
| CHARLIE MORRIS | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| LINDSAY MCCULLOUGH | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| RICH CAMPBELL | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| JASON BERND | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| TODD GORELICK | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| REEM ANANI | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| TRACY KERRINS | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| STEPHANIE SADOWSKI | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| FRANK CHATMAN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| NAZY WEEKS | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| MARLA RESCHLY | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| LINDA REDDING | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| EMILY HENSON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| RYAN FAGAN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| DENNIS GADA | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| MARTY FOLEY | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| VICTORIA WATLINGTON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| KIMBERLY EUL | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| BEN PYSCH | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| LINDSAY GATES | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 36 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CATHERINE WILSON HORNE | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer | 55 | $494,878 | $39,300 |
| SARAH BORDY LANE | CHF ADVANCEMENT OFF. (THRU 3/5/24) Key employee | 55 | $260,669 | $21,037 |
| ANNE N IBEKWE | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer | 60 | $208,323 | $21,391 |
| JENNIFER JOYCE | CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Key employee | 55 | $175,490 | $22,644 |
| ERVIN GOURDINE | CHIEF TALENT OFFICER Key employee | 50 | $163,999 | $22,796 |
| HEATHER NORTON | CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER Key employee | 55 | $167,618 | $16,975 |
| DAN STREELMAN | CHF EXHIBIT & ENVIRONMENT OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 50 | $132,881 | $13,233 |
| NIKOLE HILL | CHIEF LEARNING OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 55 | $124,666 | $6,623 |
| KEN DAVIDSON | CONTROLLER Highest-paid employee | 55 | $117,871 | $12,423 |
| BARRETT LONG | SR DIRECTOR IT Highest-paid employee | 50 | $102,598 | $11,180 |
| SARAH FANTEL | CHIEF OF STAFF Highest-paid employee | 50 | $103,055 | $9,256 |
| ADITYA BHASIN | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| PAUL CAMUTI | GOVERNANCE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| HOLLY WELCH STUBBING | ED, EXP, INNO CO-VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| SAGAR RATHIE | ED, EXP, INNO CO-VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| JEFF WALLACE | FINANCE & INVESTMENT CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| LAURA BOWLES | AUDIT VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID ATKINSON | HUMAN CAPITAL VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| STEFANIE HOLLAND | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| CHARLIE MORRIS | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LINDSAY MCCULLOUGH | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RICH CAMPBELL | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| TERA BLACK | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DEREK WANG | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JASON BERND | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| TODD GORELICK | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| REEM ANANI | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SUSHMA WALKER | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| TRACY KERRINS | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| STEPHANIE SADOWSKI | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BRYAN DELANEY | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| FRANK CHATMAN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| NAZY WEEKS | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| EMILY HENSON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RYAN FAGAN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BEN PSYCH | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 301 N TRYON ST, CHARLOTTE, NC 28202-2138
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- CATHERINE WILSON HORNE, 301 NORTH TRYON STREET, CHARLOTTE, NC 28202
- Signed the 990
- CATHERINE WILSON HORNE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
- Phone
- (704) 348-1964
- Website
- WWW.DISCOVERYPLACE.ORG
- Return prepared by
- CHERRY BEKAERT ADVISORY LLC
Mission
WE BRING SCIENCE, NATURE, AND DESIGN TOGETHER TO CREATE TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES THAT ENABLE OUR COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND, ENJOY, AND APPLY SCIENCE TO THEIR LIVES.
Program accomplishments
- 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 BALL. ADDITIONALLY, DISCOVERY PLACE KIDS ROCKINGHAM PRESENTED WINTER WONDERLAND, WHILE DISCOVERY PLACE KIDS HUNTERSVILLE OFFERED SEASONAL FAVORITES SUCH AS GHOULY GALA AND FROST FEST.Expenses $12,615,383 · revenue $9,300,267
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 56-0529944
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1950
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Arts, culture and humanities (A570)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $129,722,007
- Income (IRS master file)
- $18,859,316
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $16,413,291 | $16,802,023 | $129,722,007 | XML |
| 990-T | June 2025 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2024 | $14,080,976 | $17,680,569 | $122,863,847 | XML |
| 990-T | June 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2023 | $19,576,538 | $15,481,047 | $125,480,419 | IRS |
| 990-T | June 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | June 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 56-0529944).
Questions about DISCOVERY PLACE INC
- What is the EIN of DISCOVERY PLACE INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of DISCOVERY PLACE INC is 56-0529944.
- Is DISCOVERY PLACE INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1950.
- Are donations to DISCOVERY PLACE INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does DISCOVERY PLACE INC file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of DISCOVERY PLACE INC due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did DISCOVERY PLACE INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of DISCOVERY PLACE INC?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names CATHERINE WILSON HORNE.
- Who are the officers and directors of DISCOVERY PLACE INC?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 38 people; 12 received compensation from the organization, the highest $500,572 (CATHERINE W HORNE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER).
- How much revenue does DISCOVERY PLACE INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $16,413,291, expenses of $16,802,023 and total assets of $129,722,007 at year end.
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