Childrens Museum of Tampa Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE CREATE AND FOSTER ENGAGING, IMPACTFUL PLAY EXPERIENCES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO LEARN AND THRIVE.THE MUSEUM'S VISION IS TO BE A VIBRANT AND INDISPENSABLE PART OF A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE IS INCLUDED, ENABLED AND EMPOWERED TO DREAM AND EXCEL BY CREATING A BRIGHT FUTURE FUELED BY IMAGINATION BECAUSE WE HAVE INVESTED EARLY.
- Income
- $6.6 million
- Spending
- $4.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 0.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 45%
- Employees
- 96
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $210,774, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 44% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 2521 of 21 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 September 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)
- $3.3 million spent. THE FACILITY REFLECTS THE MISSION TO CREATE A LEARNING LABORATORY WHERE CHILDREN PLAY, DISCOVER, AND CONNECT WITH THE WORLD AROUND THEM TO DEVELOP AS LIFELONG LEARNERS AND LEADERS. PREVIOUSLY NAMED "NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR IN ARTS, CULTURE, AND HUMANITIES" BY THE TAMPA BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL, GCM IS ANNUALLY RANKED AS A TOP 10 CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IN THE NATION. THE GLAZER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM PROVIDES TAMPA BAY WITH A COMBINATION OF PERMANENT AND TRAVELING EXHIBITS, DAILY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND SEASONAL SPECIAL EVENTS ALL PROFESSIONALLY CURATED TO HELP LITTLE LEARNERS FROM BIRTH TO 10 YEARS OLD TO PLAY WITH PURPOSE. SEE SCHEDULE O. IN A NORMAL YEAR, MORE THAN 235,000 GUESTS WILL EXPLORE GCM'S 170 INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS WITHIN 19 THEMED AREAS AND THOUSANDS MORE ARE IMPACTED THROUGH OUTREACH IN THE COMMUNITY. CONVENIENTLY LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN TAMPA, GCM IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CULTURAL CORRIDOR OF MUSEUMS, LIBRARIES, THEATERS, AND PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS. THE FACILITY OFFERS 5,000 SQUARE FEET OF EVENT SPACE, 2,500 SQUARE FEET OF CLASSROOM SPACE, AND A 1,000 SQUARE FOOT ROOFTOP TERRACE OVERLOOKING THE PICTURESQUE RIVERWALK ALONG THE HILLSBOROUGH RIVER AND CURTIS HIXON PARK.AT THE GLAZER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, WE CREATE AND FOSTER ENGAGING, IMPACTFUL PLAY EXPERIENCES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO LEARN AND THRIVE. THROUGH PLAY, NEW CONNECTIONS FORM IN THE BRAIN, LEADING A CHILD TO DEVELOP COGNITIVELY, SOCIALLY, PHYSICALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY. PLAY INSPIRES IMAGINATION AND DISCOVERY, ALLOWING CHILDREN TO EXPERIMENT AND SUCCEED IN SUPPORTIVE AND LOW-RISK ENVIRONMENTS. PLAY BUILDS SKILLS LIKE RESILIENCE, CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING, COLLABORATION, COMMUNICATION, SHARING, AND COMPROMISE. PLAY IS FOUNDATIONAL FOR ALL CHILDREN. PLAY IS LEARNING. FOR ALL GROWN-UPS WITH A LITTLE LEARNER THEY CARE ABOUT, WHO CHOOSES TO PLAY WITH PURPOSE, WE PROVIDE AN INTERACTIVE, LEARNING LABORATORY WITH PROFESSIONAL CURATED PROGRAMS AND PEOPLE IN A SAFE, WARM, AND NURTURING SPACE. GLAZER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM GIVES YOUR LITTLE LEARNER ACCESSIBLE, PERSONALIZED OPPORTUNITIES TO IMAGINE AND EXPLORE THEIR POTENTIAL AS THEY GROW UP. OUR LITTLE LEARNERS ARE VALUED, RESILIENT, AND INSPIRED TO CREATE THEIR FUTURE!
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 October 13, 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 September 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 May 1986.
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 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.