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Nonprofit · EIN 56-0938434

NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF LIFE & SCIENCE

Tax-exempt · DURHAM, NC 27704

Financials

$15.9M$13.1M2022$16.3M$14.9M2023$16.1M$15.3M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF LIFE & SCIENCE by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
June 30, 2025990$16,110,794$15,297,824$812,970$26,278,749$2,918,018$23,360,731
June 30, 2024990$16,298,294$14,906,615$1,391,679$26,172,097$3,631,460$22,540,637
June 30, 2023990$15,916,916$13,137,580$2,779,336$24,906,670$3,765,102$21,141,568
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$7,773,346
of which government grants
$6,436,390
Program service revenue
$6,548,668
Investment income
$116,970
Net gain from sales of assets
$417
Net income from fundraising events
-$39,995
Net income from sales of inventory
$382,901
Other revenue
$1,671,810

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$285,828
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$349,749
Other salaries and wages
$7,158,733
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$9,359,710
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$14,160
Accounting fees
$76,456
Occupancy
$1,359,271
Depreciation
$1,412,104
Program services (functional)
$12,085,543
Management and general (functional)
$2,787,560
Fundraising (functional)
$424,721

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$26,172,097
Total assets, end of year
$26,278,749
Total liabilities, end of year
$2,918,018
Net assets, end of year
$23,360,731
Land, buildings and equipment
$18,251,126
Publicly traded securities
$817,935
Net assets without donor restrictions
$20,517,599
Net assets with donor restrictions
$2,843,132
Gross receipts
$16,579,740
Employees
279
Volunteers
925
Year formed
1946
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.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
CARRIE M HEINONENPRESIDENT/CEO
Trustee or director, Officer
40$212,788$21,989
ROY A GRIFFITHSVP FOR EXHIBITS
Highest-paid employee
40$134,941$24,655
LISA M RUTHVP OF PEOPLE AND CULTURE
Highest-paid employee
40$133,068$16,092
ELIZABETH HALLVP FOR GUEST EXPERIENCES
Highest-paid employee
40$132,068$16,033
SIMONE GUTHRIEVP OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Highest-paid employee
40$131,018$928
MARY C APPLEVP FOR EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT
Highest-paid employee
40$114,935$15,113
CAROLINE H DURHAMVP OF FINANCE THRU 9/2024
Officer
40$101,756$13,248
KATE BOOTHCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AS OF 11/2024
Officer
40$12,440$2,724
BERNICE BONDBOARD CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
LILITH ANDERSONBOARD VICE-CHAIR/TREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
BRIAN TAJLILIBOARD SECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
NIDA ALLAMDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
LUIS ALVAREZDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
RASHID BEYAHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JENNINGS BRODYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
18 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
CHELSEA COOKDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
SCOTT NEVIN DARYANIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
JENNY DENNEYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
KARL DEONANANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
JIM ERLINGERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
JOHN HARDINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
BEVERLY HARRISDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
DR NICHOLAS KINGDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
ANN LEININGERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
HEIDI MARKSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
CHARLIE MOOREDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
KAVEH NAFICYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
EVIAN PATTERSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
LAURA ROBINETTEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
CHRISTY SHAFFERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
NEELY SHAHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
SHANNON TRAPPDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MAGGIE WOODSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 30 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
CARRIE M HEINONENPRESIDENT/CEO
Trustee or director, Officer
40$233,422$17,045
ROY A GRIFFITHSVP FOR EXHIBITS
Highest-paid employee
40$135,693$20,548
CAROLINE H DURHAMVICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE
Officer
40$136,288$14,897
LISA M RUTHVP OF PEOPLE AND CULTURE
Highest-paid employee
40$134,088$15,065
ELIZABETH HALLVP FOR GUEST EXPERIENCES
Highest-paid employee
40$132,542$13,876
JAMES ERLINGERBOARD CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
BERNICE BONDBOARD VICE-CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
MELISSA RHODESIMM. PAST BOARD CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
NICK DICOLANDREABOARD TREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
BRIAN TAJLILIBOARD SECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
LUIS ALVAREZDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
LILITH ANDERSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
RASHID BEYAHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JENNINGS BRODYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
NIMASHEENA BURNSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
NEVIN DARYANIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JENNY DENNEYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JOHN HARDINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BEVERLY HARRISDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
GEOFF KEEGANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DR NICHOLAS KINGDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ANN LEININGERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
HEIDI MARKSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KAVEH NAFICYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
EVIAN PATTERSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
LAURA ROBINETTEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
NEELY SHAHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
SHANNON TRAPPDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
LEONARDO WILLIAMSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MAGGIE WOODSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 28 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
CARRIE M HEINONENPRESIDENT/CEO
Trustee or director, Officer
40$207,803$18,650
ROY A GRIFFITHSVP FOR EXHIBITS
Highest-paid employee
40$124,540$21,176
ELIZABETH D HALLVP FOR GUEST EXPERIENCES
Highest-paid employee
40$119,253$15,613
DEBORAH C MAYFORMER CFO/VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADMIN
Officer
40$88,218$4,161
CAROLINE H DURHAMVICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE
Officer
40$61,847$5,803
MELISSA RHODESBOARD CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
JAMES ERLINGERBOARD VICE-CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
JORDAN CLARKIMM. PAST BOARD CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
SANYIN SIANGBOARD SECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
NICK DICOLANDREABOARD TREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
LUIS ALVAREZDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
LILITH ANDERSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
RASHID BEYAHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BERNICE BONDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
NIMASHEENA BURNSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
NEVIN DARYANIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JENNY GIDLEYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
NAKIA HARDYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BEVERLY HARRISDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
TASHA JOHNSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
GEOFF KEEGANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
SCOTT MCGEARYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
GUDRUN PARMERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
LAURA ROBINETTEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
NEELY SHAHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BRIAN TAJLILIDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
LEONARDO WILLIAMSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MAGGIE WOODSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
433 W MURRAY AVE, DURHAM, NC 27704-3101
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
CARRIE M HEINONEN, 433 W MURRAY AVE, DURHAM, NC 27704
Signed the 990
CARRIE M HEINONEN, CEO/PRESIDENT
Phone
(919) 220-5429
Return prepared by
CLIFTONLARSONALLEN LLP

Mission

TO CREATE A PLACE OF LIFELONG LEARNING WHERE PEOPLE, FROM YOUNG CHILD TO SENIOR CITIZEN, EMBRACE SCIENCE AS A WAY OF KNOWING ABOUT THEMSELVES, THEIR COMMUNITY, AND THEIR WORLD.

990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • THE MUSEUM OF LIFE AND SCIENCE HAS SERVED THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING ENGAGING STEM LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMMING SINCE 1946. THE MUSEUM WELCOMED NEARLY 650,000 VISITORS THIS YEAR FROM THE GREATER TRIANGLE REGION AND BEYOND. THE MUSEUM'S 84-ACRE NATURE PARK AND OVER 300 INDOOR AND OUTDOOR EXHIBITIONS ENABLE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO ENGAGE MEANINGFULLY WITH SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH, PREPARING THEM TO USE STEM LEARNING AS A WAY OF UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES THEY WILL FACE THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. OUR MISSION IS TO SPARK CURIOSITY AND RESPECT FOR NATURE AND SCIENCE IN SUPPORT OF A COMMUNITY CONNECTED TO SCIENCE AND INVESTED IN PLAYFUL LEARNING AS A WAY OF UNDERSTANDING AND ENRICHING OURSELVES AND OUR WORLD.
    Expenses $12,085,543 · grants $285,828 · revenue $6,931,569

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 yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025June 30, 2026November 16, 2026Not due yet
2024June 30, 2025November 17, 2025990 on file
2023June 30, 2024November 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
56-0938434
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1958
Accounting year ends
June
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$26,278,749
Income (IRS master file)
$16,579,740

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990June 2025$16,110,794$15,297,824$26,278,749IRS
990-TJune 2025–––IRS
990June 2024$16,298,294$14,906,615$26,172,097IRS
990June 2023$15,916,916$13,137,580$24,906,670XML
990June 2022$15,316,951$11,072,983$22,539,686IRS
990June 2021–––IRS
990June 2020–––IRS
990June 2019–––IRS
990June 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 56-0938434).

Questions about NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF LIFE & SCIENCE

What is the EIN of NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF LIFE & SCIENCE?
The employer identification number (EIN) of NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF LIFE & SCIENCE is 56-0938434.
Is NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF LIFE & SCIENCE tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1958.
Are donations to NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF LIFE & SCIENCE tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF LIFE & SCIENCE 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 NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF LIFE & SCIENCE 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 NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF LIFE & SCIENCE 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 NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF LIFE & SCIENCE?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names CARRIE M HEINONEN.
Who are the officers and directors of NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF LIFE & SCIENCE?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 33 people; 8 received compensation from the organization, the highest $212,788 (CARRIE M HEINONEN, PRESIDENT/CEO).
How much revenue does NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF LIFE & SCIENCE have?
On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $16,110,794, expenses of $15,297,824 and total assets of $26,278,749 at year end.

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