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Nonprofiteer
← WORCESTER NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by WORCESTER NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Totals

Total revenue
$10,466,059
Total expenses
$5,926,343
Contributions and grants received
$7,434,809
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$1,986,886
Investment income
$673,227
Other revenue
$371,137
Total assets, end of year
$27,256,433
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,750,295
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$25,506,138
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$4,176,058
Management and general expenses
$1,129,706
Fundraising expenses
$620,579
Program service expenses (Part III)
$4,176,058

Program services were 70.5% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1b · Membership dues

    $381,318

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $132,672

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $338,970

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $6,581,849

  • 2a · Program service revenue: ADMISSIONS

    total $1,070,300 · related or exempt $1,070,300

  • 2b · Program service revenue: PROGRAM FEES

    total $916,586 · related or exempt $916,586

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $315,156 · excluded $315,156

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $223,703

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $0

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $223,703

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $223,703 · related or exempt $62,659 · excluded $161,044

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $716,142

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $358,071

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $358,071

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $358,071 · excluded $358,071

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $0

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $132,672

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $22,353

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$22,353 · excluded -$22,353

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $264,513

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $101,628

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $162,885 · related or exempt $162,885

  • 11a · Other revenue: OTHER REVENUE

    total $6,902 · excluded $6,902

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $6,902

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $353,160 · program services $26,553 · management and general $158,703 · fundraising $167,904

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $2,230,040 · program services $1,711,612 · management and general $339,604 · fundraising $178,824

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $8,828 · program services $4,519 · management and general $4,198 · fundraising $111

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $194,272 · program services $158,187 · management and general $18,780 · fundraising $17,305

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $220,795 · program services $135,376 · management and general $59,555 · fundraising $25,864

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $3,922 · program services $2,500 · management and general $1,422

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $164,218 · management and general $164,218

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $27,500 · management and general $27,500

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $138,328 · program services $93,766 · management and general $19,024 · fundraising $25,538

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $37,861 · program services $23,200 · management and general $1,366 · fundraising $13,295

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $398,444 · program services $174,177 · management and general $121,450 · fundraising $102,817

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $424,274 · program services $380,435 · management and general $31,216 · fundraising $12,623

  • 17 · Travel

    total $5,560 · program services $5,090 · management and general $239 · fundraising $231

  • 20 · Interest

    total $47,965 · management and general $47,965

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $1,166,288 · program services $1,049,659 · management and general $81,640 · fundraising $34,989

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $193,354 · program services $124,567 · management and general $37,580 · fundraising $31,207

  • 24a · Other expenses: PROGRAM MATERIALS & SUP

    total $309,595 · program services $286,417 · management and general $15,246 · fundraising $7,932

  • 24b · Other expenses: BAD DEBT

    total $1,939 · fundraising $1,939

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $647,175 · end of year $3,492,878

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $29,633 · end of year $29,684

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $1,771,146 · end of year $3,556,682

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $213,446 · end of year $418,428

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $55,159 · end of year $45,857

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $257,745 · end of year $396,048

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $29,011,505

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $20,775,170

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $8,485,517 · end of year $8,236,335

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $9,529,270 · end of year $9,922,352

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $1,087,247 · end of year $1,158,169

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $545,065 · end of year $846,483

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $319,884 · end of year $317,413

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $674,678 · end of year $586,399

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $8,437,498 · end of year $7,219,659

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $12,099,213 · end of year $18,286,479

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE ECOTARIUM'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE A PASSION FOR SCIENCE AND NATURE AMONG ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ONE-OF-A-KIND EXPERIENCES, INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, AND ACCESSIBLE PROGRAMMING. AS NEW ENGLAND'S LEADING SCIENCE AND NATURE CENTER, OUR VISION IS TO BE AN INNOVATIVE LEADER IN EXPERIENTIAL, COMMUNITY-CENTERED, SCIENCE LEARNING. THE ECOTARIUM IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED FOR INNOVATIVE, INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMMING FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND SCHOOL GROUPS, AND FOR AN EXCEPTIONAL GUEST EXPERIENCE.

Activities or mission (Part I)

ECOTARIUM'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE A PASSION FOR SCIENCE AND NATURE AMONG ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ONE-OF-A-KIND EXPERIENCES, INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, AND ACCESSIBLE PROGRAMMING. AS NEW ENGLAND'S LEADING SCIENCE AND NATURE CENTER, OUR VISION IS TO BE AN INNOVATIVE LEADER IN EXPERIENTIAL, COMMUNITY-CENTERED, SCIENCE LEARNING. THE ECOTARIUM IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED FOR INNOVATIVE, INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMMING FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND SCHOOL GROUPS, AND FOR AN EXCEPTIONAL GUEST EXPERIENCE.

  • EXHIBITS & COLLECTIONS: VISITS TO THE ECOTARIUM ARE EDUCATIONAL AND FUN. IN 2024, 136,699 VISITORS EXPLORED 45 ACRES OF OUTDOOR EXHIBITS, NATURE EXPLORE PLAYGROUND, AND WILDLIFE ZOOLOGICAL PARK HABITATS; 36,812 GUESTS RODE THE OPEN-AIR REPLICA 1863 C.P. HUNTINGTON STEAM LOCOMOTIVE. INSIDE THE MUSEUM, GUESTS ENJOYED THREE LEVELS OF EXHIBITS, INCLUDING MOUNT WASHINGTON, CITYSCIENCE, AFRICAN COMMUNITIES, ANIMALS AND TRAVELING EXHIBITS. IN 2024 THE ALDEN DIGITAL PLANETARIUM PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR 19,741 VISITORS.

    Expenses $1,370,950 · Revenue $1,454,984

  • EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: THE ECOTARIUM OFFERS INTERACTIVE, HANDS-ON, EDUCATOR-LED PROGRAMS THAT ALIGN WITH MASSACHUSETTS CURRICULUM FRAMEWORKS FOR PRE-K TO 12, AS WELL AS HOSTED BIRTHDAY PARTIES WITH FUN, EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS. IN 2024 THE ECOTARIUM'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING INSIDE THE MUSEUM AND IN THE COMMUNITY AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND YOUTH-SERVING AGENCIES PROVIDED IN-PERSON EDUCATION AT THE MUSEUM FOR 7,741 YOUTH AND ADULTS, AS WELL AS TRAVELING PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY AND SCHOOLS FOR 9,088 YOUTH. SINCE 1885, THE ECOTARIUM HAS OFFERED SEASONAL SCIENCE AND NATURE DAY CAMPS FOR CHILDREN DURING VACATIONS AND SUMMER. IN 2024, CAMP PROGRAMS ENGAGED 763 CAMPERS DURING VACATIONS AND SUMMER CAMPS. 19,653 GUESTS PARTICIPATED IN FREE, DAILY, EDUCATOR-LED, MUSEUM EDUCATION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING, SCIENCE DISCOVERY, EARLY LEARNING, ANIMAL DISCOVERY, AFTERNOON ASTRONOMY, AND COLLECTION CONNECTION.

    Expenses $1,454,243 · Revenue $594,561

  • GUEST SERVICES: THE ECOTARIUM OFFERS A VARIETY OF VISITOR SERVICES, INCLUDING SPECIAL ACTIVITIES, HOSTED SPECIAL YEAR-ROUND, SEASONAL COMMUNITY EVENTS, PURCHASES FROM OUR MUSEUM SHOP, SEASONAL FOOD SERVICE AND FOOD VENDING MACHINES.

    Expenses $614,907 · Revenue $162,885

  • WILDLIFE: THE ECOTARIUM'S OUTDOOR ZOOLOGICAL PARK IS HOME TO NATIVE, NON-RELEASABLE, NEW ENGLAND WILDLIFE, MOST OF WHICH COULD NOT SURVIVE IN THE WILD DUE TO INJURY, ILLNESS, IMPRINTING, ORPHAN STATUS, OR CAPTIVE BIRTH. INSIDE THE MUSEUM, AMBASSADOR ANIMALS REPRESENT NEW ENGLAND AND EXOTIC SPECIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. ZOO-TO-YOU PROGRAMS FACILITATED BY ZOOLOGICAL AND EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS AIM TO NURTURE A GREATER CONNECTION TO AND UNDERSTANDING OF SPECIES LOCATED IN NEW ENGLAND WHILE PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING ENCOUNTERS WITHRESIDENT ANIMALS. THE ECOTARIUM DEMONSTRATES LEADERSHIP IN CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION OF ENDANGERED TURTLE POPULATIONS, ANIMAL WELFARE, ENRICHMENT, AND TRAINING PROGRAMS.. REGULAR ANIMAL PROGRAMMING INCLUDES BOTH INFORMAL AND FORMAL, VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON, ZOO-THEMED CAMP PROGRAMMING, BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS.

    Expenses $735,958

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Joseph Bartulis

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Laura Beaton

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • David Fields

    TRUSTEE - RESIGNED IN 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Naureen Meraj

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Raymond L Quinlan

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • William Sullivan

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Eric Torkornoo

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Dr Florina S Tseng

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • David K Woodbury

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Aimee Peacock

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • James M Lang

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Robert H McClaren

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Sherri Pitcher

    TRUSTEE - RESIGNED IN 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Sean Mahoney

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • John McInnes

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • David P McManus

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Susan Nava-Whitehead

    CLERK/SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Scott Fuller

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • James Kane

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4

  • Noreen Smith

    PRESIDENT AND CEO

    Total calculated
    $226,718
    From this org
    $210,502
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $16,216
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $210,502
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $16,216
    Filer's total
    $226,718

  • Deborah Berman Shear

    CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $126,442
    From this org
    $113,955
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,487
    Hours/week
    40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Written employment contract
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
14 November 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202503189349303355

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