Westchester Childrens Museum
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE WESTCHESTER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IS A VIBRANT, INTERACTIVE LEARNING SPACE, LEARNING LABORATORY PROVIDING CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND SCHOOL GROUPS THE OPPORTUNITY TO NURTURE CURIOSITY, ENHANCE KNOWLEDGE AND IGNITE IMAGINATION THROUGH CREATIVE HANDS-ON EXPLORATION. THE MUSEUM IS COMMITTED TO BROADENING KNOWLEDGE OF THE ARTS AND SCIENCES, THE ENVIRONMENT, MULTICULTURALISM, DIVERSITY, AND THE LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNITIES IN AN EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL ATMOSPHERE.
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- -5.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 50%
- Employees
- 50
- Volunteers
- 13
- Highest pay
- $118,503, 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: 54 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 28% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 2513 of 13 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)
- $1.2 million spent. BIRTHDAY PARTIES DESCRIPTION: IN OUR BIRTHDAY PARTIES, OUR MUSEUM FACILITATORS LEAD PERSONALIZED CELEBRATORY EXPERIENCES FOR SMALL TO MEDIUM-SIZED GROUPS OF CHILDREN, WHO COME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO COMMEMORATE A CHILD'S SPECIAL DAY. CONTENT: THESE BIRTHDAY PARTIES INCLUDE DEDICATED PLAYTIME THROUGHOUT THE MUSEUM'S HANDS-ON EXHIBITS AND ACTIVITIES, PLUS EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO A PRIVATE BIRTHDAY ROOM FOR CAKE AND CELEBRATIONS. PARTIES CAN BE ENHANCED WITH OPTIONAL HANDS-ON STEAM WORKSHOPS LED BY OUR MUSEUM FACILITATORS. THE WORKSHOP TOPIC IS CHOSEN AHEAD OF TIME BY THE PARTY ORGANIZER FROM OUR MENU OF CREATIVE OPTIONS, INCLUDING SILLY SLIME, PLAY-DOH, PAINT EXTRAVAGANZA, AND ARTS + CRAFTS. WHERE: BIRTHDAY PARTIES ARE HELD IN THE MUSEUM ON WEEKENDS (9:30 - 11:30, 12:30 - 2:30, 3:30 - 5:30) AND WEEKDAYS (2:30 - 4:30), ACCOMMODATING UP TO 25 CHILDREN PLUS PARENTS AND GUARDIANS, WITH FULL ACCESS TO THE MUSEUM ON THE DAY OF THE PARTY. THE MUSEUM IS ABLE TO HOST UP TO TWO BIRTHDAY PARTIES SIMULTANEOUSLY IN SEPARATE DESIGNATED SPACES. ALL ACTIVITIES ARE FACILITATED BY WCM STAFF (TYPICALLY A PLAYWORKER), AND NO FOOD IS PREPARED, HANDLED, OR SERVED BY THE MUSEUM DURING THE PARTIES. FAMILY ACCESS MEMBERSHIP (FAM) DESCRIPTION: FAMILY ACCESS MEMBERSHIP (FAM) IS WESTCHESTER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM'S UNIQUE INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE ECONOMIC BARRIERS AND MAKE THE MUSEUM ACCESSIBLE TO ALL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES. CONTENT: THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES QUALIFYING LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH ALL THE BENEFITS OF OUR PREMIUM MUSEUM MEMBERSHIP AT A SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED COST OF ONLY $25, REPRESENTING MORE THAN A 90% DISCOUNT FROM REGULAR PRICING. FAM MEMBERS RECEIVE THE SAME ACCESS AND PRIVILEGES AS STANDARD MEMBERS, INCLUDING UNLIMITED FREE ADMISSION, DISCOUNTS ON PROGRAMS, AND SPECIAL MEMBER EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WHERE: FAM IS AVAILABLE TO ELIGIBLE FAMILIES THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER COUNTY. AND BEYOND. THE PROGRAM HAS SUCCESSFULLY EXPANDED MUSEUM ACCESSIBILITY, WITH FAM MEMBERS NOW COMPRISING 21% OF OUR TOTAL MEMBERSHIP BASEMORE THAN DOUBLE THE COUNTY'S GENERAL POVERTY RATE OF 9.3%. THIS INITIATIVE HAS CONTRIBUTED TO OUR REMARKABLE GROWTH, WITH OVERALL MEMBERSHIP INCREASING BY 61% AND TOTAL MUSEUM VISITORS REACHING 108,000 IN 2024. FIELD TRIPS DESCRIPTION: IN OUR FIELD TRIPS, OUR MUSEUM EDUCATORS LEAD PLAYFUL LEARNING VISITS FOR LARGE NUMBERS OF CHILDREN, WHO USUALLY COME FROM A REGIONAL SCHOOL OR OTHER ORGANIZATION BY BUS OR CARPOOL. CONTENT: THESE FIELD TRIPS ARE USUALLY A COMBINATION OF FACILITATED/GUIDED PLAY IN VARIOUS ACTIVITY/EXHIBIT LOCATIONS WITHIN THE MUSEUM, WITH THE OPTION TO ADD A HANDS-ON STEAM WORKSHOP LED BY OUR MUSEUM EDUCATORS. THE OPTIONAL ADD-ON WORKSHOP TOPIC IS CHOSEN AND SCHEDULED AHEAD OF TIME BY THE SCHOOL ORGANIZER, CHOSEN FROM OUR MENU OF TOPICS IN THE EDUCATOR'S GUIDE. WHERE: FIELD TRIPS ARE HELD IN THE MUSEUM EVERY WEEKDAY, IN WHICH UP TO 6 CLASSROOMS PER DAY, ALONG WITH THEIR TEACHERS AND CHAPERONES, HAVE FULL ACCESS TO THE HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES IN THE MUSEUM.
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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2010 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on September 15, 2011.
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 June 2012.
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.