Childrens Museum Guild Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Children's Museum Guild, Inc. is an independent volunteer organization committed to help promote and support The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Inc. through fund-raising projects and volunteer assistance.
- Income
- $849,386
- Spending
- $832,557
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 3.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 100
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 82 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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.
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, 2024, 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)
- $832,557 spent. THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM GUILD, INC. (THE GUILD) WAS FOUNDED TO SUPPORT THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF INDIANAPOLIS (THE MUSEUM). THE GUILD IS INVOLVED IN SEVERAL PROJECTS TO HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF INDIANAPOLIS. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION HAS MANY INITIATIVES THAT PROMOTE THE MUSEUM AND FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE MUSEUM BY CONNECTING CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY WITH PARTS OF THE MUSEUM. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) THE ACTIVITIES BELOW ARE CONDUCTED SOLELY BY VOLUNTEERS. (1) HAUNTED HOUSE: ACTIVE GUILD MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO SERVE ON ONE OF SEVERAL HAUNTED HOUSE COMMITTEES, WHICH ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY ASPECT OF THE HAUNTED HOUSE, FROM CREATING THE THEME, TO SEWING COSTUMES AND COORDINATING PUBLICITY. THROUGH THE HAUNTED HOUSE, THE GUILD HAS RAISED OVER $17.4 MILLION FOR THE MUSEUM SINCE IT STARTED. OVER 50,000 VISITORS DARE TO CROSS THE HAUNTED HOUSE THRESHOLD ANNUALLY. (2) COMMUNITY OUTREACH: CHAIR(S) AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS SHALL BE SELECTED FROM THE ACTIVE OR EXTENDED ACTIVE MEMBERS TO STAFF HOSPITAL AND/OR COMMUNITY CENTER VISITATION PROGRAMS. (3) SCHOLARSHIP COORDINATOR: CHAIR(S) ARE SELECTED FROM ACTIVE OR EXTENDED ACTIVE MEMBERS TO COORDINATE THE SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE PETER STERLING REACH FOR THE STARS SCHOLARSHIP AND THE MILLIE COMPTON SCHOLARSHIP. THE GUILD COORDINATES AND FUNDS THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS FOR MUSEUM YOUTH VOLUNTEERS. INTERESTED YOUTH APPLY AND ARE INTERVIEWED BY A PANEL OF JUDGES. (4) EXHIBIT ASSISTANTS: EACH YEAR THE GUILD VICE PRESIDENT WILL WORK WITH THE MUSEUM TO DETERMINE THE FUTURE EXHIBITS/GALLERIES IN WHICH THE MUSEUM WILL NEED GUILD ASSISTANTS. COMMITTEE OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE AVAILABLE EACH YEAR DEPENDING UPON THE NEEDS OF THE MUSEUM AND THE PARTICULAR EXHIBIT/GALLERY. (5) STRATEGIC PLANNING: A CHAIR IS SELECTED FROM THE ACTIVE OR EXTENDED ACTIVE MEMBERS TO EVALUATE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE GUILD, REVIEW BYLAWS AND STANDING RULES, AND STUDY POTENTIAL FUND-RAISING PROJECTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.
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 1978.
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.