Staten Island Childrens Museum
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MUSEUM IS COMMITTED TO ACHIEVING THESE GOALS THROUGH PROGRAMMING THAT EMPHASIZES DIRECT AND AUTHENTIC HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES CONDUCTED IN A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT. FURTHERMORE, THE MUSEUM ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION BY VISITORS OF ALL ABILITIES AND ENDEAVORS TO REACH BEYOND ITS WALLS TO SERVE AS AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE FOR THE MEMBERS OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS.THE MUSEUM EXPERIENCED REDUCED EARNED REVENUE DUE TO PARTIAL FACILITY CLOSURE RELATED TO CITY-FUNDED HVAC UPGRADES SEPT 2024-JAN 2025.THE MUSEUM'S REVENUE MODEL IS PRIMARILY GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS AND INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS, AND IT DOES NOT OPERATE LARGE-SCALE FUNDRAISING EVENTS OR A DEDICATED DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES REFLECT LIMITED CONTRACTED GRANT WRITING SERVICES AND A PORTION OF STAFF TIME DEVOTED TO INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS AND ANNUAL APPEALS.
- Income
- $2.1 million
- Spending
- $2.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 26.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 50%
- Employees
- 42
- Volunteers
- 13
- Highest pay
- $212,575, 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
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 26.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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)
- $1.7 million spent. EXHIBITS AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS:THE MUSEUM'S PERMANENT EXHIBITS ENGAGE CHILDREN IN EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING EXPERIENCES THROUGH INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE PLAY. PUBLIC PROGRAMS ENHANCE THE EXHIBITS WITH HANDS ON WORKSHOPS, PROGRAMS AND PERFORMANCES FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES RELATED TO ART, SCIENCE, CULTURE, MUSIC, AND THE HUMANITIES.SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND INTERNSHIPS:THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT DEVELOPS AND IMPLEMENTS PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE THE NYC PUBLIC SCHOOL CORE CURRICULUM STANDARDS. PROGRAMS ARE IN-DEPTH EXPERIENCES AT THE MUSEUM, IN THE SCHOOL AND AFTER-SCHOOL.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE "O")PARTNERING WITH THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS, THE MUSEUM OFFERS AN IMMERSIVE 20 WEEK INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR STATEN ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PROVIDING PUBLIC SPEAKING, COLLEGE PREPARATION AND WORK READINESS SKILLS.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 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 September 7, 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 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.