Nonprofit · EIN 95-4550781
SKEPTIC SOCIETY
Tax-exempt · SANTA BARBARA, CA 93105
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $721,729 | $602,001 | $119,728 | $5,954,057 | $21,434 | $5,932,623 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $764,657 | $625,608 | $139,049 | $1,451,772 | $40,563 | $1,411,209 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $309,510 | $325,677 | -$16,167 | $1,312,138 | $39,978 | $1,272,160 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $219,568
- Program service revenue
- $106,515
- Investment income
- $393,548
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $373,139
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $2,098
- Other revenue
- $2,098
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $0
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $3,200
- Occupancy
- $44,716
- Depreciation
- $1,102
- Program services (functional)
- $371,673
- Management and general (functional)
- $121,885
- Fundraising (functional)
- $108,443
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $1,451,772
- Total assets, end of year
- $5,954,057
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $21,434
- Net assets, end of year
- $5,932,623
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $552
- Publicly traded securities
- $5,942,417
- Gross receipts
- $887,414
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 6
- Year formed
- 1996
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAIME BOTERO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CLIFFORD CAPLAN | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| MICHAEL GILMORE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DIANE KNUDTSON | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| GINGI LEE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DAVID PATTON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MICHAEL SHERMER | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 2 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIANE KNUDTSON | CFO Officer | – | $0 |
| MICHAEL SHERMER | PRESIDENT Officer | – | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 2 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL SHERMER | PRESIDENT Officer | 30 | $143,323 |
| DIANE KNUDTSON | CFO Officer | 0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 5617 W CAMINO CIELO, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93105-9706
- In care of
- % MICHAEL SHERMER
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- MICHAEL SHERMER, 5617 CAMINO CIELO DRIVE, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93105
- Signed the 990
- MICHAEL SHERMER, PRESIDENT
- Phone
- (626) 398-9803
- Website
- WWW.SKEPTIC.COM
- Return prepared by
- MACFARLANE FALETTI & COMPANY LLP
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 95-4550781 or by the name SKEPTIC SOCIETY.
- 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
SEE SCHEDULE O
Program accomplishments
- MAKES AVAILABLE TO ITS MEMBERS A SUBSCRIPTION TO SKEPTIC MAGAZINE. ALSO, SPONSORS A MONTHLY SCIENCE LECTURE AT THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND ANNUAL SCIENCE CONFERENCES. HOSTS SCIENCE EDUCATION FIELD TRIPS, SUCH AS GEOLOGY TOURS. EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT CONTROVERSIAL CLAIMS.Expenses $371,673 · revenue $113,838
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
- 95-4550781
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1996
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Arts, culture and humanities (A33)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $5,954,057
- Income (IRS master file)
- $887,414
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $721,729 | $602,001 | $5,954,057 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2024 | $764,657 | $625,608 | $1,451,772 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $309,510 | $325,677 | $1,312,138 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $1,016,456 | $495,745 | $1,498,997 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | 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 95-4550781).
Questions about SKEPTIC SOCIETY
- What is the EIN of SKEPTIC SOCIETY?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of SKEPTIC SOCIETY is 95-4550781.
- Is SKEPTIC SOCIETY tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1996.
- Are donations to SKEPTIC SOCIETY tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does SKEPTIC SOCIETY 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 SKEPTIC SOCIETY 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 SKEPTIC SOCIETY 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 SKEPTIC SOCIETY?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names MICHAEL SHERMER.
- Who are the officers and directors of SKEPTIC SOCIETY?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 7 people; 0 received compensation from the organization.
- How much revenue does SKEPTIC SOCIETY have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $721,729, expenses of $602,001 and total assets of $5,954,057 at year end.
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All nonprofits in SANTA BARBARA · California · Arts, culture and humanities