Childrens Museum of Southern Minnesota
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
IGNITE THE NATURAL CURIOUSITY OF EVERY CHILD THROUGH THE POWER OF PLAY IN A DYNAMIC, AWE-INSPIRING ENVIRONMENT.
- Income
- $2.5 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- -0.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 74%
- Employees
- 37
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $146,567, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 39% 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
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 45% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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, 2024, 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)
- $1.3 million spent. THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA (CMSM) SEEKS TO IGNITE THE NATURAL CURIOSITY OF EVERY CHILD THROUGH THE POWER OF PLAY IN A DYNAMIC, AWE-INSPIRING ENVIRONMENT. CMSM STRIVES TO BE A CATALYST FOR BUILDING A STRONGER, MORE VIBRANT COMMUNITY AROUND PLAY SO THAT ALL CHILDREN IN OUR REGION SHARE IN A BRIGHT FUTURE OF OPPORTUNITY AND WELL-BEING. CMSM FEATURES PLACE-BASED EXHIBITS AND DYNAMIC HANDS-ON PROGRAMMING - ALL DESIGNED TO STIMULATE INQUIRY, SPARK CURIOSITY, AND REVEAL THE WONDER OF STEAM, AGRICULTURE, AND THE ARTS, WHILE ALSO CALLING ATTENTION TO THE CULTURE AND HERITAGE OF OUR REGION.CMSM IS TRULY UNIQUE TO OUR SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGION, AND IT HAS INSPIRED THE JOY OF LEARNING THROUGH THE POWER OF PLAY FOR THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS. CMSM WELCOMES NEARLY 100,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY, ENGAGING CHILDREN OF ALL AGES IN ITS INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, FACILITATED PROGRAMMING, AND SPECIAL EVENTS.IN 2024, CMSM PROVIDED 923 GATEWAY TO PLAY FAMILY MEMBERSHIPS THAT WERE PROVIDED TO FAMILIES EXPERIENCING BARRIERS TO ACCESS AND WHO MET THE PROGRAM'S ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES, THIS WAS 31% OF ALL MEMBERSHIPS AT CMSM . THE "MUSEUMS FOR ALL" PROGRAM ALSO SUPPORTED DISCOUNTED ADMISSION FOR 1438 INDIVIDUALS WHO MET INCOME ELIGIBILITY TOTALLY $14,380.00 IN DISCOUNTS. CMSM ALSO SERVES AS A POPULAR FIELD TRIP DESTINATION FOR AREA SCHOOL/EARLY LEARNING GROUPS, AND IN 2024 WELCOMED OVER 5241 STUDENTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 June 2006.
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.