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Baltimore Childrens Museum Inc

EIN 52-1806933 · Baltimore, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PORT DISCOVERY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM'S MISSION IS TO CONNECT PURPOSEFUL PLAY AND LEARNING WITHIN ITS WALLS AND BEYOND.

Income
$9.7 million
Spending
$6.2 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 47%
Employees
91
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$187,000, president & ceo

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 36% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 25

    31 of 31 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

    5 of 5

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

  • 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 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. $4.9 million spent. LOCATED IN BALTIMORE'S HISTORIC FISH MARKET BUILDING IN THE INNER HARBOR, PORT DISCOVERY IS AN 80,000 SQUARE-FOOT CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OFFERING THREE FLOORS OF INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, LEARNING SPACES, AND TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS. SINCE OPENING, WE HAVE SERVED OVER 5 MILLION VISITORS AS ONE OF THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION'S LEADING CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS. PORT DISCOVERY'S EXHIBITS, EXPERIENCES, AND PROGRAMS ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO USE THEIR IMAGINATIONS, EXPLORE HOW THINGS WORK, BUILD CONFIDENCE, AND LEARN AND PRACTICE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS. WE DO THIS WORK IN THE FOLLOWING BROAD CATEGORIES:(SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION)PROVIDING ACCESS FOR ALL: PORT DISCOVERY OFFERS FREE AND REDUCED ADMISSION TO MARYLAND SCHOOL STUDENTS, LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, AND MILITARY FAMILIES THROUGH PROGRAMS SUCH AS PLAYMAKERS, COMMUNITY DAYS, AND SALUTE THE TROOPS. ADDITIONALLY, ACCESS INCLUDES TRAINING STAFF AND IMPROVING FACILITY CAPACITY TO SERVE FAMILIES WITH SPECIFIC DISABILITIES AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS.INNOVATIVE EXHIBITS: PORT DISCOVERY'S EXHIBITS AND EXPERIENCES ARE DESIGNED FOR HANDS-ON EXPLORATION. FROM TINY'S DINER AND WONDERS OF WATER TO OUR SIGNATURE CORE EXPERIENCE - THE S.S. FRIEND SHIP! ON THIS IMMERSIVE WALK-THROUGH CARGO SHIP, CHILDREN CAN LOAD GOODS, SIT IN THE CAPTAIN'S SEAT, ACTIVATE THE ENGINES, WORK A GANTRY CRANE, AND READ ABOUT THE PORT OF BALTIMORE THROUGH EDUCATIONAL TEXT AND MARKERS. AS A SITE DEVOTED TO SERVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, PORT DISCOVERY IS OFTEN THE FIRST TIME THAT OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS EXPERIENCE LOCAL HISTORY AND BEGIN LEARNING ABOUT BALTIMORE'S NOTABLE HERITAGE.EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: THIS PROGRAMMING INCLUDES ARTS- AND SCIENCE-BASED WORKSHOPS, NATURE-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, ENGAGEMENT THROUGH THE ARTS, AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMS THAT INVITE CHILDREN INTO A RANGE OF SUBJECTS FROM MARYLAND'S HISTORIC LIGHTHOUSES TO THE LIFE OF A BUMBLEBEE. ON AVERAGE, THE MUSEUM SERVES OVER 30,000 STUDENTS ANNUALLY, WITH 40% OF THOSE REPRESENTING TITLE I SCHOOLS.MULTI GENERATIONS AT PLAY INITIATIVE: THIS SUITE OF PROGRAMS PROVIDES RESOURCES TO THOSE WHO HOLD THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT AND WELL-BEING OF MARYLAND'S YOUNG CHILDREN: PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, AND EDUCATORS. PROGRAMMING INCLUDES FATHERS AT PLAY AND PARENTS AT PLAY AND GRANDPARENTS AT PLAY, ALL OF WHICH EMPOWER GUARDIANS THROUGH PURPOSEFUL PLAY STRATEGIES AND PEER LEARNING; AND PROFESSIONALS AT PLAY, WHICH SUPPORTS OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKFORCE ACROSS VARIOUS SETTINGS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.THE MUSEUM RECEIVED DONATED LOBBYING SERVICES VALUED AT $18,000, DONATED LEGAL SERVICES VALUED AT $191,979, AND RENT VALUED AT $48,000. OTHER INDIVIDUALS, WHOSE SERVICES WERE NOT VALUED BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT BE MEASURED OBJECTIVELY, VOLUNTEERED APPROXIMATELY 1,200 HOURS OF THEIR TIME.

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

  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 November 6, 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 June 2025.

    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 1993.

    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 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.