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The Childrens Museum

EIN 04-2103993 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O - FORM 990 PART I LINE 1

Income
$22.1 million
Spending
$12.5 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
11.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
124
Volunteers
103
Highest pay
$304,841, president/ceo

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 43% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 86% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    30 of 30 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 (4)
  1. $3.7 million spent. VISITOR EXPERIENCETHE GOAL OF VISITOR EXPERIENCE IS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY EXPERIENCES FOR OUR LARGE AUDIENCE OF DIVERSE VISITORS, WHETHER THEY COME IN AS SCHOOL OR COMMUNITY GROUPS, OR FAMILIES. WE SEEK TO ADDRESS THE LEARNING NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF CHILDREN BIRTH TO TEN YEARS OLD, AS WELL AS THEIR ACCOMPANYING ADULTS WHO COMPRISE 50% OF THE AUDIENCE. TO DO THIS, WE DEVELOP STAFF TALENT IN DELIVERING EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE, PUBLIC PROGRAMS, AND ENGAGING INTERACTION WITH VISITORS TO HELP THEM MAXIMIZE THE LEARNING IMPACT AND DELIGHT IN DISCOVERY. VISITOR EXPERIENCE WORKS TO CREATE AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT WELCOMES ALL.
  2. $3.5 million spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMSTHE GOAL OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS IS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES THAT ENHANCE THE MUSEUM'S EXHIBITS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN THE AREAS OF STEM AND STEAM, VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, CULTURES, EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE SELF-GUIDED AND STRUCTURED SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY AGENCIES, DESIGNATED PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, SCIENCE DISCOVERY PROGRAMS, ART STUDIO WORKSHOPS, PERFORMING ARTS DEMONSTRATIONS AND WORKSHOPS, AND LIVE THEATER EXPRESSLY GEARED TO YOUNG VISITORS.
  3. $2.0 million spent. EXHIBITIONSTHE GOAL OF EXHIBITIONS IS TO DEVELOP, DESIGN AND PRODUCE INNOVATIVELY AWESOME EXPERIENCES THAT ENGAGE CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES THAT INSPIRE CREATIVITY, CURIOSITY, EXPERIMENTATION, PROBLEM SOLVING, AND COLLABORATION. EXHIBITS ARE POWERFUL TOOLS FOR PLAY AND LEARNING, AND FOR OPENING THE IMAGINATION TO NEW WORLDS AND IDEAS. WITH A GREAT DEPTH AND BREADTH OF STAFF EXPERTISE IN THE ARTS, STEM/STEAM, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, CULTURES AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, THE MUSEUM CREATES EXHIBITS THAT MAY APPEAR DECEPTIVELY SIMPLE BUT ARE FOUNDED IN THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF HOW CHILDREN AND FAMILIES LEARN BEST.
  4. $330,186 spent. MEMBERSHIPS

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1934.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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