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North Carolina Childrens Museum

EIN 20-2058235 · Chapel Hill, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak29 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE OTHE NORTH CAROLINA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM PROVIDES HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AGED 0-12 YEARS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE EXHIBITS, STORYTIMES, MUSIC PROGRAMS, ART CLASSES, CHILD DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION FOR CAREGIVERS, FIELD TRIPS, AND OUTREACH TO FAMILIES IN NEED.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
56%
Reserves
-30.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
52
Volunteers
34
Highest pay
$257,214, executive 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

Weak: 29 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 78% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 97% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    56% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
  1. $928,931 spent. THE NORTH CAROLINA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM INSPIRES CHILDREN AND THE ADULTS IN THEIR LIVES TO LEARN THROUGH CREATIVE AND PUPOSEFUL PLAY, WITH A FOCUS ON STEM, THE ARTS, CHILD HEALTH AND EMERGING LITERACY. KIDZU CONTINUES TO PROVIDE INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, PARTICIPATORY PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO UNDERSERVED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AS WELL AS VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE MUSEUM BEGAN OPERATING A STEM MOBILE MUSEUM TO DELIVER HANDS-ON EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMMING DIRECTLY TO SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA. FULLY EQUIPPED WITH 9 EXHIBITS FOR ON-SITE STEM LEARNING, THIS MOBILE EXPERIENCE SPARKS CURIOSITY AND EXPANDS ACCESS TO MUSEUM-QUALITY LEARNING STATEWIDE. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE MOBILE MUSEUM CONTAINS 9 EXHIBITS THAT FOCUS ON STEM THROUGH A LENS ON SPACE SCIENCE. THE NINE INTERRELATED LEARNING STATIONS ARE: POWER STATION; DIGITAL DESIGN; AERODYNAMIC TEST CHAMBER; R.O.V. COMMAND; QUAKE; COMMUNICATION STATION; ENERGY BEAM; ROBOT; AND ENERGIZE.

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 February 2005.

    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.