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← ROCHESTER MUSEUM AND SCIENCE CENTER

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by ROCHESTER MUSEUM AND SCIENCE CENTER.

Totals

Total revenue
$8,694,897
Total expenses
$9,746,377
Contributions and grants received
$4,240,678
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$3,183,260
Investment income
$552,812
Other revenue
$718,147
Total assets, end of year
$26,051,020
Total liabilities, end of year
$3,019,680
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$23,031,340
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$8,284,871
Management and general expenses
$927,877
Fundraising expenses
$533,629
Program service expenses (Part III)
$8,284,871

Program services were 85.0% 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

    $618,453

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $96,120

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $1,837,528

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $1,688,577

  • 2a · Program service revenue: ADMISSIONS AND PROGRAMS

    total $3,183,260 · related or exempt $3,183,260

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $237,587 · excluded $237,587

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $509,093

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $0

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $509,093

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $509,093 · excluded $509,093

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $4,163,098

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

    securities $3,847,873

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $315,225

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $315,225 · excluded $315,225

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $147,102

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

    $96,120

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $117,339

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $29,763 · excluded $29,763

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $290,697

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $191,724

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $98,973 · excluded $98,973

  • 11a · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS

    total $80,318 · excluded $80,318

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $80,318

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $317,693 · program services $116,163 · management and general $164,595 · fundraising $36,935

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $3,984,877 · program services $3,293,873 · management and general $413,616 · fundraising $277,388

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $36,686 · program services $27,896 · management and general $6,268 · fundraising $2,522

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $414,353 · program services $324,158 · management and general $57,045 · fundraising $33,150

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $330,314 · program services $262,742 · management and general $44,885 · fundraising $22,687

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $53,100 · program services $45,002 · management and general $4,025 · fundraising $4,073

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $366,234 · program services $300,344 · management and general $51,894 · fundraising $13,996

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $652,729 · program services $619,967 · management and general $7,221 · fundraising $25,541

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $227,401 · program services $160,603 · management and general $36,182 · fundraising $30,616

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $120,146 · program services $48,101 · management and general $62,675 · fundraising $9,370

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $7,115 · program services $7,115

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $861,935 · program services $833,067 · management and general $14,044 · fundraising $14,824

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $113,028 · program services $90,253 · management and general $21,401 · fundraising $1,374

  • 20 · Interest

    total $191,149 · program services $175,472 · management and general $10,689 · fundraising $4,988

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $1,289,934 · program services $1,242,206 · management and general $23,219 · fundraising $24,509

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $171,823 · program services $165,511 · management and general $3,071 · fundraising $3,241

  • 24a · Other expenses: TRAVELING EXHIBIT RENTA

    total $320,387 · program services $320,387

  • 24b · Other expenses: PROGRAM SUPPLIES

    total $210,198 · program services $204,108 · management and general $5,513 · fundraising $577

  • 24c · Other expenses: EQUIPMENT REPAIRS AND M

    total $51,383 · program services $45,955 · management and general $1,534 · fundraising $3,894

  • 24d · Other expenses: MISCELLANEOUS

    total $25,892 · program services $1,948 · fundraising $23,944

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $420,498 · end of year $314,273

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $102,510 · end of year $23

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $1,541,020 · end of year $763,672

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $58,975 · end of year $110,278

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $41,152 · end of year $48,040

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $362,273 · end of year $385,588

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

    $40,169,832

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

    $25,114,760

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $14,492,535 · end of year $15,055,072

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $11,688,074 · end of year $9,047,066

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $299,030 · end of year $327,008

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $809,736 · end of year $1,226,131

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $674,287 · end of year $757,987

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $3,760,721 · end of year $1,035,562

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $17,119,328 · end of year $16,967,789

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $6,641,995 · end of year $6,063,551

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE MISSION OF THE ROCHESTER MUSEUM AND SCIENCE CENTER IS TO CREATE A BETTER WORLD THROUGH INSPIRING CURIOSITY, EXPLORATION, AND ENGAGEMENT ACROSS HISTORY, SCIENCE, CULTURE, AND THE NATURAL WORLD.

Activities or mission (Part I)

THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES A MUSEUM, SCIENCE CENTER, AND NATURE CENTER.

  • IN 2024, THE RMSC DIRECTLY SERVED OVER 450,000 PEOPLE THROUGH VISITS AND OUTREACH ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING 10,000 PEOPLE AT THE ROC THE ECLIPSE FESTIVAL ON APRIL 8. THE RMSC SERVED 63,279 SCHOOL STUDENTS VIA FIELD TRIPS TO THE MUSEUM, PLANETARIUM, AND CUMMING NATURE CENTER, AND 9,233 STUDENTS VIA OUTREACH EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY SITES. THE RMSC SERVED OVER 2,800 CAMPERS ATTENDING CURIOSITY CAMPS, EXPLORING SCIENCE, CULTURE, AND THE NATURAL WORLD. THE RMSC RECEIVED CORPORATE SUPPORT, FOUNDATION SUPPORT, INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT, AND GOVERNMENT SUPPORT, INCLUDING FROM MONROE COUNTY, THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND THE US FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, TO ENSURE DYNAMIC EXHIBITS, EXPERIENCES, AND PROGRAMMING AT ALL THREE SITES.

    Expenses $3,728,192 · Revenue $1,385,859

  • RMSC LED REGIONAL PREPARATIONS AND CELEBRATIONS FOR THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE ON APRIL 8, 2024. TO INCREASE ACCESS FOR ALL, RMSC LAUNCHED AMAZON FREE AFTERNOONS ACROSS ALL THREE OF OUR LOCATIONS. THE RMSC PROUDLY OPENED HAUDENOSAUNEE CONTINUITY, INNOVATION, RESILIENCE, A POWERFUL EXHIBITION HONORING THE VIBRANT CULTURE AND ONGOING CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE HAUDENOSAUNEE PEOPLE. AT THE CUMMING NATURE CENTER, GUESTS EXPLORED THE NEWLY BUILT BEAVER POND OBSERVATION TOWER. THE STRASENBURGH PLANETARIUM ACHIEVED RECORD-BREAKING ATTENDANCE IN 2024, DRIVEN BY ECLIPSE PROGRAMMING, A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION OF SCHOOL FIELD TRIP OFFERINGS, AND THE ADDITION OF NEW LASER SHOWS. IN 2024, RMSC HAS OVER 5,700 MEMBERS.

    Expenses $3,645,343 · Revenue $1,797,401

  • THE RMSC COLLECTS, CARES FOR, AND MAKES ACCESSIBLE MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION OBJECTS AND SPECIMENS IN FOUR BROAD CATEGORIES: NATURAL SCIENCES, REGIONAL HISTORY/HUMAN CULTURES, LIBRARY/ARCHIVES, AND TEACHING COLLECTIONS. THESE OBJECTS ARE INTEGRAL TO TELLING THE STORY OF ROCHESTER'S NATURAL, CULTURAL, AND INNOVATIVE PAST AND PRESENT. THE DEDICATED RMSC COLLECTIONS TEAM RESPONDS TO MORE THAN 2,000 INQUIRIES ANNUALLY AND CONNECTS THE PUBLIC WITH OUR OBJECTS THROUGH OUR WEBSITE AND BY INCLUDING THESE OBJECTS IN PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITS TO PROVIDE CONTEXT AND CONNECTIONS, TELLING STORIES AND ADDING LAYERS THAT BRING MUSEUM EXPERENCES TO LIFE.

    Expenses $911,336

As filed on the 2024 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • Bruce Baker

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Kurt Button

    TREASURER AND VICE CHAIR, FINANCE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • John Carver PhD

    VICE CHAIR, VISITOR EXPERIENCE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • William Coe PE

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Carolyn Cossavella

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Robert De Leon

    CO-VICE CHAIR, ADVANCEMENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Elizabeth Del Valle

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Stephanie Dickman

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Wendi Heinzelman PhD

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Andre Hudson PhD

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Daniel Keeley

    CO-VICE CHAIR, ADVANCEMENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Jacqueline B Lee

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Ana Liss

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Tamara Mayberry

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • James Meyer

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Alex Molinich

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Elena Nescio

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • David Payne

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Daniel Pieters

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Barbara Power

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Kelley Ross-Brown

    VICE CHAIR, GOVERNANCE/AUDIT COMMITTEE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Anurag Shrivastava MD

    VICE CHAIR, COMMITTEE ON TRUSTEES

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Eric Snavely

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • John Bruning PhD

    HONORARY TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Susan Holliday

    HONORARY TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Wayne R Lechase

    HONORARY TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Robert Maggs

    HONORARY TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Andrew J Meloni Jr

    HONORARY TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Duncan Moore PhD

    HONORARY TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Jon L Schumacher Esq

    HONORARY TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Chirstine B Whitman

    HONORARY TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Hillary Olson

    PRESIDENT/CEO

    Total calculated
    $210,499
    From this org
    $206,340
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,159
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $206,340
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,090
    Nontaxable benefits
    $69
    Filer's total
    $210,499
  • David Pestke

    TREASURER & VP OF FINANCE (THRU 9/24)

    Total calculated
    $92,818
    From this org
    $78,875
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,943
    Hours/week
    40
  • Ward Bramlett

    VP OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS (STARTING 10/24)

    Total calculated
    $14,375
    From this org
    $11,920
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $2,455
    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 · 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
5 November 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202503109349302005

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