Childrens Museum of Pittsburgh
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MUSEUM'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE INNOVATIVE AND INCLUSIVE MUSEUM EXPERIENCES THAT INSPIRE KINDNESS, JOY, CREATIVITY AND CURIOSITY FOR ALL LEARNERS.
- Income
- $15.3 million
- Spending
- $12.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- -1.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 44%
- Employees
- 156
- Volunteers
- 38
- Highest pay
- $348,314, 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
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 31% 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
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 2534 of 34 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 (3)
- $5.2 million spent. THE MUSEUM PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL EXHIBITS THAT EXEMPLIFY DESIGN EXCELLENCE, INNOVATION AND REFLECT THE MISSION TO INSPIRE KINDESS, JOY, CREATIVITY AND CURIOSITY. EXHIBITS ARE BOTH HANDS-ON AND ARTIFACT-DRIVEN FOCUSED PRIMARILY IN THE FIELDS OF ART AND SCIENCE.INTERACTIVE MUSEUM EXPERIENCES ARE AT THE CORE OF THE MUSEUM'S MISSION. SEE CONTINUATION ON SCHEDULE O.EACH OF THE MUSEUM'S PERMANENT EXHIBITS ARE GROUNDED IN ITS LONGSTANDING PLAY WITH REAL STUFF PHILOSOPHY, WHICH ASSERTS THAT CHILDREN NEED A SOLID FOUNDATION OF DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE LEARNING ACTIVITIES THAT ARE CONCRETE, REAL AND RELEVANT TO THEIR LIVES. THE MUSEUM IS A PLACE FOR ALL LEARNERS TO EXPERIENCE NEVER BEFORE SEEN, ONE-OF-A-KIND MUSEUM EXPERIENCES.FOR OVER 40 YEARS, THE MUSEUM HAS BEEN AN INSTITUTION THAT SPECIALIZED IN PROVIDING MEANINGFUL, ENGAGING EXPERIENCES FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN AND YOUNGER AND THEIR FAMILIES. ITS 13 CORE EXHIBITS, ARTIST EXPERIENCES AND ART COLLECTION CONTINUE TO DELIGHT AND INSPIRE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. IN APRIL 2019, THE MUSEUM ADDED MUSEUMLAB TO ITS CAMPUS TO DELIVER EXCEPTIONAL MUSEUM PROGRAMMING FOR THE REGION BY CREATING MUSEUM EXPERIENCES SPECIFICALLY FOR OLDER KIDS. MUSEUMLAB BUILDS ON THE MUSEUM'S FOUR DECADES OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS IN ITS NORTH SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD, HELPING TO PREPARE THE WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE AND CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO CONDUCT ROBUST LEARNING RESEARCH. AS A COMPLEMENT TO ITS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WORK, THE MUSEUM HAS EMERGED AS A NATIONAL LEADER IN LEARNING, DESIGN AND RESEARCH WITH RECOGNITION FROM THE MUSEUM AND LIBRARY FIELD AND LOCAL AND NATIONAL EDUCATION LEADERS. THE MUSEUM LEADS THE FIELD AROUND THE MAKER MOVEMENT AND HAS HELPED TO OPEN HUNDREDS OF MAKERSPACES AROUND THE REGION AND THE UNITED STATES. AT THE SAME TIME, THE MUSEUM HAS BECOME WELL-KNOWN AS A LEADING CREATOR OF TRAVELING EXHIBITS FOR RENTAL AND IS SOUGHT AFTER FOR DESIGN AND CONSULTING SERVICES NATIONALLY. THE MUSEUM'S REPUTATION AS A LEADING PROVIDER OF HIGH-QUALITY, RESEARCH-BASED EXPERIENCES FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH. THE COMBINATION OF CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AND MUSEUMLAB PROGRAMS HAS CREATED AN EXTENSIVE SELECTION OF MUSEUM AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES AND THEIR FAMILIES. IN ADDITION TO ITS 13 PERMANENT EXHIBITS AND ART COLLECTION, THE MUSEUM COMMISSIONS NEW INTERACTIVE ART, PARTNERS WITH HUNDREDS OF LOCAL WORKING ARTISTS AND ENGAGES IN ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAMMING FOR ALL FAMILIES. THE MUSEUM ALSO CREATES AND PRESENTS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT CONNECT WITH AND ENGAGE ALL TYPES OF LEARNERS IN 21ST CENTURY SKILLS. TEACHER EDUCATION, YOUTH PROGRAMS AND CLASSES ON THE MUSEUM'S FLOOR PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING AND PLAY. VISITING A CHILDREN'S MUSEUM FOCUSED ON REAL STUFF, CHILDREN AND ADULTS ALIKE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO TRY NEW THINGS, EXPLORE CREATIVE OUTLETS AND TAKE A FRESH, NEW LOOK AT THE WORLD AROUND THEM. CHILDREN ARE ENCOURAGED TO FIND THEIR OWN ANSWERS THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPLORATION. OUTREACH PROGRAMS PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC OUTSIDE THE MUSEUM, PRIMARILY IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES.
- $2.7 million spent. THE MUSEUM CREATES AND PRESENTS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT CONNECT WITH AND ENGAGE ALL TYPES OF LEARNERS. OUTREACH PROGRAMS PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC OUTSIDE THE MUSEUM, PRIMARILY IN SCHOOLS. OTHER VENUES INCLUDE COMMUNITY FESTIVALS, WIC OFFICES, HEALTH CARE SETTINGS, MALLS AND HEALTH FAIRS. TEACHER EDUCATION, YOUTH PROGRAMS AND CLASSES ON THE MUSEUM'S FLOOR PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING AND PLAY.
- $388,629 spent. THE MUSEUM ENTERED INTO A FISCAL SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT WITH REMAKE LEARNING TO SPONSOR REMAKE LEARNING DAYS, THE MISSION OF WHICH IS TO IGNITE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERGENERATIONAL LEARNING AND WHY PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS SHOULD LEARN ALONGSIDE THEIR CHILDREN.
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 June 1982.
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.
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