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Tulsa Childrens Museum

EIN 26-0904448 · Tulsa, OK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair66 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE CHILDREN, CONNECT FAMILIES, AND BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGH EXPLORATION, EXHIBITS, PROGRAMMING, AND PLAY.

Income
$5.2 million
Spending
$6.7 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
4.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 51%
Employees
94
Volunteers
352
Highest pay
$149,139, executive director through 2/25/25

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: 66 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 22 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 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 (5)
  1. $3.2 million spent. GALLERY:DISCOVERY LAB OFFERS INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMMING INTENDED FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS INCORPORATE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, AND MATHEMATICS (STEAM) AND ARE DESIGNED TO INSPIRE CHILDREN, CONNECT FAMILIES, AND BUILD COMMUNITY FOR OUR OVER 200,000 MUSEUM VISITORS.
  2. $1.6 million spent. FIELD TRIPS WITH A MUSEUM EDUCATION CLASS:MANY SCHOOL GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS COME TO VISIT DISCOVERY LAB FOR A FUN AND EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIP THAT INCLUDES A MUSEUM EDUCATION CLASS. IN ADDITION TO THE GALLERY EXPERIENCE, MUSEUM EDUCATION CLASSES OFFER A VARIETY OF STANDARDS-ALIGNED TOPICS THAT FOCUS ON HANDS-ON, MINDS-ON LEARNING. DISCOVERY LAB WELCOMED OVER 23,000 STUDENTS FOR A MUSEUM CLASS AND GALLERY VISIT, INCLUDING THE NEARLY 17,000 STUDENTS WHO VISITED AS PART OF THE NOTABLE PARTNERSHIP WITH TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
  3. $434,487 spent. OUTREACH:DISCOVERY LAB OUTREACH CLASSES AND SERIES PROGRAMS BRING UNIQUE EXPERIENCES TO CLASSROOMS, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SCOUTING GROUPS, AND MORE. ALL CLASSES IN THE CATALOG ARE BASED ON OKLAHOMA ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO CONNECT TO ARTS AND SCIENCES IN WAYS THAT MAKE LEARNING ENGAGING, CHALLENGING, AND FUN. THE PROGRAM REACHED OVER 15,500 STUDENTS.
  4. $46,368 spent. EXHIBITS ENTERPRISE:IN ADDITION TO DESIGNING, DEVELOPING, BUILDING AND MAINTAINING EXHIBIT EXPERIENCES FOR THE DISCOVERY LAB GALLERY, THE EXHIBITS TEAM ALSO DESIGNS, DEVELOPS, AND BUILDS ORIGINAL EXHIBIT EXPERIENCES FOR RENT OR SALE TO OTHER EDUCATION-FOCUSED ORGANIZATIONS AND MUSEUMS.
  5. $210,421 spent. CAMP:DISCOVERY LAB OFFERS CAMPS TO ENGAGE AND EDUCATE CHILDREN PRE-K THROUGH SIXTH GRADE. WITH FUN, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON TOPICS LIKE CHEMISTRY, ENGINEERING, AND CODING, THERE'S SOMETHING FOR EVERY YOUNG EXPLORER. WITH WEEKLONG AND DAY CAMPS DURING SUMMER VACATION, FALL BREAK, WINTER HOLIDAYS, AND SPRING BREAK, DISCOVERY LAB HOSTED OVER 3,000 CAMPERS.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2008.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.