Form 990 for tax year 2022

Totals

Total revenue

$9,716,478

Total expenses

$9,170,107

Contributions and grants received

$5,407,899

Grants paid

$0

Program service revenue

$3,064,561

Investment income

$262,923

Other revenue

$981,095

Total assets, end of year

$34,648,127

Total liabilities, end of year

$2,036,400

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$32,611,727

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$7,413,350

Management and general expenses

$812,133

Fundraising expenses

$944,624

Program service expenses (Part III)

$7,413,350

Program services were 80.8% 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.

Mission and programs · 2022

• EDUCATION: THE GREAT LAKES SCIENCE CENTER (GLSC) IS A COMMUNITY-FOCUSED, FORWARD-THINKING REGIONAL ASSET AND NORTHEAST OHIO'S LEADING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER, OFFERING A WIDE ARRAY OF INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING IN SERVICE OF ITS MISSION TO MAKE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM) COME ALIVE. EACH YEAR, GLSC'S EDUCATIONAL WORK ENSURES VISITORS COME TO GLSC TO EXPERIENCE NEW DEMONSTRATIONS, LEARN ABOUT EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND PARTICIPATE IN SEASONAL CAMPS, OUTREACH, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT TEACH, INSPIRE, AND DEMONSTRATE STEM'S RELEVANCE IN OUR DAILY LIVES. GLSC IS ALSO HOME TO THE 9TH GRADE CLASS OF CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT'S (CMSD) AWARD-WINNING MC2STEM HIGH SCHOOL.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)GLSC LEVERAGES ITS UNIQUE POSITION TO BRIDGE THE WORKFORCE GAP AND INCREASE STUDENTS' INTEREST IN STEM BY PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH SCIENCE CONCEPTS THROUGH INTERACTIVE PROJECTS THAT ENCOURAGE CREATIVITY AND EXPERIMENTATION. WORKSHOP ACTIVITIES HELP YOUTH SEE THEMSELVES AS STEM-CAPABLE AND BUILD THEIR CONFIDENCE TO BECOME FUTURE SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, AND INNOVATORS. UNIQUE PARTNERSHIPS WITH REGIONAL STEM INDUSTRIES ALLOW US PROVIDE ENGAGING LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT ALIGN WITH CURRENT WORKFORCE NEEDS. NORTHEAST OHIO'S ECONOMIC DRIVERS INCLUDE MANUFACTURING, TECHNOLOGY, HEALTHCARE, ENGINEERING, ROBOTICS, SPACE AND MORE. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING ENGAGES STUDENTS IN ACTIVITIES THAT NOT ONLY ALIGN WITH OHIO'S ACADEMIC CONTENT STANDARDS, BUT ALSO BUILD 21ST CENTURY SKILLS AND HELP STUDENTS DEVELOP CRITICAL SKILLS SUCH AS CREATIVITY AND PERSEVERANCE. CORE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE: GROW UP GREAT WITH SCIENCE, CLEVELAND CREATES 6 & 7, CREATING CONNECTIONS 8, CAMP CURIOSITY, MANUFACTURING DAY, AND THE ROBOTICS INITIATIVE. GROW UP GREAT WITH SCIENCE PROVIDES STEM-BASED EDUCATION TO PRESCHOOLERS FROM LOW-INCOME CLEVELAND HOUSEHOLDS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL HEAD START CENTERS, INCLUDING CATHOLIC CHARITIES, STARTING POINT, CMSD AND PNC FAIRFAX CONNECTION. PROGRAMMING REACHES CHILDREN THROUGH OUTREACH EXPERIENCES AND SCIENCE DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE CLASSROOM, FIELD EXPERIENCES TO THE SCIENCE CENTER AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS.CLEVELAND CREATES 6 & 7 (CC6/CC7) AND CREATING CONNECTIONS (CC8) SERVES ROUGHLY 3,500 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND 215 TEACHERS THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT (CMSD). THE PROGRAM SERVES ALL CMSD 6TH, 7TH, AND 8TH GRADE CLASSROOMS ACROSS 33 SCHOOLS. CC PROGRAMMING USES INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING AND INTERACTIVE CHALLENGES THAT TEACH THE ENGINEERING DESIGN PROCESS, REINFORCE STEM CONCEPTS, AND ENCOURAGE CREATIVITY, EXPERIMENTATION, PERSEVERANCE, AND SELF-EFFICACY AMONG STUDENTS. CC6 ALIGNS WITH CLASSROOM CURRICULUM ON RENEWABLE ENERGY. STUDENTS EXPLORE HYDRO-POWER SOLUTIONSBY CREATING A WATER WHEEL AND EXPLORE VARIABLES AND ITERATE TO INCREASE THEIR ENERGY OUTPUT. CC7 INCLUDES A CIRCUITRY WORKSHOP WHERE STUDENTS BUILD WORKING FLASHLIGHTS USING COPPER TAPE, A BATTERY, AND LED LIGHT. CC8 INTRODUCES EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, INCLUDING BLOCKCHAIN, CODING, INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS (IIOT), CYBERSECURITY, AND DATE PROTECTION, INTRODUCING THEM TO THE DIGITAL CAREER LANDSCAPE. ALL WORKSHOPS INCLUDE AN INTERACTIVE SCIENCE SHOW AS WELL AS A TAKE-HOME KIT TO BUILD, DESIGN, AND REWORK THE PROJECT WITH THEIR SIBLINGS, FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS. FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE ALSO INVITED TO SPEND A DAY AT GLSC AT NO COST, PROVIDING ACCESS FOR THE ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD TO ENGAGE IN STEM LEARNING EXPERIENCES. THIS IS JUST ONE OF OUR SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS THAT REACHED 60,981 STUDENTS IN 2-23, HALF COMING FROM TITLE I-ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS, AND AN ADDITIONAL 5,000 STUDENTS IN OUTREACH PROGRAMMING.CAMP CURIOSITY ENGAGES STUDENTS FROM K-6TH GRADE IN FUN, INQUIRY-BASED, ACTIVE LEARNING CENTERED ON THE INVESTIGATION AND RESOLUTION OF MESSY REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS. ALL CAMPS ARE SEPARATED BY AGE, AND CURRICULUM CONTENT IS TAILORED TO THE AGE GROUP. ONE-DAY CAMPS ARE OFFERED DURING WINTER BREAK WHILE SUMMER CAMPS PROVIDE WEEK-LONG IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES OF STEM FUNDAMENTALS. FROM CHEMISTRY, TO PHYSICS, ROBOTICS, EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, AND ENGINEERING, CAMPERS WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO SEE HOW STEM IS PART OF THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES. CAMPER REGISTRATIONS FOR 2023 TOPPED 2,400, WITH OVER 1,600 CAMPERS JOINING US FOR SUMMER 2023. MORE THAN 10% OF ALL ENROLLED SUMMER CAMPERS ATTENDED ON SCHOLARSHIP THAT INCLUDES BEFORE- AND AFTER-CARE, TWO MEALS, AND SNACKS.MANUFACTURING DAY IS A LARGE-SCALE EVENT INCREASING STUDENTS' AWARENESS OF MANUFACTURING-RELATED CAREERS AND THE SKILLS THAT INDUSTRY LEADERS NEED. MANUFACTURING DAY 2023 SERVED NEARLY 600 STUDENTS WITH INTERACTIVE COMPANY-LED STEM ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, MENTOR LUNCH, CAREER PANELS AND OUTREACH FROM EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS WITH THE HELP OF OVER 200 CORPORATE VOLUNTEERS.ROBOTICS INITIATIVE IS A YEAR-ROUND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS SIX CMSD HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS (INCLUDING THE FIRST ALL-GIRL, DISTRICT-WIDE TEAM) WITH MENTORSHIP, CURRICULUM, TOOLS, AND RESOURCES TO PARTICIPATE IN FIRST ROBOTICS COMPETITION. THESE TEAMS ARE COMPRISED OF MORE THAN 100 TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED AND UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS, INCREASING EQUITY AND ACCESS FOR CLEVELAND'S YOUTH TO PARTICIPATE WITH RESOURCES THAT RIVAL THE BEST SUBURBAN TEAMS. FIRST ROBOTICS ENCOURAGES A CULTURE OF TEAMWORK AND INCLUSION, ALLOWING STUDENTS TO BUILD A ROBOUST COMMUNITY. THEY WORK WITH THEIR PEERS AND MENTORS TO MASTER NEW SKILLS, ENHANCE THEIR EMPLOYABILITY, AND DEVELOP A LIFE-LONG LOVE OF STEM. THIS YEAR THESE NOVICE TEAMS NOT ONLY MADE IT TO PLAYOFF ROUNDS, BUT ALSO BROUGHT HOME AWARDS, INCLUDING A REGIONAL JUDGES AWARD AND 2ND PLACE WITH THEIR ALLIANCE PARTNERS AT THE OHIO STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. THE YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM INCLUDES SUMMER LEARNING, WITH PAID INTERNSHIPS AND THE PROSTHETICS INITIATIVE, WHERE STUDENTS DESIGN AND BUILD 3-D PRINTED PROSTHETICS FOR CHILDREN IN NEED. IN 2023, STUDENTS CREATED AND DELIVERED PROSTHETIC HANDS AND ARMS TO ECUADOR, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE HUMANITARIAN AGENCY IMAHELPS.

  Expenses $2,284,572 · Revenue $580,200

• EXHIBITS: IN ADDITION TO HUNDREDS OF HANDS-ON EXHIBITS AND TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS, GLSC IS THE HOME OF THE NASA GLENN VISITOR CENTER, THE STEAMSHIP WILLIAM G. MATHER, AND THE CLEVELAND CLINIC DOME THEATER, WHILE UNDERTAKING LARGE INVESTMENTS FOR THE NEW CLEVELAND CREATES GALLERY AND EARLY CHILDHOOD AND WATER TECHNOLOGY EXHIBITS CURRENTLY IN DEVELOPMENT. NASA GLENN VISITOR CENTER, ONE OF ONLY 11 CONGRESSIONALLY DESIGNATED NASA VISITOR CENTERS IN THE COUNTRY, ALLOWS VISITORS TO EXPERIENCE SPACE THROUGH IMAGES, INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, FASCINATING ARTIFACTS, AND A VAST COLLECTION OF NASA MEDIA. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)2023 MARKED THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF GLSC'S APOLLO COMMAND MODULE FROM THE SKYLAB 3 MISSION. GLSC'S NASA GLENN VISITOR CENTER FEATURES THIS RARE ARTIFACT, ONE OF ONLY 15 APOLLO MODULES ON DISPLAY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. DURING THE PUBLIC CELEBRATION WEEKEND GLSC REUNITED THE PILOT, COL. JACK LOUSMA WITH HIS VEHICLE 50 YEARS AFTER HE CLIMBED OUT OF THE MODULE AFTER IT SPLASHED DOWN IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN. THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER GLSC CELEBRATED THE MISSION'S ANNIVERSARY WITH UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES, CULMINATING IN A FREE DAY AND GALA TRIBUTE. SPECIAL PROGRAMS ALLOWED VISITORS TO HEAR COL. LOUSMA REMINISE ABOUT THE MISSION, ANSWER QUESTIONS, AND GREET THE PUBLIC. FOR THE GALA, NASA ASTRONAUT COL. DOUG WHEELOCK INTERVIEWED COL. LOUSMA ABOUT HIS LANDMARK CAREER IN SPACE EXPLORATION.SCIENCE PHENOMENA OFFERS MORE THAN 90 INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES THAT DEMONSTRATE THE WONDERS OF SCIENCE. VISITORS ENGAGE WITH CLASSIC EXPERIMENTS LIKE PHOTOLUMINESCENCE IN THE SHADOW ROOM, AND NEW ACTIVE PROLONGED ENGAGEMENT EXHIBITS LIKE DERBY DASH. OTHER NEW EXHIBIT ELEMENTS INCLUDE THE NORTHEAST OHIO SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR PERIODIC TABLE EXHIBIT AND THE NORTHEAST OHIO PUBLIC ENERGY COUNCIL WIND TURBINE EXHIBIT. BIOMEDTECH GALLERY PROVIDES INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, VIDEOS, AND EDUCATIONAL DISPLAYS FOCUSING ON GENOMICS, STEM CELLS, PROSTHETICS, FUNCTIONAL ELECTRICAL STIMULATION (FES), AND MEDICAL IMAGING, HELPING STUDENTS UNDERSTAND HOW THESE TECHNOLOGIES ADVANCE HEALTH AND IMPROVE LIVES. OUTDATED MATERIALS WERE REMOVED TO MAINTAIN RELEVANCY. POLYMER FUN HOUSE IS A SPECIAL AREA OF THE SCIENCE PHENOMENON GALLERIES THAT IS GEARED FOR OUR YOUNGEST GUESTS. IN THE FUN HOUSE, GUESTS AGE 7 AND YOUNGER HAVE THEIR OWN AREA TO EXPLORE BASIC SCIENCE PRINCIPLES THROUGH OPEN ENDED PLAY. THE AREA ALSO INCLUDES THE SEASONAL OUTDOOR EXHIBIT PORT POLYMER AND A SPECIAL INFANT AREA. STEAMSHIP WILLIAM G. MATHER GIVES VISITORS A GLIMPSE OF LIFE ON BOARD A WORKING GREAT LAKES FREIGHTER, THROUGH THE RESTORED 618-FOOT HISTORIC FLAGSHIP OF CLEVELAND-CLIFFS IRON COMPANY. SELF-GUIDED TOURS ALLOW VISITORS TO STEP BACK IN TIME TO EXPLORE THE SHIP THAT BUILT CLEVELAND. THE FUTURE CLEVELAND CREATES GALLERY WENT INTO FABRICATION WITH A RIBBON CUTTING SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 2024. THE GALLERY WILL FEATURE EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IN NORTHEAST OHIO IN AN ADA-COMPLIANT, MULTI-LINGUAL SPACE, PROVIDING HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES AS WELL AS INTRODUCTIONS TO BIG DATA, SMART MANUFACTURING, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND INTERNET OF THINGSTO VISITORS AND FAMILIES, PRESENTING A PATH TO THE OPPORTUNITIES OF TOMORROW BY DEVELOPING SKILLS, GROWING CURIOSITY, AND ENCOURAGING EXPLORATION OF NORTHEAST OHIO'S GROWING STEM FIELDS. TWO NEW LEARNING SPACES WERE CREATED TO CONTINUE TO SERVE STUDENTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN STEM LEARNING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THE ROCKWELL AUTOMATION ROBOTICS ROOM IS HOME OF OUR ROBOTICS INITIATIVE. THE TRANSDIGM LEARNING CENTER IS A HIGHLY-FLEXIBLE MULTI-PURPOSE SPACE USED FOR STUDENT WORKSHOPS, CAMP CURIOSITY SESSIONS, AND THE ROBOTICS INITIATIVE.THERE WERE TWO TEMPORARY EXHIBITS THAT WERE PRESENTED IN 2023. THE FIRST WAS CURIOUS GEORGE: LET'S GET CURIOUS! WHICH PROVIDED AN ENGAGING STEM EXPERIENCE FOR YOUTH AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. KEY CONCEPTS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH WERE WOVEN AND LAYERED THROUGHOUT THE EXHIBITION. IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES IN CURIOUS GEORGE'S ICONIC WORLD PROMOTED THE USE OF INQUIRY SKILLS AND HANDS-ON PROBLEM SOLVING, MAKING CHILDREN'S THINKING VISIBLE. DINOSAURS OF THE SAHARA WAS THE SUMMER 2023 TEMPORARY EXHIBITION, A WORLD PREMIERE THAT BROUGHT ORIGINAL FOSSILS FROM THE SAHARA, INCLUDING A 32-FOOT LONG-NECKED JOBARIA SKELETON, AN INTERACTIVE DINOSAUR DIG SITE, AND THE NEW RELEASE OF FOOTAGE FROM PALEONTOGIST PAUL SERENO'S GROUNDBREAKING SAHARAN DESERT EXPEDITIONS.

  Expenses $2,048,908

• GREAT LAKES SCIENCE CENTER CONTINUES TO MAKE THE MOST OF ITS RESOURCES AND BUDGET TO FURTHER THE MISSION AND GOALS FOR THE MEMBERSHIP AND MARKETING DEPARTMENTS. USING A MODERN, DATA-INFORMED DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, THE SCIENCE CENTER'S MARKETING DEPARTMENT DIVIDES ITS BUDGET, RESOURCES, AND TIME IN A NIMBLE AND EVOLVING MIX OF EARNED, OWNED, AND PAID MEDIA INITIATIVES, DESIGNED TO REACH CORE AND SPECIALLY-IDENTIFIED AUDIENCES RELIABLY AND EFFICIENTLY. USING A COMBINATION OF TARGETED DIGITAL ADS, SEARCH ENGINE MARKETING, SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION, SOCIAL MEDIA ADVERTISING, STREAMING VIDEO ADS, AND TRADITIONAL BROADCAST AND PRINT OUTLETS, (CONTINUE ON SCHEDULE O)THE SCIENCE CENTER CONTINUES ITS RECOVERY FROM THE COVID ERA, BY RE-ESTABLISHING THE MUSEUM AS PREMIERE DESTINATION FOR FAMILIES. GLSC CENTER SERVED 5,901 MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS IN FY23, INCLUDING 2,300 NEW MEMBERS, AND 231 WHO HAVE BEEN MEMBERS FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS. GLSC WELCOMED 279,362 VISITORS, INCLUDING 96,498 FREE VISITORS, A 70 PERCENT INCREASE IN FREE VISITS FROM FY22, AND A 20 PERCENT INCREASE IN TOTAL VISITORS FROM FY22. THERE WAS NO SHORTAGE OF EXCITING EVENTS AND INITIATIVES FOR THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT TO SHARE WITH MEDIA, VISITORS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS, ESPECIALLY THE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND MEDIA PREVIEWS THAT WERE DONE IN ADVANCE OF THE PLANNED TOTAL ECLIPSE FEST FOR FY24. THE SCIENCE CENTER'S ROBOTICS INITIATIVE, THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THE DINOSAURS OF THE SAHARA EXHIBITION, AND THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR APOLLO COMMAND MODULE'S MISSION TO SKYLAB HELPED GENERATE EXCEPTIONAL AMOUNTS OF EARNED MEDIA COVERAGE.

  Expenses $1,226,225 · Revenue $2,056,454

• COMBINATION OF OMNIMAX AND GUEST SERVICES.

  Expenses $1,853,645 · Revenue $427,907

As filed on the 2022 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

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

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

2022

Filed

29 July 2024

IRS schema version

2022v5.0

Source object

202422279349300917

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

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