Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Explore & More a Childrens Museum

EIN 16-1441078 · Buffalo, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EXPLORE & MORE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM PROVIDES AN ENVIRONMENT FOR CREATIVE PLAY AND LEARNING THROUGH HANDS-ON EXHIBITS, ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS THAT INSPIRE CREATIVITY, CURIOSITY AND IMAGINATION

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
-1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 58%
Employees
55
Volunteers
132
Highest pay
$217,066, ceo

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: 35 out of 100. Higher than 7% 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 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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 25

    23 of 23 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 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 (3)
  1. $2.4 million spent. CHILDREN'S MUSEUM - THE MUSEUM OFFERS ACCESSIBLE, CHILD-LED EXPERIENCES THROUGH ITA OPERATIONS. DESIGNED BY EXPERTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, THE MUSEUM FACILITATES PLAY-BASED LEARNING THAT DEVELOPS CHILDREN SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY, COGNITIVELY, AND PHYSICALLY. MOREOVER, THE MUSEUM SERVES AS A COMMUNAL GATHERING SPACE THAT ENCOURAGES COLLABORATION, COOPERATION, AND MULTI-GENERATIONAL CONVERSATION, WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND.
  2. $82,650 spent. OCFS LICENSED SACC PROGRAM - AS A LICENSED OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES SCHOOL-AGE CHILD CARE PROGRAM, THE MUSEUM OFFERS SCHOOL-AGE CHILD CARE SERVICES FOR FAMILIES ON SELECT SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AND SCHOOL BREAK WEEKS, INCLUDING SUMMER BREAK.
  3. $134,000 spent. NON-OCFS PROGRAMS - THE MUSEUM OFFERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND PRESCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN ON-SITE AND OFFERS COMMUNITY-BASED OUTREACH PROGRAMMING THAT INCORPORATES HANDS-ON, PLAY-BASED LESSONS THAT SUPPORT NEW YORK STATE CURRICULUM STANDARDS

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

  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 December 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 April 1994.

    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.

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.