Mid America Science Museum
Mid America Science Museum shows strong revenue recovery and stable assets with no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 202129318 · Hot Springs, AR · NTEE: A56 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Mid America Science Museum Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Mid America Science Museum directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Mid America Science Museum
Mid America Science Museum (EIN: 202129318) is a nonprofit organization based in Hot Springs, AR, classified under NTEE code A56. The organization reported total revenue of $4.1M and total assets of $7.7M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Mid America Science Museum's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Mid America Science Museum is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 21 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2012–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 7.0%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $2.6M |
| Total Expenses | $2.5M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$68K |
| Total Assets | $8.2M |
| Total Liabilities | $90K |
| Net Assets | $8.1M |
| Operating Margin | 2.6% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 1.1% |
| Months of Reserves | 39.5 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Mid America Science Museum reported a surplus of $68K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 39.5 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 1.1% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2012–2023), Mid America Science Museum's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.0%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +37.7% | +9.1% | +2.9% |
| 2022 | -37.0% | +16.0% | -8.6% |
| 2021 | +277.5% | -0.2% | +10.3% |
| 2020 | -56.3% | -0.7% | -11.8% |
| 2019 | +25.8% | -2.2% | +1.4% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2005 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Mid America Science Museum with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Mid America Science Museum allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $68K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 1.1%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size with annual revenues exceeding $2 million. This suggests that executive leadership may be volunteer-based or compensated through other categories not captured under 'officer compensation' on the 990.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Mid America Science Museum's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation may mask executive compensation reported in other categories, requiring deeper investigation.
- Significant revenue fluctuations over the years, particularly the sharp drop in 2020, indicate potential vulnerability to external factors.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Mid America Science Museum:
- Strong revenue recovery post-2020, reaching $2,551,332 in 2023.
- Robust and stable asset base, consistently above $7.5 million.
- Very low liabilities, indicating excellent financial management and minimal debt.
- Expenses generally align with or are below revenue in recent periods, suggesting efficient operations.
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating a potential commitment to directing funds to mission.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mid America Science Museum
Is Mid America Science Museum a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Mid America Science Museum (EIN: 202129318) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
How does Mid America Science Museum spend its money?
Mid America Science Museum directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Mid America Science Museum tax-deductible?
Mid America Science Museum is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 202129318). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Mid America Science Museum a good charity?
Based on the provided data, Mid America Science Museum appears to be a financially sound organization with strong asset management and a positive trend in revenue recovery. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation is a notable positive, suggesting a high dedication of resources to its mission. However, a full assessment would require understanding their program effectiveness and detailed expense breakdowns.
How has the museum's revenue changed over time?
The museum's revenue has fluctuated significantly, from a high of $7,511,735 in 2015 to a low of $779,031 in 2020. It has shown strong recovery, reaching $2,551,332 in 2023, indicating resilience post-pandemic.
What is the trend in the museum's assets and liabilities?
The museum's assets have remained robust, generally above $7.5 million, peaking at $9,700,997 in 2017. Liabilities have consistently been very low, typically under $100,000, indicating strong financial health and minimal debt.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Mid America Science Museum showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2012–2023), Mid America Science Museum's revenue has grown by 110.9%, moving from $1.2M to $2.6M. Total assets increased by 863.3% over the same period, from $848K to $8.2M. Total functional expenses rose by 117%, from $1.1M to $2.5M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Mid America Science Museum reported a surplus of $68K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $90K in liabilities against $8.2M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 1.1%), resulting in net assets of $8.1M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $2.6M | $2.5M | $8.2M | $90K | — | — |
| 2022 | $1.9M | $2.3M | $7.9M | $47K | — | — |
| 2021 | $2.9M | $2.0M | $8.7M | $44K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $779K | $2.0M | $7.9M | $215K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $1.8M | $2.0M | $8.9M | $62K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $1.4M | $2.0M | $8.8M | $53K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $1.8M | $1.9M | $9.7M | $51K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $1.2M | $1.3M | $9.6M | $37K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $3.4M | $2.0M | $9.6M | $115K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $7.5M | $1.2M | $9.1M | $967K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $1.9M | $984K | $1.9M | $32K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $1.2M | $1.1M | $977K | $62K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $1.2M | $1.1M | $848K | $59K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $2.6M, expenses of $2.5M, and assets of $8.2M (revenue +37.7% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $1.9M, expenses of $2.3M, and assets of $7.9M (revenue -37.0% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $2.9M, expenses of $2.0M, and assets of $8.7M (revenue +277.5% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $779K, expenses of $2.0M, and assets of $7.9M (revenue -56.3% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $2.0M, and assets of $8.9M (revenue +25.8% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $2.0M, and assets of $8.8M (revenue -20.3% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $1.9M, and assets of $9.7M (revenue +49.2% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $9.6M (revenue -64.5% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $3.4M, expenses of $2.0M, and assets of $9.6M (revenue -55.4% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $7.5M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $9.1M (revenue +286.4% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $1.9M, expenses of $984K, and assets of $1.9M (revenue +59.5% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $977K (revenue +0.8% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $848K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Mid America Science Museum:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Mid America Science Museum is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.