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Wonderfeet Kids Museum

EIN 45-4692194 · Rutland, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WONDERFEET KIDS MUSEUM FOSTERS CURIOSITY AND EXPLORATION, INSPIRES CREATIVITY AND IGNITES THE IMAGINATION OF EVERY CHILD THROUGH THE POWER OF PLAY.

Income
$501,244
Spending
$531,385
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
9.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
24
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$53,619, exec. dir. t

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. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
  1. $507,814 spent. WONDERFEET KIDS MUSEUM (THE MUSEUM) FOSTERS CURIOSITY AND EXPLORATION, INSPIRES CREATIVITY AND IGNITES THE IMAGINATION OF EVERY CHILD THROUGH THE POWER OF PLAY. THE MUSEUM OFFERS PROGRAMMING AND ADMISSION TO RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF RUTLAND COUNTY, WITH A FOCUS ON PRE-SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN. THE MUSEUM'S CORE VALUES INCLUDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE: A CARING AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT RELEVANT AND INTERACTIVE LEARNING VIBRANT COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND RESOURCES ENERGY BY PLAY AND FUN THE MUSEUM'S PRIMARY GOALS INCLUDE: 1. PROVIDE ENGAGING AND RELEVANT LEARNING EXPERIENCES (INCLUDING EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMMING) 2. SUPPORT A HEALTHY COMMUNITY THROUGH STRONG PARTNERSHIPS 3. DETERMINE SUITABLE GROWTH TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY 4. DEVELOP AND RETAIN STAFF EXCELLENCE 5. GROW DIVERSE AND SUSTAINABLE FUNDING SOURCES THE MUSEUM ALSO PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: HANDS-ON STEM OPPORTUNITIES THAT MEET THE NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS. THEMED EVENTS - VARIETY OF PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ON TOPICS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMUNITY. THESE TWO-HOUR PROGRAMS ALLOW CHILDREN TO BE IMMERSED IN A TOPIC WITH HANDS-ON AND ENGAGING ACTIVITIES. HOMESCHOOL PROGRAMS - TWO DAYS EACH MONTH. THIS PROGRAM FOCUS ON BUILDING BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE ON THE SELECTED TOPIC THROUGH HANDS-ON ENGAGEMENT, EXPLORATION, AND INSTRUCTOR EXPLANATION. AS A MULTI-AGE GROUP, WE WILL ORGANIZE OUR DAY WITH A VARIETY OF WHOLE AND SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES, DIFFERENTIATING BY AGE AND/OR INTEREST WHEN APPROPRIATE. PROGRAMMING WILL EMPHASIZE CONNECTIONS TO VERMONT BOTH PAST AND PRESENT. THIS PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY FOR A FIELD TRIP AIMED AT EXPANDING UNDERSTANDING AND MAKING CONNECTIONS TO THE MONTHS TOPIC THROUGH LOCAL AND REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS. EXTENSION IDEAS SUPPLIED TO KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES WILL ALSO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR LEARNING AT HOME. IN 2022, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GREEN MOUNTAIN POWER, THE MUSEUM ENTERED TO AN AGREEMENT TO EXPAND TO A NEW LOCATION. THIS EXPANSION WILL NOT ONLY PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SPACE BUT ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO CREATE NEW EXHIBITS AND FOSTER ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY PROGRAM OFFERINGS. THE NEW SPACE OPENED IN MAY 2023 AND HAS YIELDED OVER 30,000 VISITORS AND DEEPER COLLABORATION APPORTUNITIES WITHIN RUTLAND COUNTY. WONDERFEET KIDS MUSEUM (THE MUSEUM) FOSTERS CURIOSITY AND EXPLORATION, INSPIRES CREATIVITY AND IGNITES THE IMAGINATION OF EVERY CHILD THROUGH THE POWER OF PLAY. THE MUSEUM OFFERS PROGRAMMING AND ADMISSION TO RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF RUTLAND COUNTY, WITH A FOCUS ON PRE-SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN. THE MUSEUM'S CORE VALUES INCLUDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE: A CARING AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT RELEVANT AND INTERACTIVE LEARNING VIBRANT COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND RESOURCES ENERGY BY PLAY AND FUN THE MUSEUM'S PRIMARY GOALS INCLUDE: 1. PROVIDE ENGAGING AND RELEVANT LEARNING EXPERIENCES (INCLUDING EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMMING) 2. SUPPORT A HEALTHY COMMUNITY THROUGH STRONG PARTNERSHIPS 3. DETERMINE SUITABLE GROWTH TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY 4. DEVELOP AND RETAIN STAFF EXCELLENCE 5. GROW DIVERSE AND SUSTAINABLE FUNDING SOURCES THE MUSEUM ALSO PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: HANDS-ON STEM OPPORTUNITIES THAT MEET THE NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS. THEMED EVENTS - VARIETY OF PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ON TOPICS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMUNITY. THESE TWO-HOUR PROGRAMS ALLOW CHILDREN TO BE IMMERSED IN A TOPIC WITH HANDS-ON AND ENGAGING ACTIVITIES. HOMESCHOOL PROGRAMS - TWO DAYS EACH MONTH. THIS PROGRAM FOCUS ON BUILDING BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE ON THE SELECTED TOPIC THROUGH HANDS-ON ENGAGEMENT, EXPLORATION, AND INSTRUCTOR EXPLANATION. AS A MULTI-AGE GROUP, WE WILL ORGANIZE OUR DAY WITH A VARIETY OF WHOLE AND SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES, DIFFERENTIATING BY AGE AND/OR INTEREST WHEN APPROPRIATE. PROGRAMMING WILL EMPHASIZE CONNECTIONS TO VERMONT BOTH PAST AND PRESENT. THIS PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY FOR A FIELD TRIP AIMED AT EXPANDING UNDERSTANDING AND MAKING CONNECTIONS TO THE MONTHS TOPIC THROUGH LOCAL AND REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS. EXTENSION IDEAS SUPPLIED TO KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES WILL ALSO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR LEARNING AT HOME. IN 2022, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GREEN MOUNTAIN POWER, THE MUSEUM ENTERED TO AN AGREEMENT TO EXPAND TO A NEW LOCATION. THIS EXPANSION WILL NOT ONLY PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SPACE BUT ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO CREATE NEW EXHIBITS AND FOSTER ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY PROGRAM OFFERINGS. THE NEW SPACE OPENED IN MAY 2023 AND HAS YIELDED OVER 30,000 VISITORS AND DEEPER COLLABORATION APPORTUNITIES WITHIN RUTLAND COUNTY.

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 May 2013.

    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.