Great River Childrens Museum
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
GREAT RIVER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM (GRCM) SHINES A BRIGHT LIGHT ON THE POWER OF PLAY TO SPARK CHILDREN'S LEARNING, STRENGTHEN FAMILIES, AND BUILD COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS. ITS DYNAMIC, INTERACTIVE ENVIRONMENTS AND EXPERIENCES ARE A GATEWAY TO THE WORLD AND ITS PEOPLE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF ALL BACKGROUNDS.
- Income
- $6.0 million
- Spending
- $2.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- -2.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 75%
- Employees
- 53
- Volunteers
- 125
- Highest pay
- $129,054, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 64% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 55% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 2516 of 17 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 December 31, 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)
- $1.5 million spent. IN JUNE OF 2025, GREAT RIVER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM (GRCM) OPENED ITS DOORS TO A MUSEUM FILLED WITH 8 INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT AREAS COVERING 31,000 SQUARE FEET OF EXHIBIT SPACE. GRCM WELCOMED OVER 52,000 VISITORS FROM ACROSS 41 STATES WITH THE FOCUS OF BRINGING KIDS AND FAMILIES TOGETHER TO PLAY, SPARK LEARNING, BUILDING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, AND STRENGTHEN FAMILY BONDS. GREAT RIVER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IS IN ITS FIRST YEAR OF OPERATIONS AND HAS TAKEN AN INTENTIONAL APPROACH TO PROVIDING PATHWAYS TO ACCESS TO THE MUSEUM FOR FAMILIES AND ALL OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA'S PRE-K, ELEMENTARY, HOMESCHOOL, PRIVATE SCHOOL, AND CHILDCARE GROUPS. DONATIONS TO GREAT RIVER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM PROVIDE A PATH TO PLAY THROUGH VARIOUS CHANNELS INCLUDING: DISCOUNTED ADMISSION, DISCOUNTED FIELD TRIPS, DISCOUNTED MEMBERSHIP, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEEDED PROGRAMS. GRCM BEGAN HOSTING PROGRAMS AND EVENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND PILOTED 9 FIELD TRIPS IN 2025. THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 61 FIELD TRIPS BOOKED, OVER 4,000 STUDENTS, FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR.GREAT RIVER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OFFERS A $5 TICKET TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE RECEIVING WIC OR SNAP BENEFITS AND WELCOMED NEARLY 7,000 PEOPLE IN AT THE $5 TICKET PRICE IN 2025. THIS DISCOUNTED ACCESS INITIATIVE IS FUNDED BY DONOR DOLLARS. INFANTS WHO ARE 12 MONTHS AND UNDER ARE GRANTED FREE ACCESS TO THE MUSEUM. AS A SPACE DESIGNED FOR AGES BIRTH TO 10 YRS OLD, GREAT RIVER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM UNDERSTANDS THAT THE PLAY-FILLED LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND EXHIBITS THAT ARE OFFERED WILL BENEFIT THE YOUNGEST LEARNERS THE MOST.INDIVIDUAL DONOR SUPPORT AND GRANT SUPPORT FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE XCEL FOUNDATION ALSO AFFORDED GRCM THE ABILITY TO BEGIN OFFERING DISCOUNTED ACCESS TO FIELD TRIP GROUPS. A TIERED ADMISSION DISCOUNT IS OFFERED BASED ON THE NEED OF THE SCHOOL / GROUP AS DETERMINED (WHEN APPLICABLE) BY FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE LUNCH ELIGIBILITY PERCENTAGES. PROGRAMMING WAS PILOTED IN THE TEACHING KITCHEN AND ON THE MUSEUM FLOOR, INCLUDING PAJAMA PLAY & STORYTIME; UNITY SNACK MAKING; AND SOMETIMES VERSUS ALL THE TIME FOODS. ADDITIONALLY, A ROTATING SLATE OF ACTIVITIES HIGHLIGHTING ART, SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, MATH, AND TECHNOLOGY ARE OFFERED IN THE TINKER WORKSHOP, AN EXHIBIT ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. A MINNESOTA ARTS & CULTURAL HERITAGE FUND LEGACY GRANT AFFORDED GREAT RIVER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE LOCAL ARTISTS TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH COMMISSIONED PERMANENT MURALS, A SCULPTURE, AND A MOSAIC. THESE PUBLIC ART WORKS SHOWCASE THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF OUR REGION. AN EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTING THE HISTORY OF THE LAND AND BUILDINGS, ON AND IN WHICH GREAT RIVER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM CURRENTLY RESIDES, WAS ALSO FUNDED IN PART BY LEGACY DOLLARS.A STATE AWARDED CASH GRANT, TOTALING $7MM FROM THE GENERAL RESERVE FUND AND AWARDED TO GREAT RIVER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, WAS FULLY SPENT DOWN TO COMPLETE THE BUILDING. FUNDING FROM PLEDGE SUPPORTERS WAS ALSO PUT TOWARD CONSTRUCTION AND EXHIBITS EXPENDITURES. PUBLIC FUNDRAISING WILL CONTINUE IN PERPETUITY FOR PROGRAMMING AND ACCESS INITIATIVES. GRCM CONTINUES TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER GREATER MINNESOTA CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS TO ADVOCATE FOR FAMILIES, CHILDREN, AND PLAY AS A POWERFUL RESOURCE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND BONDING.IN 2025 THE STAFF GREW FROM 4 TEAM MEMBERS TO 35: 8 FULL TIME AND 27 PART TIME. THAT TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AS THE MUSEUM EVOLVES TO PROVIDE MORE PROGRAMS, MORE OUTREACH, AND OTHER EXPANDED OFFERINGS THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 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 March 2013.
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.