Duluth Childrens Museum Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE DULUTH CHILDREN'S MUSEUM'S MISSION IS TO ENGAGE CHILDREN IN HANDS-ON LEARNING THROUGH CREATIVE PLAY AND INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS.
- Income
- $631,291
- Spending
- $511,823
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- -3.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 32%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $77,352, executive director
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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 59% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (3)
- $375,278 spent. EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS AND OUTREACH:PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED DAILY AND PROVIDE VISITORS WITH UNIQUE LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN THE AREAS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS, HISTORY, AND ART. MUSEUM STAFF USE A VARIETY OF LEARNING TOOLS AND INCORPORATE MINNESOTA STATE EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS TO TEACH CONCEPTS SUCH AS MAGNETISM AND CHEMICAL REACTION TO DULUTH HISTORY AND WORLD CULTURAL. THE MUSEUM OWNS MANY INTERACTIVE EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS. MUSEUM STAFF PROVIDE OUTREACH TO NUMEROUS CLASSROOMS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS WHICH IMPACT THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT SUPPLEMENT CLASSROOM LEANING AND YOUTH PROGRAMS.
- $34,200 spent. MEMBERSHIP, ADMISSION AND GIFT SHOP: THE MUSEUM OPERATES AS AN ATTRACTION WITH OVER 25,000 ANNUAL VISITORS AND 948 ANNUAL MEMBERS. AS AN ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, A DISCOVERY FOR ALL PROGRAM HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO DISTRIBUTE OVER 310 SCHOLARSHIP MEMBERSHIPS TO FAMILIES EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. IN ADDITION, AS A MUSEUM'S FOR ALL AND BLUE STAR MUSEUM PARTNER, LOW COST ADMISSION IS AVAILABLE TO VISITORS WITH A VALID EBT OR ACTIVE MILITARY ID. THE GIFT SHOP PROVIDES MISSION-ORIENTED TOYS AND GAMES OF SALE TO CONTINUE LEARNING AND EXPLORATION AT HOME.
- $3,095 spent. COLLECTION:UNIQUE TO THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, THE MUSEUM CARES FOR AND CURATES EXTENSIVE TEXTILE COLLECTIONS, HUNDREDS OF DOLLS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, A CUNEIFORM TABLET FROM 5000BC, AND MANY ITEMS RELEVANT TO THE OJIBWE CULTURE AS WELL AS DULUTH'S EARLY SETTLERS. ITEMS FROM THE COLLECTION ARE ROTATED THROUGH THE MUSEUM'S GALLERY SPACES AS WELL AS USED IN CLASSROOM OUTREACH. MANY ITEMS ARE ON LONG TERM LOAN TO THE TWEED MUSEUM, HARTLEY NATURE CENTER AND THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
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
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 June 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 September 1951.
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.