Childrens Museum Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM GROUP'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE LIFELONG LEARNING AMONG CHILDREN AND THEIR CAREGIVERS BY PROVIDING EXPERIENTIALL EARNING OPPORTUNITIES COVERING STEAM, HEALTH, NATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT. WITH A FOCUS ON AT NEED COMMUNITIES THE MUSEUM GROUP STRIVES TO FIND PATHWAYS TO PERSONAL, ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND TO FOSTER AN APPRECIATION OF THE NATURAL WORLD WITH A GOAL OF DEVELOPING CURIOUS, CONFIDENT AND INNOVATIVE CHILDREN, CREATING THE BASIS FOR SUCCESSFUL ADULTS. THE MUSEUM GROUP HAS THREE DISTINCT BUT COMPLEMENTARY LINES OF REVENUE-GENERATING CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE. THE MUSEUM OFFERS INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, LIVE ANIMALS AND AN EXTENSIVE SELECTION OF STEAM EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT ARE OFFERED WITHIN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT CONNECTICUT AND NEIGHBORING STATES. THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM PRESCHOOL, CO-LOCATED WITHIN THE MUSEUM LOCATION, IS A NAEYC ACCREDITED, FULL DAY, YEAR-ROUND LICENSED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FACILITY FOR AGES 3-5YRS.
- Income
- $2.6 million
- Spending
- $2.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- -3.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 53%
- Employees
- 58
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $138,043, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 59% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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)
- $1.3 million spent. EDUCATIONAL & ADMISSIONS: THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM WEST HARTFORD LOCATION, TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED SPACE AT 180 MOHEGAN DRIVE IN WEST HARTFORD, ENCOURAGED FAMILIES TO DISCOVER AND EXPLORE OUR MULTISENSORY EXHIBITS AND LIVE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY. THE MUSEUMS HANDS-ON IMMERSIVE STEAM EXHIBITS PROMOTED EXPLORATION AND INQUIRY BASED LEARNING EPISODES FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING CHILD DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN AGES TWO TO AGE 8 WITH THE SUPPORT OF THEIR CAREGIVERS. HANDSON EXHIBITS FOCUSED ON SCIENCE DISCOVERY CONCEPTS, PALEONTOLOGY, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL GROWTH, ENGINEERING AND NATURE.
- $753,641 spent. THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM PRESCHOOL PROVIDES A PLAYBASED PROGRAM THAT ENCOURAGES LEARNING THROUGH EACH CHILD'S NATURAL ACTIVITIES. IT IS LICENSED BY CT OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (OEC) AND ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN (NAEYC). RECOGNIZING THAT CHILDREN HAVE DIFFERENT STRENGTHS AND AREAS FOR GROWTH, CLASSES USE PROVEN TECHNIQUES TAILORED TO INDIVIDUAL NEEDS WHILE MAINTAINING AN AFFIRMING AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT. THE PRESCHOOL OFFERS A UNIQUE INTEGRATION OF CURRICULUM WITH RESOURCES FROM THE ONSITE MUSEUM AND REMOTE NATURE CENTER. SUPPORTING CREATIVE PLAY, ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ARE GOALS OF THE PRESCHOOL'S CREDENTIALED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS.
- $314,719 spent. THE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY HOUSES OVER 100 ANIMALS, PRIMARILY UNWANTED PETS AND DISPLACED ANIMALS THAT CANNOT BE RELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD. THE ANIMAL RESOURCES ARE VIEWED BY MUSEUM ATTENDEES ONSITE AND USED EXTENSIVELY TO SUPPORT THE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS THE MUSEUM OFFERS WITHIN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT CONNECTICUT AND INTO NEIGHBORING STATES. ADDITIONAL STEM TOPICS COVERING PHYSICS, ENGINEERING, CHEMISTRY, GEOLOGY, PALEONTOLOGY, BIOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT ARE OFFERED THROUGH THE MUSEUM'S OUTREACH EDUCATION OFFERINGS, BY A TEAM OF INFORMAL EDUCATORS WITH SCIENCE AND EDUCATION EXPERIENCES.
- $10,348 spent. ROARING BROOK NATURE CENTER PROVIDES NATURAL HISTORY/ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO CONNECTICUT COMMUNITIES. PROGRAMS INCLUDE OUTREACH AND SCHOOL VISITATIONS, AS WELL AS SCOUT, SUMMER, PRESCHOOL AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS. SERVING AS A RESOURCE TO AREA RESIDENTS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, THE CENTER ANSWERS THOUSANDS OF NATURE RELATED QUESTIONS ANNUALLY. THE CENTER RECEIVES OVER 300 INJURED OR ORPHANED NATIVE ANIMALS EACH YEAR FOR REHABILITATION. THE GOAL IS TO RELEASE ANIMALS BACK INTO THE WILD, HOWEVER, PERMANENTLY INJURED WILDLIFE MAY BE HOUSED AT THE CENTER AND THE COLLECTION INCLUDES A VARIETY OF RAPTORS, SMALL MAMMALS, REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS. ANIMALS ARE USED TO PROMOTE KNOWLEDGE OF BEHAVIORS, ADAPTATIONS WITHIN CONNECTICUT FAUNA. THE CENTER MAINTAINS WILDFLOWER TRAILS, A NATIVE PLANT BUTTERFLY GARDEN AND SERVES AS STEWARD FOR FIVE MILES OF TRAILS ON THE ADJACENT 158 ACRE STATE OWNED WERNER'S WOODS PROPERTY.
- ROARING BROOK NATURE CENTER PROVIDES NATURAL HISTORY/ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO CONNECTICUT COMMUNITIES. PROGRAMS INCLUDE OUTREACH AND SCHOOL VISITATIONS, AS WELL AS SCOUT, SUMMER, PRESCHOOL AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS. SERVING AS A RESOURCE TO AREA RESIDENTS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, THE CENTER ANSWERS THOUSANDS OF NATURE RELATED QUESTIONS ANNUALLY. THE CENTER RECEIVES OVER 300 INJURED OR ORPHANED NATIVE ANIMALS EACH YEAR FOR REHABILITATION. THE GOAL IS TO RELEASE ANIMALS BACK INTO THE WILD, HOWEVER, PERMANENTLY INJURED WILDLIFE MAY BE HOUSED AT THE CENTER AND THE COLLECTION INCLUDES A VARIETY OF RAPTORS, SMALL MAMMALS, REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS. ANIMALS ARE USED TO PROMOTE KNOWLEDGE OF BEHAVIORS, ADAPTATIONS WITHIN CONNECTICUT FAUNA. THE CENTER MAINTAINS WILDFLOWER TRAILS, A NATIVE PLANT BUTTERFLY GARDEN AND SERVES AS STEWARD FOR FIVE MILES OF TRAILS ON THE ADJACENT 158 ACRE STATE OWNED WERNER'S WOODS PROPERTY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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 November 6, 2026.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1989.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.