Childrens Complex Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 8% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
AT EXPLORE! WE SPARK THE CURIOSITY AND CREATIVITY OF CHILDREN AND INSPIRE WONDER ABOUT THE WORLD. A 501 C 3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, EXPLORE! IS DEDCICATED TO SERVING CHILDREN BIRTH THROUGH AGE 12 AND THEIR FAMILIES IN DC, VA AND MD. EXPLORE! DOES THIS WITH THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES:EXPLORE! WITH PORTRAIT GALLERY IS A FAMILY FRIENDLY, SPANISH-ENGLISH EXHIBITION THAT EXPLORES PORTRAITURE AND IDENTITY THROUGH HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES AND INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES. IT WAS CREATED IN COLLABORATION WITH CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF PITTSBURGH AND THE SMITHSONIAN'S NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY IN WASHINGTON DC.PLANNING FOR THIS PROJECT BEGAN IN SUMMER 2015. IT IS EXPECTED THAT APPROXIMATELY 500,000 INDIVIDUALS WILL VISIT THE EXHIBITION - LOCATED ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY - WHEN IT OPENS TO THE PUBLIC IN JANUARY 2016.MISSION MOBILE STUDENTS IN GRADE 4-6 GO ON SIMULATED MISSIONS TOGETHER IN OUR RETROFITTED SCHOOL BUS.
- Income
- $87,532
- Spending
- $121,095
- Spent on programs
- 8%
- Reserves
- 20.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 99%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 20.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 38% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 57% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 158% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2026, 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)
- $9,408 spent. THE NEXT BIG STEP FOR CREATING A DC CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, EXPLORE! WITH THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY BRINGS A DEDICATED CHILDREN'S EXHIBIT TO DOWNTOWN. CREATED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF PITTSBURGH. IN EXPLORE! WITH THE PORTRAIT GALLERY, KIDS CAN EXPERIMENT WITH PORTRAITURE IN AN AGE-APPROPRIATE WAY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS SUCH AS "WHAT IS A PORTRAIT?" "HOW DO I SEE MYSELF? AND "HOW DO OTHERS SEE ME?". YOUNG VISITORS WILL BE ABLE TO TRACE EACH OTHER'S SILHOUETTES, STRIKE A POSE FOR A PROJECTED VIDEO ART PIECE, AND EXPERIMENT WITH EXPRESSION AND EMOTION BY BUILDING FACES OUT OF ILLUSTRATED BLOCKS.EXPLORE! WITH THE PORTRAIT GALLERY IS INTENDED FOR CHILDREN AGES 18 MONTHS TO 8 YEARS OLD ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT. THE EXHIBITION WILL BE LOCATED ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE MUSEUM. ACTIVITY TEXT WILL BE PRESENTED IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2026, 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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on October 15, 2012 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on October 15, 2012.
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 May 2026.
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 October 2014.
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.