Nonprofit · EIN 84-0518447
THE COLORADO MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Also known as DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE AND SCIENCE
Tax-exempt · DENVER, CO 80205
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $57,234,971 | $62,154,492 | -$4,919,521 | $27,667,970 | $6,817,557 | $20,850,413 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $55,709,331 | $59,642,200 | -$3,932,869 | $34,399,828 | $8,629,894 | $25,769,934 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $33,200,333
- of which government grants
- $15,594,726
- Program service revenue
- $16,576,463
- Investment income
- $532,831
- Royalties
- $38,604
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $33,784
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $6,528,925
- Other revenue
- $6,925,344
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $402,783
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $1,614,667
- Other salaries and wages
- $30,692,264
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $37,791,265
- Professional fundraising fees
- $73,775
- Legal fees
- $13,478
- Occupancy
- $4,928,057
- Travel
- $839,905
- Depreciation
- $1,142,704
- Program services (functional)
- $46,986,038
- Management and general (functional)
- $11,582,260
- Fundraising (functional)
- $3,586,194
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $34,399,828
- Total assets, end of year
- $27,667,970
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $6,817,557
- Net assets, end of year
- $20,850,413
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $3,522,362
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $12,093,172
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $8,757,241
- Gross receipts
- $60,273,176
- Employees
- 503
- Volunteers
- 905
- Year formed
- 1900
- State of legal domicile
- CO
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, 2024, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Sparks | President & CEO Officer | 40 | $479,979 | $18,191 |
| Edward Scholz | Executive Vice President, Finance & Business Opera Officer | 40 | $321,344 | $25,801 |
| Nancy Walsh | Executive Vice President, Experiences & Partnershi Key employee | 40 | $275,974 | $29,694 |
| John Demboski | Senior Vice President, Science Key employee | 40 | $213,170 | $21,768 |
| Christina Fritts | Senior Vice President, Development Key employee | 40 | $216,939 | $11,806 |
| Eric Boen | Vice President, Technology Highest-paid employee | 40 | $197,869 | $26,198 |
| Nicole Lucero-Holub | Vice President, Human Resources Highest-paid employee | 40 | $193,041 | $25,914 |
| Ashley Bassim | Vice President, Finance & Revenue Highest-paid employee | 40 | $202,822 | $15,320 |
| Jeffrey Joplin | Vice President, Operations Highest-paid employee | 40 | $185,305 | $15,795 |
| Elizabeth Davis | Vice President, Exhibitions, Experiences & Innovat Highest-paid employee | 40 | $171,149 | $24,667 |
| Richard Ambrose | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Matthew Burkett | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Christopher S Chavez | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| John M Couzens | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jandell Allen-Davis | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
22 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry H Gordon | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Steven C Halstedt | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Jena Hausmann | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Happy Haynes | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Hayden Hirschfeld | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Jenny Hopkins | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Christine Marquez-Hudson | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Alice Jackson | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Don Law | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| John M Levisay | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| David L Liniger | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Harold R Logan Jr | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Donna Lynne | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Naresh Mandava MD | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Steve McConahey | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Susan B McIntire | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Bruce Oreck | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Kristin Richardson | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Jesus Salazar | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Mark Spiecker | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Leo M Tilman | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Paul Washington | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 43 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Sparks | President & CEO Officer | 40 | $487,202 | $17,081 |
| Freeda Warren | Senior Vice President, Development Key employee | 40 | $339,355 | $3,886 |
| Edward Scholz | Executive Vice President, Finance & Business Opera Officer | 40 | $311,355 | $24,183 |
| Nancy Walsh | Executive Vice President, Experiences & Partnershi Key employee | 40 | $266,353 | $28,723 |
| Nicole Lucero-Holub | Vice President, Human Resources Highest-paid employee | 40 | $179,123 | $24,055 |
| Eric Boen | Vice President, Technology Highest-paid employee | 40 | $178,954 | $24,141 |
| John Demboski | Senior Vice President, Science Key employee | 40 | $179,021 | $22,844 |
| Christina Fritts | Vice President, Development Key employee | 40 | $187,419 | $6,437 |
| Ashley Bassim | Vice President, Finance & Revenue Highest-paid employee | 40 | $187,704 | $5,867 |
| Jeffrey Joplin | Vice President, Operations Highest-paid employee | 40 | $177,463 | $14,730 |
| Elizabeth Davis | Vice President, Exhibitions, Experiences & Innovat Highest-paid employee | 40 | $164,076 | $20,438 |
| Steve McConahey | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jena Hausmann | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Steven C Halstedt | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jenny Hopkins | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Alice Jackson | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| John M Levisay | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Kristin Richardson | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Mark Spiecker | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Paul Washington | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Richard Ambrose | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Matthew Burkett | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Christopher S Chavez | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| John M Couzens | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jandell Allen-Davis | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Henry H Gordon | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Happy Haynes | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Hayden Hirschfeld | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Don Law | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| David L Liniger | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Harold R Logan Jr | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Donna Lynne | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Naresh Mandava MD | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Christine Marquez-Hudson | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Susan B McIntire | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Bruce Oreck | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jesus Salazar | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Leo M Tilman | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Mark S Sexton | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Peter A Dea | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| John E Freyer | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Lisa Levin Appel | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Montgomery C Cleworth | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 2001 COLORADO BOULEVARD, DENVER, CO 80205-5732
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- George Sparks, 2001 Colorado Boulevard, DENVER, CO 80205
- Signed the 990
- George Sparks, President & CEO
- Phone
- (303) 370-6156
- Website
- www.dmns.org
- Return prepared by
- PLANTE & MORAN PLLC
Mission
Be a catalyst! Ignite our community's passion for nature and science.
Program accomplishments
- Exhibits and Experiences: To advance its mission of igniting our community's passion for nature and science, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science presents a dynamic menu of permanent and temporary exhibits (Mysteries of the Ice Ages, Orcas, The Power of Poison, Animals of the Rainforest, Wild Color), films in the newly renovated Infinity theater, offsite science play areas and awe-inspiring shows in its digital Planetarium. In 2024, the Museum debuted a pop-up exhibit and giant screen film featuring an exciting T-Rex discovery with DMNS scientists and opened a new outdoor Nature Play space in the nearby City Park. In total, the Museum served 2.1 million adults, families, and students, including 777K offsite in the community and virtually.Expenses $27,758,012 · grants $16,209 · revenue $16,576,463
- Educational Programs & Community Engagement: In 2024, we offered a wide variety of programs for ECE-12th grade students and teachers, families, young adults and seniors. We collaborated with SCFD organizations, schools, scientists, libraries, community-based leaders and other organizations to connect more people with nature & science, share learning and resources, and create meaningful experiences. Field trips to the Museum for school groups, organized youth groups and home school collaboratives are always free. In addition to free days that created financial access to the Museum throughout the year, we implemented multiple themed free days to welcome groups that have been underrepresented in science including: Girls and Science, Dia del Nino, Juneteenth, and Out! At the Museum. Through all of these efforts, we served 318,594 people through educational and community programs at the Museum, in the community and schools, and virtually.Expenses $11,143,259 · grants $150,000 · revenue $6,884,672
- Science Division: In 2024, the Science Division, comprising over 60 staff, managed and provided access to the Museum's vast collection of 4.3 million objects and specimens. Museum scientists made significant, world-class discoveries through their work in the field, laboratory, and with existing collections, expanding knowledge of the Earth, its inhabitants, and beyond. Beyond their contributions to peer-reviewed articles, books, book chapters, and popular articles, the staff actively delivered scientific outreach. This included courses, events, collection tours, lectures, and field trips, which saw engagement with 36,700 members of the public. The Division's commitment to education was also evident in their supervision of interns and mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students, as well as hosting high school students. A crucial asset to the Science Division was its robust volunteer program, with 321 volunteers dedicating over 62,600 hours to support its mission.Expenses $8,084,767 · grants $236,574 · revenue $2,068
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 | Check at the IRS |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 84-0518447
- 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
- 1939
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Arts, culture and humanities (A560)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $40,112,457
- Income (IRS master file)
- $81,903,786
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2024 | $57,234,971 | $62,154,492 | $27,667,970 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $55,709,331 | $59,642,200 | $34,399,828 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $51,308,274 | $49,100,036 | $37,001,421 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | 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 84-0518447).
Questions about THE COLORADO MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
- What is the EIN of THE COLORADO MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of THE COLORADO MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY is 84-0518447.
- Is THE COLORADO MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1939.
- Are donations to THE COLORADO MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does THE COLORADO MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 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 THE COLORADO MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 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 THE COLORADO MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
- Who is the principal officer of THE COLORADO MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names George Sparks.
- Who are the officers and directors of THE COLORADO MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 37 people; 10 received compensation from the organization, the highest $479,979 (George Sparks, President & CEO).
- How much revenue does THE COLORADO MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $57,234,971, expenses of $62,154,492 and total assets of $27,667,970 at year end.
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