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Childrens Museum and Theatre of Maine

EIN 01-0352258 · Portland, ME

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AT THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM & THEATRE OF MAINE, WE SET THE STAGE FOR EVERY CHILD TO IMAGINE AND LEARN THROUGH PLAY.

Income
$4.2 million
Spending
$4.7 million
Spent on programs
57%
Reserves
-1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
119
Volunteers
112
Highest pay
$140,570, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    57% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $979,749 spent. EVERYONE BELONGS AT THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM & THEATRE OF MAINE. WE BELIEVE EACH PERSON HAS VALUE AND WORTH; WE CELEBRATE WHAT MAKES EACH OF US UNIQUE AND WHAT BINDS US TOGETHER AS A STRONG COMMUNITY. WE CENTER COMMUNITY IN ALL WE DO. WE STRIVE TO BE AN INCLUSIVE PARTNER AND RESOURCE IN ORDER TO BUILD STRONG, LASTING RELATIONSHIPS. WE PROVIDE SAFE, INCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES AND SPACES TO ENSURE THAT THE COMMUNITY'S TRUST IS EARNED AND UPHELD IN ALL THAT WE DO. WE EMBRACE THE POWER OF PLAY TO BUILD RESILIENCE, SPARK CREATIVITY, AND IGNITE A CHILD'S IMAGINATION. PLAY INSPIRES OUR WORK, OUR PHYSICAL SPACES, OUR STORYTELLING, AND OUR LEARNING EXPERIENCES. WE BELIEVE CURIOSITY INSPIRES CHILDREN TO EXPLORE, BUILD EMPATHY, AND CONNECT WITH OTHERS. LEARNING FUELED BY CURIOSITY LEADS TO A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SELF AND THE WORLD AROUND US. VISITOR ENGAGEMENT - OVER 200,000 VISITORS COME TO THE MUSEUM ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. THE VISITOR ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT PROVIDES FOR A SAFE AND CLEAN BUILDING IN WHICH TO PRESENT EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS. EVERYONE BELONGS AT THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM & THEATRE OF MAINE. WE BELIEVE EACH PERSON HAS VALUE AND WORTH; WE CELEBRATE WHAT MAKES EACH OF US UNIQUE AND WHAT BINDS US TOGETHER AS A STRONG COMMUNITY. WE CENTER COMMUNITY IN ALL WE DO. WE STRIVE TO BE AN INCLUSIVE PARTNER AND RESOURCE IN ORDER TO BUILD STRONG, LASTING RELATIONSHIPS. WE PROVIDE SAFE, INCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES AND SPACES TO ENSURE THAT THE COMMUNITY'S TRUST IS EARNED AND UPHELD IN ALL THAT WE DO. WE EMBRACE THE POWER OF PLAY TO BUILD RESILIENCE, SPARK CREATIVITY, AND IGNITE A CHILD'S IMAGINATION. PLAY INSPIRES OUR WORK, OUR PHYSICAL SPACES, OUR STORYTELLING, AND OUR LEARNING EXPERIENCES. WE BELIEVE CURIOSITY INSPIRES CHILDREN TO EXPLORE, BUILD EMPATHY, AND CONNECT WITH OTHERS. LEARNING FUELED BY CURIOSITY LEADS TO A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SELF AND THE WORLD AROUND US. VISITOR ENGAGEMENT - OVER 200,000 VISITORS COME TO THE MUSEUM ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. THE VISITOR ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT PROVIDES FOR A SAFE AND CLEAN BUILDING IN WHICH TO PRESENT EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS.
  2. $602,424 spent. THEATRE - THEATRE PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES TO EXPERIENCE PERFORMANCES DESIGNED FOR FAMILY AUDIENCES. THEATRE PROGRAMS ALSO ALLOW YOUNG ACTORS TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ENSEMBLE AND DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS.
  3. $799,900 spent. EDUCATIONAL - THE MUSEUM PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGH ON SITE PROGRAMS AND OUTREACH TO SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THE PROGRAMS ARE DIRECTLY TIED TO THE EXHIBITS' LEARNING AREAS AND INCLUDE SCIENCE, ARTS, THEATRE AND LIVE ANIMALS.
  4. $303,770 spent. EXHIBITS - EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS ALLOW CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN THROUGH DISCOVERY. ALL EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS FOCUS ON OUR FOUR PRIMARY LEARNING AREAS: STEM, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, ARTS AND CULTURE EDUCATION, AND THEATRE. AQUARIUM EXHIBITS FEATURE LIVE ANIMALS FROM MAINE ECOSYSTEMS FOR ACCESSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.
  5. EXHIBITS - EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS ALLOW CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN THROUGH DISCOVERY. ALL EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS FOCUS ON OUR FOUR PRIMARY LEARNING AREAS: STEM, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, ARTS AND CULTURE EDUCATION, AND THEATRE. AQUARIUM EXHIBITS FEATURE LIVE ANIMALS FROM MAINE ECOSYSTEMS FOR ACCESSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1977.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

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