Iowa Childrens Museum
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO INSPIRE EVERY CHILD TO IMAGINE, CREATE, DISCOVER, AND EXPLORE THROUGH THE POWER OF PLAY.
- Income
- $2.0 million
- Spending
- $2.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 2.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 62%
- Employees
- 72
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $144,743, 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: 64 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 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 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 (1)
- $1.6 million spent. THE IOWA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM (THE ICM) HAS FIVE EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES THAT INFORMS THE CREATION OF ALL PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITS. THESE INCLUDE STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATH), FINANCIAL LITERACY, SCHOOL READINESS, HEALTHY KIDS AND ARTS & CULTURE. THE ACTIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THESE INITIATIVES EMBODY BEST PRACTICES OF INFORMAL EDUCATION AND ADVANCE 21ST CENTURY SKILLS. IN FY25, THE MUSEUM SERVED MORE THAN 190,000 INDIVIDUALS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. SOME OF THE MUSEUM'S SPECIFIC COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS:25TH ANNIVERSARY AND "POTENTIAL SPACE" EXHIBIT: DURING FY25, THE ICM CELEBRATED ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY AT CORAL RIDGE MALL. THE COMMEMORATION OF THIS MILESTONE INCLUDED A GATHERING OF FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS AT A RIBBON CUTTING FOR A TRAVELING EXHIBIT. "POTENTIAL SPACE" IS A PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION CREATED BY CALIFORNIA-BASED ARTIST NANCY RICHARDS FARESE. THE EXHIBIT FEATURES A RANGE OF FRAMED PHOTOGRAPHS, BANNERS, FLOOR DECALS AND VINYL WALL ART DEPICTING CHILDREN PLAYING IN MORE THAN A DOZEN COUNTRIES. THE EXHIBIT WAS ON DISPLAY FOR SEVEN WEEKS -- MADE AVAILABLE TO REGULAR VISITORS ON A DAILY/WEEKLY BASIS AND TO SPECIAL GUESTS DURING HOSTED GALLERY HOURS. SCHOOL READINESS GRANT AND NEW FESTIVAL: THE ICM COMPLETED ITS MULTI-YEAR SCHOOL READINESS GRANT PROJECT THROUGH THE INSTITUTE FOR MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES (IMLS) AND BOSTON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. THIS PROJECT HELPED SOLIDIFY AND ADVANCE THE YEARSLONG PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE MUSEUM AND THE CORALVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY. THE FINAL YEAR OF THE GRANT SAW THE ORGANIZATIONS COLLABORATING ON A PERMANENT BOOK WALK IN NORTH RIDGE PARK AND THE LAUNCH OF A FAMILY-FOCUSED MUSICAL FESTIVAL CALLED "PLAYING IN THE PARK."COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS: DURING FY25, THE ICM CONTINUED TO SERVE AS A STRONG LEADER AND COLLABORATOR -- BOTH LOCALLY AND AT THE STATE LEVEL. THE ORGANIZATION ADVANCED ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NASA IOWA SPACE GRANT CONSORTIUM, LAUNCHING A LIBRARY-BASED "SPACE STATIONS" PROGRAM AND HOSTING A CONSORTIUM SUMMER INTERN FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE MUSEUM'S EXCECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS SELECTED TO SERVE AT THE STATEWIDE ARTS CAUCUS, WHILE CONTINUING TO LEAD "ARTS & CULTURE" DAY FOR THE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP PROGRAM AND SERVE ON THE BOARD OF THE LOCAL CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU. IN CONJUNCTION WITH ITS NEW STRATEGIC PLAN, THE ORGANIZATION LAUNCHED A COMMUNITY-WIDE SURVEY, GARNERING MORE THAN 450 RESPONSES, LEADING TO A SERIES OF COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS LATER IN THE YEAR. STEM SMART PROGRAMS: STEM SMART ENCOURAGES LITERACY AND HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT BY PROVIDING PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW CHILDREN TO APPLY AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE WORLD WORKS WITHIN THE AREAS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH. THIS WORK IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH VARIOUS PROGRAMS, INCLUDING FAMILY FREE NIGHTS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS. THIS YEAR, THE MUSEUM CONTINUED ITS "STEM IN THE COMMUNITY" PROGRAM WITH LOCAL PARTNERS, WHILE GREATLY INCREASING THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS PARTICPATING IN THE "TECH TREK DROP-OFF INITIATIVE AND LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR A NEW IN-MUSEUM PROGRAM CALLED "AFTERSCHOOL STUDIO."ICM FOR EVERYONE AND ICM2GO: THE MUSEUM CONTINUED WITH A RANGE OF ACCESSIBILITY INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR, WITH MORE THAN 42,000 FREE AND REDUCED MUSEUM ADMISSIONS BEING OFFERED. THE ICM2GO PROGRAM CONNECTS ICM'S "PLAY TO LEARN" MODEL WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ON-LOCATION THROUGHOUT THE EASTERN IOWA CORRIDOR. MORE THAN 19,000 PEOPLE WERE SERVED THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE THIS, WITH MORE THAN 8,000 LOCAL/REGIONAL STUDENTS COMING TO THE MUSEUM FOR FIELD TRIPS. NEARLY 3,000 FAMILIES HAD MUSEUM MEMBERSHIPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. MOVE IT! DIG IT! DO IT! AND JACK SPLAT: THESE TWO LARGE-SCALE, FREE, OUTDOOR COMMUNITY EVENTS CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE ICM A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY. FOR THE FOURTH STRAIGHT YEAR, JACK SPLAT WAS HELD IN A DOWNTOWN IOWA CITY PARK AS A MEANS OF INCREASING ACCESS. THE ICM AND VARIOUS PARTNERS INVITE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BRING THEIR COMPOSTABLE JACK-O-LANTERNS TO THE PARK, WHERE THEY ARE DROPPED FROM THE FOURTH FLOOR OF A LOCAL PARKING RAMP FOR EVERYONE'S ENJOYMENT. MOVE IT! DIG IT! DO IT! CONTINUED ITS GREAT RUN OF SUCCESS IN FY24 WITH AN ESTIMATED 5,000 PEOPLE GATHERING IN THE MALL PARKING LOT FOR A ONE-OF-A-KIND OPPORTUNITY FOR LEARNING AND FAMILY FUN.
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 December 1996.
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.