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Childrens Museum of Indianapolis Incorporated

EIN 35-0867985 · Indianapolis, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The organization's mission is to create extraordinary learning experiences across the arts, sciences and humanities that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. (Continued in Schedule O)

Income
$84.4 million
Spending
$48.8 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
73.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 42%
Employees
471
Volunteers
550
Highest pay
$664,086, president and ceo

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 73.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 42% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 69% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    33 of 33 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 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 (3)
  1. $28.5 million spent. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, PROGRAMS AND SCHOOL TOURS: THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM INSPIRES TEACHERS AND STUDENTS OF ALL AGES THROUGH ITS NUMEROUS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND SCHOOL TOURS. OUR SCHOOL PROGRAMS COVER THE ARTS, SCIENCES, AND HUMANITIES AND PROVIDE IMMERSIVE CURRICULAR EXPERIENCES THAT CANNOT BE REPLICATED IN THE CLASSROOM. THE MUSEUM ALSO SUPPORTS TEACHERS BY PROVIDING AN EVER-EXPANDING LIBRARY OF UNITS OF STUDY THAT MEET BOTH THE INDIANA AND THE NATIONAL ACADEMIC STANDARDS FOR GRADES K THROUGH 12.
  2. $4.3 million spent. EXHIBIT DESIGN: THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM CONCEIVES, DEVELOPS, IMPLEMENTS, AND MAINTAINS EXHIBITS THAT FOCUS ON HISTORY, ART, AND SCIENCE FOR ITS 13 GALLERIES. EACH EXHIBIT IS DESIGNED TO FOSTER FAMILY LEARNING THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES, INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMMING, AND THE USE OF AUTHENTIC OBJECTS. MANY OF THE MUSEUM'S EXHIBITS ARE BASED UPON STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH HISTORIANS AND EXPERTS WHO HELP US IN SHARING POWERFUL STORIES SUCH AS RUBY BRIDGES, ASTRONAUT DR. DAVID WOLF, AND UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGIST CHARLIE BEEKER.
  3. $1.6 million spent. COLLECTIONS - THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF INDIANAPOLIS BOASTS A COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 130,000 ARTIFACTS AND SPECIMENS. THE COLLECTION IS A STOREHOUSE OF IDEAS AND CONCEPTS; NOT ONLY ARE THESE OBJECTS PATHWAYS TO THE THINKING THAT HAVE SHAPED OUR COLLECTIVE PAST, BUT ALSO TO THE NEW CONNECTIONS AND DISCOVERIES YET UNBORN IN THE MINDS OF YOUNG VISITORS. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1925, THE MUSEUM HAS NURTURED THE GROWTH OF ITS COLLECTION WHICH IS DIVIDED INTO THREE DOMAINS: NATURAL WORLD DOMAIN: COLLECTIONS CONTAIN MANY REAL SPECIMENS, FROM DINOSAUR EGGS AND PRECIOUS GEMS TO SAUSAGE TREE PODS. MANY INTERESTING OBJECTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD ILLUSTRATE NATURAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE CONCEPTS. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O) CONTINUED FROM FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4C CULTURAL WORLD DOMAIN: COLLECTIONS CONTAIN FOLK TOYS, SPECIAL CLOTHES, DECORATED EVERYDAY OBJECTS AND ART BY CHILDREN AND INTERNATIONALLY-KNOWN ARTISTS. AMERICAN EXPERIENCE DOMAIN: COLLECTIONS CONTAIN OVER 39,500 AMERICAN AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN OBJECTS SPANNING ALMOST 200 YEARS. THESE ARE SEEN BY FAMILIES AND CHILDREN IN GALLERY EXHIBITS AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. THE ARTIFACTS AND SPECIMENS IN THE COLLECTION OF THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE: THEY TELL STORIES THAT CONNECT GENERATIONS; THEY OFFER INSIGHT INTO THE LIVES OF PEOPLE HERE AND IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD; THEY ARE REFERENCE POINTS FOR CHILDREN TO COMPARE THEIR LIVES WITH PEOPLE THROUGH TIME AND ACROSS CULTURES; THEY INSPIRE OUR IMAGINATION AND ENRICH OUR LIVES.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 October 1952.

    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.