Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Marbles Kids Museum

EIN 58-1647538 · Raleigh, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE OMARBLES SPARKS IMAGINATION, DISCOVERY AND LEARNING THROUGH PLAY. 1. READY SET LEARN. PLAY BUILDS INTELLECTUAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS FOR SUCCESS IN LEARNING AND IN LIFE. 2. BE HEALTHY BE ACTIVE. PLAY PROMOTES PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH. 3. CREATE INNOVATE. PLAY ENCOURAGES IMAGINATION, CREATIVITY AND SELF-EXPRESSION. 4. EXPLORE EXPERIMENT. PLAY LEADS TO DISCOVERY AND KINDLES CURIOSITY. 5. CONNECT. PLAY TEACHES COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION, STRENGTHENS FAMILIES AND UNITES OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$13.0 million
Spending
$8.1 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 50%
Employees
169
Volunteers
853
Highest pay
$229,012, 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

Fair: 69 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    30 of 30 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. $5.3 million spent. IN FY2024-2025 (FY25), MARBLES WELCOMED ALMOST 544,000 VISITORS FROM ALL 50 STATES, 98 NORTH CAROLINA COUNTIES AND EVERY CORNER OF WAKE COUNTY TO EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF PLAY. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE OPENING THE MARBLES PLAYWAY, A JOYFUL COMMUNITY SPACE THAT BRINGS KIDS AND FAMILIES TOGETHER TO CONNECT WITH NATURE AND EACH OTHER. THIS COLORFUL URBAN OASIS WELCOMES MARBLES GUESTS AND DOWNTOWN VISITORS ALIKE TO AN ACCESSIBLE, FREE-TO-ALL DESTINATION IN THE HEART OF RALEIGH. MARBLES IN-HOUSE EXHIBITS TEAM DESIGNED, FABRICATED AND INSTALLED TWO CUSTOM CLIMBING STRUCTURES A DRAGONFLY AND A BEE TO ENCOURAGE KIDS TO KEEP THEIR BODIES AND IMAGINATIONS ACTIVE. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OTHE MARBLES PLAYWAY EARNED TWO HONORS FOR ITS IMPACT ON DOWNTOWN RALEIGH A 2025 DRA IMPRINT AWARD AND THE SIR WALTER RALEIGH AWARD FOR COMMUNITY APPEARANCE. MARBLES ALSO SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED OUR FIRST-EVER CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, BIGGER PLAY, BRIGHTER FUTURES, WITH MORE THAN $9.1 MILLION RAISED. WITH CAMPAIGN FUNDS, MARBLES WILL ADD NEW INDOOR AND OUTDOOR EXHIBITS, ENHANCE GUEST AMENITIES AND LAUNCH THE MARBLES IMPACT FUND TO SUPPORT FUTURE SUSTAINABILITY. IN SUPPORT OF OUR MISSION TO SPARK IMAGINATION, DISCOVERY, AND LEARNING THROUGH PLAY, MARBLES DELIVERS POWERFUL PLAY EXPERIENCES ALIGNED WITH FIVE CORE CONTENT INITIATIVES: READY SET LEARN, BE HEALTHY BE ACTIVE, CREATE INNOVATE, EXPLORE EXPERIMENT, AND CONNECT. CONTENT IS DELIVERED THROUGH INNOVATIVE AND INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, DAILY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, FIELD TRIPS, CAMPS, SPECIAL ACCESS PROGRAMS AND GIANT SCREEN IMAX DOCUMENTARY MOVIES. IN FY25, MARBLES KIDS MUSEUM SERVED ALMOST 544,000 VISITORS ACROSS CAMPUS AND WELCOMED OVER 50,100 FIELD TRIP PARTICIPANTS IN PRESCHOOL THROUGH 8TH GRADE. MUSEUM FIELD TRIPS OFFER OPEN-ENDED MUSEUM EXPLORATION OF OUR EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS AS WELL AS HANDS-ON SPECIALTY PROGRAMS ON TOPICS LIKE STEM, FINANCIAL LITERACY, NUTRITION, AND WEATHER. MARBLES ALSO OFFERS CURRICULUM-ALIGNED EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIPS THAT INTEGRATE AWARD-WINNING IMAX DOCUMENTARIES WITH HANDS-ON LEARNING LABS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 5-8, BRINGING CONTENT TO LIFE THROUGH HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES. CAMP MARBLES ENGAGED MORE THAN 3,000 KIDS IN FUN, INTERACTIVE LEARNING AND PLAY THROUGH CREATING, BUILDING, AND EXPERIMENTING. MARBLES ACCESS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS PROVIDED OVER 50,900 FREE AND REDUCED RATE MUSEUM VISITS IN FY25 FOR TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, ENSURING ALL CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO MARBLES, DESPITE FINANCIAL OR PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS. MARBLES ACCESS PROGRAMS INCLUDE MUSEUM ACCESS FOR AT-RISK TITLE I AND PRESCHOOL GROUPS, EXTENDED HOURS FOR WORKING FAMILIES, FREE EVENTS FOR RISING KINDERGARTENERS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND FREE EVENTS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. IN FY25 MARBLES WON THE ASSOCIATION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTERS' ROY L SHAFER LEADING EDGE AWARD FOR MARBLES' UNDER THE WAVES EXHIBIT (SEPTEMBER 2024).

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 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 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 February 1986.

    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.