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PROJECT EXPLORATION

EIN 36-4305660 CHICAGO, IL

Browse the largest nonprofits in Illinois

Revenue 2024
$2,369,487
Expenses 2024
$2,745,092

Program services were 75.5% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
A56
Classification
1000
Street
PROJECT EXPLORATION 4511 S EVANS AV

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

PROJECT EXPLORATION CREATES TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE SCIENCES -- PARTICULARLY STUDENTS OF COLOR AND GIRLS -- BY EQUIPPING THEM WITH THE SKILLS, PRACTICES, AND MINDSET NEEDED FOR A LIFELONG PURSUIT OF LEARNING.

  • PROJECT EXPLORATION'S YOUTH-SCIENCE PATHWAY (YSP) PROGRAMS PROVIDE STUDENTS K-12 WITH HANDS-ON STEM LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH AFTERSCHOOL, SCHOOL-BREAK, SUMMER, SCHOOL-BASED, AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS. YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH WHILE BUILDING CONFIDENCE, TEAMWORK, PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS. PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO EXPOSE STUDENTS TO STEM CAREERS, CONNECT THEM WITH MENTORS, AND SUPPORT LONG-TERM INTEREST AND ENGAGEMENT IN STEM LEARNING.

    Expenses $1,951,256

  • PROJECT EXPLORATION'S COMMUNITY ECOSYSTEM WORK BRINGS TOGETHER SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, FAMILIES, YOUTH, AND LOCAL PARTNERS TO CREATE SAFE, SUPPORTIVE, AND ENGAGING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. THROUGH COMMUNITY EVENTS, NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIPS, YOUTH ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, AND COLLABORATIVE PLANNING, THIS WORK HELPS INCREASE ACCESS TO RESOURCES, STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, AND SUPPORT POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES.

  • PROJECT EXPLORATION'S STEM ECOSYSTEM WORK FOCUSES ON BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION ACROSS SCHOOLS, NONPROFITS, BUSINESSES, HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, AND PUBLIC AGENCIES TO EXPAND ACCESS TO QUALITY STEM LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH. THIS WORK INCLUDES CONVENING PARTNERS, SHARING RESOURCES AND BEST PRACTICES, SUPPORTING COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES, AND HELPING STRENGTHEN THE OVERALL STEM LEARNING LANDSCAPE ACROSS CHICAGO COMMUNITIES.

  • SPRING BREAK SCIENCE CAMP THIS WEEKLONG PROGRAM IMMERSES PE STUDENTS IN THE EXPERTISE AND CULTURE OF A STEM-BASED COMPANY OR INSTITUTION. PAST PARTNERS HAVE INCLUDED: TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES, WHICH LED ACTIVITIES IN CODING AND ROBOTICS; AND MOTOROLA MOBILITY, WHICH PAIRED GIRLS FROM S4S WITH A DIVERSE GROUP OF PROFESSIONAL WOMEN. ENVIRONMENTAL ADVENTURERS (EA) EA IS AIMED AT ENGAGING DIVERSE, URBAN YOUTH IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, BIOLOGY, ANATOMY, AND ZOOLOGY SUBJECTS TO DEVELOP SKILLS IN RESEARCH IN A MEANINGFUL AND HANDS-ON WAY. THE PARTICIPANTS INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM WILL DO REAL SCIENTIFIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL WORK WITH OTHER PARTICIPANTS WHILE LEARNING HOW TO DEVELOP A RESEARCH QUESTION TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR ENVIRONMENT. SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS - SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE STEM PROGRAMMING FOR STUDENTS AT THEIR HOME SCHOOL. PROJECT EXPLORATION HAS IDENTIFIED COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE WEST AND NEAR WEST SIDE, FAR SOUTH, SOUTH, AND SOUTHWEST SIDE OF CHICAGO AS PROGRAM SERVICE AREAS. THESE COMMUNITIES REFLECT AREAS THAT HAVE LIMITED TO NO ROBUST STEM LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. PE PARTNERS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS OR WORKS DIRECTLY WITH CPS TO DETERMINE WHICH SCHOOLS TO SERVE. PE COLLABORATES WITH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS TO DETERMINE WHICH PROGRAMS TO OFFER. PLACE-BASED PROGRAMS - PLACE-BASED PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE STEM PROGRAMMING WITHIN A GEOGRAPHIC AREA AND SERVE AS A COMMUNITY STEM HUB. PROJECT EXPLORATION HAS TWO PLACE-BASED LOCATIONS. THE WEST SIDE STEM LEARNING CENTERS AT THE GEORGE LELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAMPUS WAS LAUNCHED IN 2017. IN 2021, PE LAUNCHED A SECOND PARTNERSHIP WITH BETHEL NEW LIFE TO CREATE ANOTHER PLACE-BASED STEM LEARNING CENTER. EACH AIMS TO AMPLIFY THE VALUE OF STEM LEARNING IN THE COMMUNITY, STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY COHESION THROUGH FAMILY PROGRAMMING, AND BRING CITYWIDE STEM RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

    Expenses $121,760

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

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • Natasha Smith-Walker

    EXECUTIVE DI

    Total calculated
    $131,976
    From this org
    $131,976
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • Katherine Acles

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Henry Craan

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Asher Horsher

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Sarah Houberg

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Bryan Hunt

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Timothy Kolschowsky

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Judy Lubin

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Narasimha Raju Nagubhai

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Elaina Shannon

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Deborah Williams

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $2,369,487
    Expenses
    $2,745,092
    Contributions
    $2,287,119
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2024
    Revenue
    $2,209,702
    Expenses
    $2,750,112
    Contributions
    $2,127,334
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $2,069,266
    Expenses
    $1,894,323
    Contributions
    $1,981,805
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $1,273,272
    Expenses
    $1,475,055
    Contributions
    $1,171,553
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $1,273,272
    Expenses
    $1,475,055
    Contributions
    $1,171,553
    Grants paid
    $0

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,420,429
    Expenses
    $1,284,249
    Assets (EOY)
    $396,534

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,457,126
    Expenses
    $1,512,974
    Assets (EOY)
    $496,596

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $969,150
    Expenses
    $823,365
    Assets (EOY)
    $402,219

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $743,524
    Expenses
    $734,874
    Assets (EOY)
    $245,528

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $706,746
    Expenses
    $670,290
    Assets (EOY)
    $269,712

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 9 November 2026 and read 9 November 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.