Charities United States Arts & Culture Discovery Place Inc
Discovery Place Inc logo

Discovery Place Inc

Transformative science, nature, and design experiences for 539,951 guests.

Arts & Culture Charlotte, NC EIN: 560529944 (IRS) Reg: 56-0529944 (IRS) Sign up to see website
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90
Integrity Assessment
Strong transparency
90/100 · methodology

About Discovery Place Inc

Experience Charlotte's premier science museum with so many things to do in Charlotte from hands-on exhibits to live demonstrations, and immersive STEM learning for all ages. Explore cutting-edge technology, conduct real experiments, and discover wonder through interactive science activities. From physics to biology, our engaging exhibits spark curiosity and inspire future innovators. Visit Discovery Place Science today for unforgettable family fun and educational adventures in Uptown Charlo

Founded
Headquarters
Charlotte, NC
Foundation type
Publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2))
NTEE code
A570
IRS subsection
501(c)(c3)
Ruling date
Size
large

Verified certifications

Confirmed against the issuing authority - not self-reported.

IRS Tax-Deductible since 1950

Mission

Transformative science, nature, and design experiences for 539,951 guests.

Focus areas & reach

· What they work on and where
Arts & Culture · NTEE A570
Cause tags
SDG alignment The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the global agenda for ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity by 2030. We tag each charity to the goals its work advances.
SDG 11 SDG 11 · Sustainable Cities and Communities Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

How it stacks up against peers

· vs. 3 similar arts & culture in United States
Program spending This charity: 75%
Peer average: 79%
CEO comp as % of revenue This charity: 2.83%
Peer average: 0.48%
Integrity Assessment This charity: 90
Peer average: 90

Concerns

· None found
No red flags found
Screened for IRS revocation history, Open investigations, Governance scandals, Related-party deals, Excessive exec comp.

Where every $1 goes

$0.75
Program expenses$0.75 ($12.6 million)
75% to programs beats the Charity Navigator "highly efficient" threshold (75%).

GiveRadar Analysis

Original analysis from GiveRadar's dataset of comparable organizations

GiveRadar's verified records show Discovery Place Inc with a complete profile, cross-referenced across 4 independent sources including the IRS.

  • GiveRadar has verified more about this organization than about 99% of the 133,055 arts & culture charities in the United States it tracks, because GiveRadar has verified its financial disclosures and its governance. Most of those have little verified data on record yet. View this cohort
  • Established in 1947, it predates 93% of the arts & culture charities in the United States GiveRadar has a founding year for. View this cohort
  • GiveRadar has cross-referenced this organization across 4 independent sources, led by the IRS - more than 84% of similar organizations. See the sources
GiveRadar has verified
  • government registration
  • financial records
  • disclosed leadership
  • a website
  • a contact email
  • third-party accreditation
Not yet verified by GiveRadar
  • a donation page
  • an owner-submitted profile claim

Common questions

· Auto-generated from filings + methodology

Discovery Place Inc is a registered arts & culture nonprofit based in Charlotte, NC, United States. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It was founded in 1947 and has been operating for 79 years. Its EIN is 560529944. According to GiveRadar's records, it holds active tax-deductible status on the IRS Publication 78 list, which means donations are tax-deductible and the organization is in good standing with the IRS. GiveRadar's Integrity Assessment for the organization is 90/100, which reflects how much public information is available, not whether the charity is legitimate. The organization reports $16M in annual revenue. 174 officers and directors are publicly disclosed. No red flags have been detected.

Discovery Place Inc has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 90/100. This score combines five components: Registration (20 pts), Financial Transparency (30 pts), Governance (20 pts), Contact Availability (10 pts), and Data Recency (20 pts), with negative adjustments for any red flags. A score of 90 ('Strong transparency') reflects well-documented governance, recent financials, named leadership, and working contact details. The charity allocates 75% of expenses to programs, which contributes positively to its score. For comparison, the average integrity assessment for arts & culture charities in United States is 90/100.

Discovery Place Inc is located in Charlotte, NC, United States. The organization was established in 1947 and has been active for 79 years.

Based on official tax filings, Discovery Place Inc has $16M in annual revenue. It allocates 75% of expenses to programs and services. This is in line with the average of 79% for arts & culture charities in United States. Its revenue is significantly above the peer average of $1M. Create a free GiveRadar account to view the complete financial breakdown with year-over-year trends.

Discovery Place Inc is classified as an Arts & Culture organization, registered in United States. It operates as a Publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)). By size, it is categorized as a large organization. It has $16M in annual revenue. The organization has 174 disclosed officers and directors.

No red flags have been detected for Discovery Place Inc. GiveRadar automatically screens charities for concerning patterns including high executive compensation, low program spending, and missing financial filings. Based on available official data, no issues have been identified.

According to GiveRadar's records, Discovery Place Inc holds active tax-deductible status on the IRS Publication 78 list, which means donations are tax-deductible and the organization is in good standing with the IRS. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It reports that 75% of expenses go to programs (the peer average is 79%). GiveRadar provides data for research and does not endorse any organization. A GiveRadar Integrity Assessment reflects how much public data is available, not whether an organization is safe to donate to, so it is always smart to do your own research before giving.

Experience Charlotte's premier science museum with so many things to do in Charlotte from hands-on exhibits to live demonstrations, and immersive STEM learning for all ages. Explore cutting-edge technology, conduct real experiments, and discover wonder through interactive science activities. From physics to biology, our engaging exhibits spark curiosity and inspire future innovators. Visit Discovery Place Science today for unforgettable family fun and educational adventures in Uptown Charlo Discovery Place Inc is classified as an arts & culture organization registered in United States. The organization was founded in 1947.

Among arts & culture charities registered in United States: It allocates 75% of expenses to programs, in line with the peer average of 79%. Its annual revenue of $16M is well above the peer average of $1M.

Yes, donations to Discovery Place Inc are generally tax-deductible in the United States. Its EIN is 560529944, which you can use for tax filing purposes. Donors can typically deduct contributions on their federal income tax return if they itemize deductions. Consult a tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Annual revenue
$10M-$100M
75% to programs
Source: IRS 990 (FY2025) why this matters
Unlock exact figures

Filing history

6 years on file from IRS 990 (FY2025): revenue, expenses, program spending, assets, and liabilities by fiscal year.

Years on record: FY2025, FY2024, FY2023, FY2022, FY2021, FY2020.
Financial details are free - with a GiveRadar account

See 5 years of revenue, expense breakdowns, and balance sheet.

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Taxes

Tax-deductibility for donors

Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United States under local rules. Confirm with the charity directly.

Always confirm tax treatment with the charity directly or your tax advisor before donating.

Staff & volunteers

From the latest filing

Employees
253

Leadership

CA
Catherine W••••• H••••
Chief Executive Officer

Officers & trustees (25)

Source: Public filings

See full names, roles, and stories

25 officers and trustees on file - free with a GiveRadar account.

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Latest news

From global news sources

10 articles found

From global news sources

Sentiment

Neutral

Activity timeline

Filings and press mentions, merged

North Carolina girl living in foster care longs to be adopted by a caring family - WXII
Jun 2026
www.wxii12.com
Discovery Place Science opens exhibition built on LEGOs and engineering - 6AM City
May 2026
6amcity.com
LEGO Brick Masters Studio building a good time at Discovery Place Science - Queen City News
May 2026
www.qcnews.com
A tipsy twist on science - thecharlotteledger.com
May 2026
www.thecharlotteledger.com
Discovery Place readies plans for new CEO search - The Business Journals
May 2026
www.bizjournals.com
Discovery Place Science Joins the Global City Nature Challenge 2026 - Yahoo Finance
Apr 2026
finance.yahoo.com
Discovery Place and Bank of America Partnership Ignites STEM Careers for Charlotte Students - Yahoo Finance
Mar 2026
finance.yahoo.com
Aquarium proposal emerges as Charlotte weighs future of Discovery Place - WSOC TV
Mar 2026
www.wsoctv.com
Christine Farnan Griffin - Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service
Mar 2026
kennethpoeservices.com
Discovery Place Kids Rockingham receives $75K state grant - Richmond County Daily Journal
Feb 2026
www.yourdailyjournal.com
Form filed
$16.4M revenue
FY2025
IRS 990
Form filed
$14.1M revenue
FY2024
IRS 990
Form filed
$19.6M revenue
FY2023
IRS 990
Form filed
$15.2M revenue
FY2022
IRS 990
Form filed
$8.2M revenue
FY2021
IRS 990
Form filed
$10.2M revenue
FY2020
IRS 990

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Cause areas in United States

How many charities work in each area, with this charity's area highlighted.

Human Services 322,441
Education 195,493
Arts & Culture this charity 133,055
Advocacy & Civil Rights 127,988
Religion 114,580
Health 98,829
Community Development 56,048
Youth Development 53,423
See all cause areas in United States

Most common causes in United States

Causes charities work on most, with this charity's causes ticked.

Education 159,016
Social Services 140,118
Religion 103,741
Arts & Culture 101,203
Community Development 95,028
Civil Rights 70,065
Health 64,848
Youth Development 47,775

Sources and verification

Registration and legal identity
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search
Financial filings
IRS Form 990 filings - Fiscal year 2025 most recent on file.
Officers and trustees
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search - 174 disclosed in the public registry.
News and media coverage
GDELT Project + Google News
Supplementary verification
Charity Navigator

Data freshness

Last updated
Jun 12, 2026
Registry checked
Jun 6, 2026
Profile completeness
100%

What we know and don't know

Exactly which public data we hold on this charity. Our score reflects transparency, not impact.

On record · 10
  • Financial data · FY2025 on record
  • Named leadership · 174 officers on file
  • Executive pay · Disclosed
  • Government registration · Registered with an official registry
  • Mission statement · Published
  • Official website · On record
  • Headquarters address · On file
  • Direct contact · Email or phone published
  • Tax-deductibility · Verified
  • Founding date · 1947
Not available · 1
  • Programs & activities
    No named programs listed by the charity

Methodology

GiveRadar builds each profile primarily from official government charity registries, supplemented where available by third-party nonprofit databases and news archives, and combines it into a single 0-100 integrity assessment. The exact sources for this charity are listed above. We don't take a cut of any donation, ever.

Read full methodology

Are you the owner or a board member?

If you represent this organization and want to correct or update its data, you can claim this listing to edit details yourself, or email [email protected] with the correct information. We review every request and respond within 30 days.

Quick facts about Discovery Place Inc

What is Discovery Place Inc?
Discovery Place Inc is a arts & culture publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)) based in Charlotte, United States. Experience Charlotte's premier science museum with so many things to do in Charlotte from hands-on exhibits to live demonstrations, and immersive STEM learning for all ages. Explore cutting-edge technology, conduct real experiments, and discover wonder through interactive science activities. From physics to biology, our engaging exhibits spark curiosity and inspire future innovators. Visit Discovery Place Science today for unforgettable family fun and educational adventures in Uptown Charlo
When was Discovery Place Inc founded?
Discovery Place Inc was founded in 1947.
Who leads Discovery Place Inc?
Catherine Wilson Horne serves as Chief Executive Officer.
Where is Discovery Place Inc located?
Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, United States.
What is Discovery Place Inc's annual budget?
Annual revenue for fiscal year 2025 is approximately $10M-$100M. 75% of expenses go to program services.
Is Discovery Place Inc trustworthy?
Discovery Place Inc has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 90 out of 100 (Strong transparency). The score reflects public-data transparency: registration, financial disclosure, governance, contact details, and how recently data was refreshed. It does not measure program impact.
What is Discovery Place Inc's registration number?
IRS EIN: 560529944. Registration: 56-0529944 (United States).
What is Discovery Place Inc's website?
http://www.discoveryplace.org