CATAWBA SCIENCE CENTER INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

CATAWBA SCIENCE CENTER INC

EIN 56-1073440 · Arts, Culture & Humanities (A570)

What they do

UNDERSTANDING of SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY THROUGH THE USE of EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, EXHIBITS, TEACHING COLLECTIONS and ACTIVITIES WHICH EMPHASIZE THE PHYSICAL PARTICIPATION of INDIVIDUALS

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $78.00 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders19 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

84.00%of revenue went to mission work78.0% of expenses · Program services

6.70%of revenue went to fundraising6.2% of expenses

$107.71spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

17.01%of revenue went to management and office costs15.8% of expenses

$4.82in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

30.4%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $147,462 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $104,816 for TRACY HALL (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$1,911,586

Mission workProgram services$1,605,77284.00% of revenue78.0% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$325,22617.01% of revenue15.8% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$128,0506.70% of revenue6.2% of expenses

Total expenses$2,059,048107.71% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 78.0% mission · 15.8% management · 6.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 107.71% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 78.1% mission · 15.4% management · 6.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 87.64% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 75.8% mission · 17.0% management · 7.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 107.15% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 77.6% mission · 16.3% management · 6.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 82.90% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 75.0% mission · 17.5% management · 7.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 77.59% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 72.7% mission · 19.5% management · 7.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 132.67% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 74.1% mission · 18.1% management · 7.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 101.42% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 74.0% mission · 18.4% management · 7.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 79.57% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$1,911,586

Expenses$2,059,048

Annual shortfall $147,462 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$1,605,772 · 78.0% of expenses

Management and office costs$325,226 · 15.8% of expenses

Fundraising$128,050 · 6.2% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$1,911,586

Expenses$2,059,048

Assets$9,927,123

Income$2,304,039

Contributions$580,184

Mission work (program services)$1,605,772

Fundraising$128,050

Management and general$325,226

Stocks and bonds$6,470,955

Accounting fees$15,284

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

TRACY HALLEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $104,816Base $91,546 · Other $13,270

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (19)

TRACY HALLEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

HOLLY WINTERSVICE PRESIDENT

VICTORIA MORALESDIRECTOR

TRACIE SALINASDIRECTOR

TODD RHYNETREASURER

SARAH BRACEWELLDIRECTOR

MITZI CUNNINGHAMDIRECTOR

KELLY GOODERHAMDIRECTOR

JASON GSCHMEIDMEIERDIRECTOR

JARRED BLANTONDIRECTOR

AMANDA FREELANDSECREAARY

GREG HUFFMANDIRECTOR

GREG BILLINGSDIRECTOR

ERICKA BARTLETTDIRECTOR

DOUG KNIGHTDIRECTOR

DIRK SCHOELLNERPRESIDENT

DAVID LEONETTIPAST PRESIDENT

CASSIA DOWDYDIRECTOR

BRADLEY DUNLAPDIRECTOR

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1974
Location: PO BOX 2431, HICKORY, NC 28603
County: Catawba
In care of: DIRK SCHOELLNER
Primary officer: DIRK SCHOELLNER, PRESIDENT

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emailinfo@catawbascience.org Phone(828) 322-8169

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: July 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: LOWDERMILK CHURCH & CO LLP
NTEE classification: Arts, Culture & Humanities (A570)
IRS tax category: Museums