Charities United States Animal Welfare South Dakota Discovery Center
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South Dakota Discovery Center

The sd discovery center empowers all peoples of the great plains through hands-on experiences that inspire scientific things

Animal Welfare Pierre, SD EIN: 363599183 (IRS) Sign up to see website
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90
Integrity Assessment
Strong transparency
90/100 · methodology

About South Dakota Discovery Center

Discover the South Dakota Discovery Center in Pierre—hands-on science exhibits, family fun, school field trips, and traveling STEM education programs.

Founded
Headquarters
Pierre, SD
Foundation type
Publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2))
NTEE code
D500
IRS subsection
501(c)(03)
Ruling date
Size
small

Verified certifications

Confirmed against the issuing authority - not self-reported.

IRS Tax-Deductible since 1988

Mission

The sd discovery center empowers all peoples of the great plains through hands-on experiences that inspire scientific things

Focus areas & reach

· What they work on and where
Animal Welfare · NTEE D500
Cause tags

How it stacks up against peers

· vs. 8 similar animal welfare in United States
Program spending This charity: 41%
Peer average: 91%
CEO comp as % of revenue This charity: 6.99%
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

$0.41
Program expenses$0.41 ($247,414)

GiveRadar Analysis

Original analysis from GiveRadar's dataset of comparable organizations

From what GiveRadar has verified so far, South Dakota Discovery Center has a complete profile, cross-referenced across 3 independent sources including the IRS.

  • GiveRadar has verified more about this organization than about 99% of the 40,448 animal welfare 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
  • It has more complete contact information than nearly all similar organizations, with a verified website, email, phone and address on record. Compare with peers
  • It has more complete governance disclosure than nearly all similar organizations, because GiveRadar has verified leadership, executive compensation, a mission statement and a founding date. Compare with peers
GiveRadar has verified
  • government registration
  • financial records
  • disclosed leadership
  • a website
  • a contact email
  • a donation page
Not yet verified by GiveRadar
  • an owner-submitted profile claim

Common questions

· Auto-generated from filings + methodology

South Dakota Discovery Center is a registered animal welfare nonprofit based in Pierre, SD, United States. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It was founded in 1988 and has been operating for 38 years. Its EIN is 363599183. 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 $851K in annual revenue. 56 officers and directors are publicly disclosed. No red flags have been detected.

South Dakota Discovery Center 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. For comparison, the average integrity assessment for animal welfare charities in United States is 90/100.

South Dakota Discovery Center is located in Pierre, SD, United States. The organization was established in 1988 and has been active for 38 years.

Based on official tax filings, South Dakota Discovery Center has $851K in annual revenue. It allocates 41% of expenses to programs and services. This is below the average of 91% for animal welfare charities in United States. Create a free GiveRadar account to view the complete financial breakdown with year-over-year trends.

South Dakota Discovery Center is classified as an Animal Welfare organization, registered in United States. It operates as a Publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)). By size, it is categorized as a small organization. It has $851K in annual revenue. The organization has 56 disclosed officers and directors.

No red flags have been detected for South Dakota Discovery Center. 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, South Dakota Discovery Center 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 41% of expenses go to programs (the peer average is 91%). You can donate directly through their official donation page linked on their GiveRadar profile. 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.

Discover the South Dakota Discovery Center in Pierre—hands-on science exhibits, family fun, school field trips, and traveling STEM education programs. South Dakota Discovery Center is classified as an animal welfare organization registered in United States. The organization was founded in 1988.

Among animal welfare charities registered in United States: It allocates 41% of expenses to programs, below the peer average of 91%. Its annual revenue of $851K is comparable to the peer average of $1M.

Yes, donations to South Dakota Discovery Center are generally tax-deductible in the United States. South Dakota Discovery Center is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Its EIN is 363599183, 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
$100K-$1M
41% 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.
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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
22

Leadership

CL
Clarissa D••••
President

Officers & trustees (22)

Source: Public filings

See full names, roles, and stories

22 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

10 Best Lakeside Towns in South Dakota - WorldAtlas
Jun 2026
www.worldatlas.com
Summer programming blends entertainment and education at Discovery Center - Pierre Capital Journal
Jun 2026
www.capjournal.com
South Dakota Discovery Center holding grand opening for Observation Hive today - DRGNews
May 2026
drgnews.com
Form filed
$0.9M revenue
FY2025
IRS 990
9 Best South Dakota Towns For A Winter Getaway - WorldAtlas
Dec 2025
www.worldatlas.com
10 Nicest Small Towns In South Dakota - WorldAtlas
Jul 2025
www.worldatlas.com
A museum takes students on flights to the stars, but future trips are in question - South Dakota Searchlight
Jun 2025
southdakotasearchlight.com
Form filed
$0.8M revenue
FY2024
IRS 990
9 Close-Knit Towns To Visit In South Dakota - WorldAtlas
Nov 2024
www.worldatlas.com
South Dakota's Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program - ArcGIS StoryMaps
Oct 2024
storymaps.arcgis.com
8 Most Idyllic Small Towns In South Dakota - WorldAtlas
May 2024
www.worldatlas.com
8 Most Charming River Towns in South Dakota to Visit in 2024 - WorldAtlas
Apr 2024
www.worldatlas.com
Form filed
$0.7M revenue
FY2023
IRS 990
Form filed
$0.6M revenue
FY2022
IRS 990
Form filed
$0.6M revenue
FY2021
IRS 990
Form filed
$0.5M 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 133,055
Advocacy & Civil Rights 127,988
Religion 114,580
Health 98,829
Community Development 56,048
Youth Development 53,423
Animal Welfare this charity 40,448
See all cause areas in United States

Most common causes in United States

Causes charities work on most.

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 - 56 disclosed in the public registry.
News and media coverage
GDELT Project + Google News

Data freshness

Last updated
Jun 6, 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 · 56 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 · 1988
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 South Dakota Discovery Center

What is South Dakota Discovery Center?
South Dakota Discovery Center is a animal welfare publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)) based in Pierre, United States. Discover the South Dakota Discovery Center in Pierre—hands-on science exhibits, family fun, school field trips, and traveling STEM education programs.
When was South Dakota Discovery Center founded?
South Dakota Discovery Center was founded in 1988.
Who leads South Dakota Discovery Center?
Clarissa Drefs serves as President.
Where is South Dakota Discovery Center located?
Headquartered in Pierre, SD, United States.
What is South Dakota Discovery Center's annual budget?
Annual revenue for fiscal year 2025 is approximately $100K-$1M. 41% of expenses go to program services.
Is South Dakota Discovery Center trustworthy?
South Dakota Discovery Center 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 South Dakota Discovery Center's registration number?
IRS EIN: 363599183.
What is South Dakota Discovery Center's website?
http://sd-discovery.org