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Nonprofit · EIN 62-0479192

ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER NASHVILLE

Tax-exempt · NASHVILLE, TN 37203

Financials

$7.4M$6.4M2023$7.3M$6.6M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER NASHVILLE by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
June 30, 2025990$7,325,766$6,609,841$715,925$25,982,565$1,683,403$24,299,162
June 30, 2024990$7,402,794$6,382,617$1,020,177$25,368,529$2,190,448$23,178,081
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$2,551,866
of which government grants
$301,237
Program service revenue
$4,024,645
Investment income
$285,749
Net gain from sales of assets
-$20,912
Net income from fundraising events
$137,638
Net income from sales of inventory
$287,492
Other revenue
$463,506

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$710,845
Other salaries and wages
$2,411,576
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$3,695,556
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$3,449
Accounting fees
$39,750
Occupancy
$420,880
Travel
$1,194
Depreciation
$939,197
Program services (functional)
$4,849,351
Management and general (functional)
$946,621
Fundraising (functional)
$813,869

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$25,368,529
Total assets, end of year
$25,982,565
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,683,403
Net assets, end of year
$24,299,162
Land, buildings and equipment
$13,085,249
Publicly traded securities
$2,871,821
Net assets without donor restrictions
$20,059,357
Net assets with donor restrictions
$4,239,805
Gross receipts
$8,611,833
Employees
95
Volunteers
179
Year formed
1944
State of legal domicile
TN

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
LEAH MELBERPRESIDENT AND CEO
Officer
40$307,107$14,660
KAREN MUSACCHIOCHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER
Officer
40$200,238$15,515
JOEL ABRAMSONCHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Key employee
40$153,016$0
MORGAN REHNBERGVP EXHIBITS AND EXPERIENCE
Highest-paid employee
40$146,360$4,587
SUZANNA BESTVP MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Highest-paid employee
40$113,714$12,552
JOSH TRUSLEYCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
LAUREN JACQUESSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
0.25$0$0
MICHAEL PAYNETREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
MISSY ACOSTATRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
ADRIENNE BATTLETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
NICOLE BAXTERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
JOSH DAILEYTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
ERIN FOGLIATRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
JULIAN FOXTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
JOHN GAWALUCKTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
15 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
LISA HELTONTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0
WINSTON JUSTICETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0
MATT KISBERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0
PAUL KLEINE-KRACHTTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0
JEN LACEYTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0
PIRJIN LASERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0
MINH LETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0
KELLY MAYESTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0
DAVID MCGOWANTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0
RANKIN MCGUGINTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0
SHANNON MYERSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0
RANDALL NOELTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0
AVI SPIELMANTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0
MICHELLE CUMMINGS STEELETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0
MARC STENGELTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 28 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
KAREN MUSACCHIOCHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER
Officer
40$216,411$13,926
LEAH MELBERPRESIDENT AND CEO
Officer
40$186,859$4,029
MORGAN REHNBERGVP OF EXHIBITS AND EXPERIENCES
Highest-paid employee
40$142,554$2,509
SUZANNA BESTVP OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Highest-paid employee
40$129,944$11,695
JOSH TRUSLEYCHAIRMAN
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
LAUREN JACQUESSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
0.25$0$0
MICHAEL PAYNETREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
0.5$0$0
MISSY ACOSTATRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
ADRIENNE BATTLETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
NICOLE BAXTERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
JOSH DAILEYTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
ERIN FOGLIATRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
JOHN GAWALUCKTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
LISA HELTONTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
WINSTON JUSTICETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
MATT KISBERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
PAUL KLEINE-KRACHTTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
JEN LACEYTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
PIRJIN LASERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
MINH LETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
KELLY MAYESTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
DAVE MCGOWANTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
RANKIN MCGUGINTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
SHANNON MYERSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
RANDALL NOELTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
AVI SPIELMANTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
MICHELLE STEELETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0
MARC STENGELTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.25$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
800 FORT NEGLEY BLVD, NASHVILLE, TN 37203-4833
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
LEAH MELBER PHD, 800 FORT NEGLEY BOULEVARD, NASHVILLE, TN 37203
Signed the 990
LEAH MELBER PHD, CEO
Phone
(615) 862-5160
Return prepared by
CHERRY BEKAERT ADVISORY LLC

Mission

TO OPEN EVERY MIND TO THE WONDERS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, FOSTERING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF OURSELVES AND THE WORLD AROUND US.

990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • EXHIBITIONS: ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE SCIENCE EXHIBITS, STEM PROGRAMS AND EVENTS FOR GUESTS OF ALL AGES. ALL EXHIBITS ARE DESIGNED TO STIMULATE IMAGINATION THROUGH IMMERSIVE HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCES, PRESENTED USING A VARIETY OF MEDIA, TECHNOLOGY. GALLERIES INCLUDE FOSSIL FRONTIERS, EARLY EXPLORATIONS (5 YEARS AND UNDER), WONDERS OF THE UNIVERSE, SPACE CHASE & THE SOLAR SYSTEM SURVEY, SOUNDBOX (MUSIC AND SOUND), I2 MAKER SPACE, BODY QUEST (HUMAN BODY) AND AN INDOOR ADVENTURE TOWER.
    Expenses $4,069,838 · revenue $2,854,305
  • GENERAL OPERATIONS: DURING FY25, ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER REACHED MORE THAN 260,000 PEOPLE THROUGH VISITATION AND STEM PROGRAMING FOR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. OPEN THURSDAY-MONDAY, ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER DELIVERS INNOVATIVE EXHIBITIONS, FIELD TRIP PROGRAMS, SCIENCE DEMONSTRATIONS, PLANETARIUM SHOWS, AND OUTREACH PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ADHERE TO STATE AND NATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS.
    Expenses $572,833 · revenue $590,006
  • PLANETARIUM: WITH AN EVER-CHANGING LINEUP OF SHOWS, THE STATE-OF-THE-ART SUDEKUM PLANETARIUM PRESENTS EXCITING FULL DOME EDUCATION PRODUCTIONS PRODUCED INTERNALLY AND LEASED FROM OUTSIDE VENDORS. PLANETARIUM SHOW OFFERINGS INCLUDED: NIGHTWATCH, ARORA, ASTRONAUT, DREAM TO FLY, EXPLORE, HABITAT EARTH, INCOMING!, MARS: THE ULTIMATE VOYAGE, NIGHTWATCH, ONE WORLD, ONE SKY: BIG BIRD'S ADVENTURE, OUR PLACE IN SPACE, POLARIS, RUSTY ROCKET'S LAST BLAST, STARS, THE STELLARS MISSION: GREEN, TO WORLDS BEYOND, AND WONDERFUL SKY. LASER SHOW OFFERINGS INCLUDED: DAVID BOWIE, FRIGHT LIGHT, ELO, LASER HOLIDAYS, TAYLOR SWIFT, PINK FLOYD: THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, POP 'TIL YOU DROP AND PRINCE.
    Expenses $206,680 · revenue $580,334

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
62-0479192
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
1954
Accounting year ends
June
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$25,982,565
Income (IRS master file)
$8,611,833

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990June 2025$7,325,766$6,609,841$25,982,565XML
990June 2024$7,402,794$6,382,617$25,368,529XML
990June 2023$7,180,119$5,729,984$23,544,347IRS
990June 2022$10,457,321$5,174,177$22,045,170IRS
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 62-0479192).

Questions about ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER NASHVILLE

What is the EIN of ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER NASHVILLE?
The employer identification number (EIN) of ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER NASHVILLE is 62-0479192.
Is ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER NASHVILLE tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1954.
Are donations to ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER NASHVILLE tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER NASHVILLE 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 ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER NASHVILLE 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 ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER NASHVILLE 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 ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER NASHVILLE?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names LEAH MELBER PHD.
Who are the officers and directors of ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER NASHVILLE?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 30 people; 5 received compensation from the organization, the highest $307,107 (LEAH MELBER, PRESIDENT AND CEO).
How much revenue does ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER NASHVILLE have?
On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $7,325,766, expenses of $6,609,841 and total assets of $25,982,565 at year end.

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