Childrens Museum of Manhattan
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO BE THE STEWARDS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD AND TO HELP ALL OUR YOUNGEST CITIZENS GROW AND DEVELOP INTO THEIR BEST SELVES.
- Income
- $40.1 million
- Spending
- $8.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 65%
- Reserves
- -70.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 89%
- Employees
- 108
- Volunteers
- 39
- Highest pay
- $418,466, ceo and director
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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 79% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 25% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1565% 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 2540 of 40 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 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 (1)
- $5.6 million spent. THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN (CMOM) WELCOMED OVER 228,000 PEOPLE IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, WITH 38,000 OF THESE VISITORS ENJOYING FREE ADMISSIONS. CMOM HOUSES FIVE PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS IN YOUNG CHILDREN AND TEACH PARENTS ABOUT THEIR ROLE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT. THESE EXHIBITIONS WERE ACTIVATED WITH CLOSE TO 500 PUBLIC PROGRAMS OFFERED ON A DROP-IN BASIS THROUGHOUT THE GALLERIES. PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON ARTS, WORLD CULTURE, STEM, AND LITERACY. PARTNERSHIPS WITH NYC PUBLIC SCHOOLS ALLOWED CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES THE CHANCE TO EXPLORE THE MUSEUM AT THEIR OWN PACE WHILE IT IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. CMOM ALSO PARTNERED WITH HOMELESS SHELTERS, INCLUDING THOSE SERVING FAMILIES SEEKING ASYLUM, TO HOLD WORKSHOPS FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN AND INVITE THEM TO THE MUSEUM FOR PRIVATE WORKSHOPS AND TIME TO EXPLORE. THE PARTNERSHIPS ALSO INCLUDED THE INSTALLATION OF MUSEUM-QUALITY MINI EXHIBITS (CALLED LEARNING HUBS) IN SHELTER COMMUNITY ROOMS ENABLING RESIDENTS TO CONTINUE LEARNING AND PLAYING EVEN WHEN UNABLE TO VISIT THE MUSEUM ITSELF. CMOM ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS FOR INCARCERATED PARENTS TO REUNITE WITH THEIR CHILDREN AT THE MUSEUM. ALL THOSE PARTICIPATING IN THE ABOVE OUTREACH AND ACCESS PROGRAMS RECEIVED FREE MEMBERSHIP TO THE MUSEUM. THE PROGRAMS HAVE A REACH OF MORE THAN 30,000 PEOPLE.
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
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 October 13, 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 June 2025.
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 July 1974.
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 October 21, 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.