Nonprofit · EIN 47-1714438
HEADWATERS SCIENCE INSTITUTE
Tax-exempt · SODA SPRINGS, CA 95728
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $1,580,487 | $760,109 | $820,378 | $1,633,391 | $64,386 | $1,569,005 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $925,619 | $659,560 | $266,059 | $766,905 | $17,437 | $749,468 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $771,556 | $615,542 | $156,014 | $481,578 | $0 | $481,578 |
| December 31, 2022 | 990 (amended) | $399,721 | $385,940 | $13,781 | $343,445 | $0 | $343,445 |
| December 31, 2021 | 990 (amended) | $288,073 | $177,371 | $110,702 | $329,664 | $0 | $329,664 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $460,219
- Program service revenue
- $1,100,884
- Investment income
- $19,384
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $544,332
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $616,006
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $5,040
- Travel
- $7,623
- Program services (functional)
- $703,594
- Management and general (functional)
- $23,661
- Fundraising (functional)
- $32,854
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $766,905
- Total assets, end of year
- $1,633,391
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $64,386
- Net assets, end of year
- $1,569,005
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $1,569,005
- Gross receipts
- $1,582,730
- Employees
- 67
- Volunteers
- 15
- Year formed
- 2015
- State of legal domicile
- CA
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Megan Seifert | Executive Director Key employee, Highest-paid employee | 50 | $91,169 |
| Donna Luisi | Board President Officer | 3 | $0 |
| Pam Wong | Board Treasurer Officer | 3 | $0 |
| Craig Rowe | Board Member Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Anna Greenburg | Board Member Officer | 2 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 5 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Megan Seifert | Executive Director Key employee, Highest-paid employee | 50 | $74,858 |
| Craig Rowe | Board Member Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Joan Schubert | Board Secretary Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Donna Luisi | Board President Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Pam Wong | Board Treasurer Officer | 2 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 7 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Megan Seifert | Executive Director Key employee, Highest-paid employee | 60 | $74,903 | $74,903 |
| Craig Rowe | Board Member Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Alec Atkin | Board President Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Jack Holmes | Treasurer Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| Shandon Lloyd | Board Secretary Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Donna Luisi | Board Member Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Janet Burke | Board Member Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2022: 8 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Megan Seifert | Executive Director Highest-paid employee | 60 | $60,000 |
| Michelle Furbershaw | Secretary and Bookkeper Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Craig Rowe | Board Member Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Alec Atkin | Board President Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Toyin Weaver | Board Member Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Jack Holmes | Treasurer Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Shandon Lloyd | Board Secretary Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Donna Luisi | Board Member Officer | 2 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2021: 7 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Megan Seifert | Executive Director Key employee, Highest-paid employee | 55 | $57,205 | $57,205 |
| Andy Giordano | Board President Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| Michelle Furbershaw | Secretary and Bookkeper Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Craig Rowe | Board Member Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Alec Atkin | Board Member Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| Toyin Weaver | Board Member Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Jack Holmes | Board Member Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- PO BOX 913, SODA SPRINGS, CA 95728-0913
- In care of
- % MEGAN SEIFERT
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- Megan Seifert, PO BOX 913, Soda Springs, California, CA 95728
- Signed the 990
- Megan Seifert, Executive Director
- Phone
- (530) 426-3063
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 47-1714438 or by the name HEADWATERS SCIENCE INSTITUTE.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
We are educators, scientists, and community members with a mission to foster curiosity through science. We engage students' natural curiosity, guiding them to design and perform experiments that answer their own questions through the scientific method. We use professional scientists to mentor students through their research projects.
Program accomplishments
- Headwaters Science Institute's Introduction to Research Programs uses our Student Driven Research approach to engage over 1,500 elementary, middle, and high school students in authentic, inquiry-based science experiences. Centered on the scientific method, these programs empower students to design and carry out their own independent research projects. Students begin by learning how to ask meaningful scientific questions, then work alongside professional scientists who guide them through investigation, data collection, analysis, and presentation. This approach allows for exploration across a wide range of scientific topics while building critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By asking and answering their own questions, students develop a lasting connection to science and the natural world. Headwaters' Student-Driven Research programs have been recognized as "Accomplished" by STEMworks at WestEd, placing them among the top STEM programs in the nation.Expenses $259,273 · revenue $149,269
- Headwaters Science Institute's Truckee/Tahoe Summer Camps engage over 300 students each year in week-long, inquiry-based outdoor science experiences in Truckee, Donner Summit, and Kirkwood, California. Each session is centered around a theme, such as plants, insects, or water, and is designed to help students explore the natural world while building an understanding of the scientific method. Guided by professional scientists, students learn to ask questions, investigate their surroundings, and develop a deeper appreciation for the environment. These camps create meaningful, memorable connections to science through hands-on exploration in some of the Sierra Nevada's most unique ecosystems. In addition to their educational impact, the summer camps provide critical earned revenue that supports staff and the ongoing development of new, high-quality program materials.Expenses $77,156 · revenue $156,376
- Headwaters Science Institute partners with West Contra Costa County Unified School District Expanded Learning to deliver engaging, hands-on environmental science programs funded through West Contra Costa Unified School District. Throughout the school year, Headwaters runs after-school programs at seven school sites serving over 300 students, along with Saturday Research Field Days that engage approximately 150 students per session in authentic scientific investigation and fun learning. Students explore their local environments using schoolyards and nearby parks as outdoor classrooms, to build skills in observation, data collection, and critical thinking. Headwaters also offers immersive spring break and summer science camps that extend this same scientific learning beyond campus through field trips to Bay Area natural sites, science museums, and zoos. Across all programs, students work directly with scientists and participate in real-world science experiences designed to foster curiosity, deepen environmental understanding, and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.Expenses $313,800 · revenue $792,996
- We have tabling outreach, talks in the community, and free online programs such as, Lunch with a Scientist. Lunch with a Scientist is the biggest of these programs. It is an online library of talks with companion investigations for the teachers to use with their students. This program is completely free forteachers and studentst. Every 2-3 months record a new talk. Each scientist talks about their research and how they got into their career.Expenses $53,365 · revenue $2,243
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 47-1714438
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2015
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Science and technology (U19)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $1,633,391
- Income (IRS master file)
- $1,582,730
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $1,580,487 | $760,109 | $1,633,391 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $925,619 | $659,560 | $766,905 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $771,556 | $615,542 | $481,578 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2022 | $399,721 | $385,940 | $343,445 | XML |
| 990 | December 2021 | $288,073 | $177,371 | $329,664 | XML |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 47-1714438).
Questions about HEADWATERS SCIENCE INSTITUTE
- What is the EIN of HEADWATERS SCIENCE INSTITUTE?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of HEADWATERS SCIENCE INSTITUTE is 47-1714438.
- Is HEADWATERS SCIENCE INSTITUTE tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2015.
- Are donations to HEADWATERS SCIENCE INSTITUTE tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does HEADWATERS SCIENCE INSTITUTE file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of HEADWATERS SCIENCE INSTITUTE due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did HEADWATERS SCIENCE INSTITUTE last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of HEADWATERS SCIENCE INSTITUTE?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Megan Seifert.
- Who are the officers and directors of HEADWATERS SCIENCE INSTITUTE?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 5 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $91,169 (Megan Seifert, Executive Director).
- How much revenue does HEADWATERS SCIENCE INSTITUTE have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $1,580,487, expenses of $760,109 and total assets of $1,633,391 at year end.
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