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Florida Childrens Museum Inc

EIN 59-2994883 · Lakeland, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CURATING THE WORLD FOR ALL CHILDREN TO EXPLORE

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 64%
Employees
39
Volunteers
141
Highest pay
$106,017, chief executive officer

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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 36% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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

    19 of 19 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. $2.7 million spent. FLORIDA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, INC. (THE MUSEUM) CURATES THE WORLD FOR ALL CHILDREN TO EXPLORE. THE MUSEUM, A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, OPERATES UNDER SEVEN GUIDING PRINCIPLES:1) WE EDUCATE THROUGH PLAY.2) WE WELCOME ALL CHILDREN.3) OUR PEOPLE ARE OUR SECRET SAUCE.4) WE ARE HERE TO STAY.5) WE SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.6) OUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE AND SECURE.7) WE SERVE THE WHOLE FAMILY.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE MUSEUM OPENED IN DOWNTOWN LAKELAND, FLORIDA, IN 1991 AND PURCHASED THE FOUR-STORY HISTORIC KRESS BUILDING IN 1998. A NEW FACILITY DEBUTED IN LATE 2022 WHEN THE MUSEUM OPENED AS FLORIDA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AT BONNET SPRINGS PARK IN A NEW, STATE-OF-THE-ART 47,800 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY. THE MUSEUM PRODUCES 2,600 EDUCATOR-DIRECTED PROGRAMS EACH YEAR IN ADDITION TO PRESENTING WORLD-CLASS, HANDS-ON EXHIBITS. FUNDING FOR EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS IS DIVERSIFIED AND INCLUDES ADMISSION SALES, SPONSORSHIPS, GRANTS, AND PRIVATE DONATIONS. THE MUSEUM IS A "MUSEUMS FOR ALL" FACILITY, PROVIDING ACCESS TO FAMILIES WITH EBT CARDS FOR $3 ADMISSION PER PERSON. COMPLIMENTARY ADMISSIONS COMPRISED 15% OF TOTAL ADMISSIONS (2024-2025) AS GRANTS WERE OBTAINED TO ADMIT CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR FREE. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE MUSEUM TRACKED 173,880 ADMISSIONS, 36,779 PROGRAM ATTENDEES AND 73,406 AT OUTREACH EVENTS FOR A TOTAL PUBLIC IMPACT OF 284,065 PEOPLE SERVED.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1991.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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