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Childrens Museum of the Mov Inc

EIN 84-4022113 · Parkersburg, WV

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceGood87 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CREATING AN ENRIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN AND THE COMMUNITY THAT EXERCISES CURIOSITY, PROMOTES EXPLORATION, AND DEVELOPS IMAGINATION THROUGH ONE OF A KIND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.

Income
$969,485
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 38%
Employees
34
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$82,457, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 107% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 48% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 87 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 December 31, 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 (3)
  1. $826,585 spent. RIVER CITY NATURE IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR THEMES IN A CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, WITH MANY VISITORS ENGAGED IN THE PROMISE OF A RENEWED CONNECTION TO THE NATURAL WORLD. THROUGH IMAGINATIVE PLAY AND SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, THE ARTS AND MATHEMATICS (STEAM) ACTIVITIES,THE RIVER GALLERY INVITES VISITORS TO UNCOVER THE WILD AND WONDERFUL NATURE OF THE OHIO RIVER, ITS IMPORTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE MANY ANIMALS AND PLANTS WHO CALL THIS AREA HOME. - CELEBRATE PARKERBURG AS A RIVER CITY AND HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE OHIO RIVER IN SHAPING THE COMMUNITY. - CONNECT VISITORS TO NATURE THROUGH THE LOCAL ECOSYSTEM BY SHOWCASING FLORA, FAUNA, AND NATURAL PROCESSES SPECIFIC TO THE REGION. - INVITE VISITORS TO DISCOVER AND EXPERIMENT WITH THE POWER OF WATER THROUGH OPEN-ENDED AND REPEATABLE CAUSE-AND-EFFECT EXPERIENCES. - EVOKE A UNIQUE SENSE OF PLACE THAT ENGAGES MULTIPLE SENSES WITH ENVIRONMENTAL SOUNDS, AND IMMERSIVE VISUALS AND LIGHTING. - PROVIDE AMENITIES THAT SUPPORT A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE WITH WATER PLAY, SUCH AS SMOCKS, DRYERS, AND CHANGING AREAS. BALL FACTORY/EARLY CHILDHOOD THE FACTORY FEATURES A CENTRAL CLIMBING STRUCTURE THAT PROVIDES CHILDREN WITHA GRADUATED SERIES OF SAFE YET CHALLENGING PHYSICAL OBSTACLES THAT ENCOURAGE VISITORS OF VARYING ABILITIES. THIS STRUCTURE IS ENRICHED WITH WHIMSICAL DESIGN ELEMENTS AND SURROUNDED BY KINETIC BALL ACTIVITIES THAT DRAW INSPIRATION FROM FACTORY PROCESSES AND PARKERSBURG'S INDUSTRIAL HISTORY. TOGETHER, THE CLIMBER AND INTERSPERSED BALL-DRIVEN CONTRAPTIONS CREATE AN OPEN-ENDED AND IMAGINATIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO PLAY AND GROW TOGETHER. - INVITE VISITORS AND CAREGIVERS TO PLAY TOGETHER. - ENCOURAGE VISITORS TO WORK TOGETHER TOWARDS COMMON GOALS BY EMPHASIZING COMMUNICATION, COLLABORATION, AND COMMUNITY. - EMPOWER VISITORS TO BUILD CONFIDENCE IN THEIR OWN ABILITIES AND TAKE RISKS THROUGH LARGE-MOTOR PHYSICAL CHALLENGES. - PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL LEVELS OF PHYSICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL ABILITIES. - DRAW INSPIRATION FROM MANUFACTURING PROCESSES AND HONOR PARKERSBURG'S HISTORY BY CONNECTING VISITORS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF INDUSTRY IN THE REGION - DESIGN LABIN THE DESIGN STUDIO, VISITORS EXPLORE MAKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING WITHA VARIETY OF MATERIALS, CREATIVE PLATFORMS AND TESTING APPARATURES. AS A HANDS-ON ENTRY POINT FOR STEAM CONCEPTS AS WELL AS EXPERIMENTATION AND DESIGN-THINKING, THE ACTIVITIES GUIDE YOUNG VISITORS THROUGH CREATIVE AND TECHNICAL PROCESSES WHILE PROVIDING AUTHENTIC ENCOUNTERS WITH MATERIALS, TOOLS, AND TECHNOLOGY. EXPERIENCES RANGE FROM OPEN-ENDED MATERIAL EXPLORATION TO CHALLENGES AND PROJECTS VISITORS CAN RETURN TO, VISIT AFTER VISIT, HELPING AUDIENCES OF ALL ABILITIES BUILD PRACTICAL SKILLS, CREATE TANGIBLE OUTCOMES, AND BEGIN TO SEE THEMSLEVES AS DESIGNERS, MAKERS, THINKERS, AND DOERS. - NURTURE DESIGN THINKING AND ENGAGE VISITORS IN EXPERIENCES THAT ELEVATE THE DESIGN PROCESS RATHER THAN FOCUS ON "RIGHT" OUTCOMES. - ENTICE CHILDREN AND CAREGIVERS TO MAKE OBSERVATIONS, AS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WORLD AND SEEK ANSWERS TOGETHER. - CELEBRATE SELF-EXPRESSION AND CREATIVITY BY PROVIDING OPPRTUNITIES TO EXPERIMENT WITHA VARIETY OF TOOLS, MATERIALS, AMD PLATFORMS THAT TEST AND SHOWCASE VISITOR CREATIONS. - INSPIRE VISITORS TO DREAM BIG AND IMAGINE THEMSELVES AS SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS AND ARTISTS OF THE FUTURE. - SERVE ALL LEARNERS WITH ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO APPEAL TO ALL GENDERS.
  2. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING PROGRAMMING WILL TAKE PLACE IN HANDS-ON CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENTS THROUGH THE MAKERSPACES. PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE ITEMS THAT EXPANDS ON THE EXHIBITS DISCUSSED ABOVE. THE PROGRAMMING EXPANDS ON THE YOUTH EXPERIENCE AND LEARNING TAKES PLACE THROUGH THE EXHIBITS. FOR INSTANCE, THE YOUTH MAY LEARN HOW TO BUILD MODEL ROCKETS THAT EXPAND ON OUR ROCKETS EXHIBIT THAT THEY CAN TAKE HOME.
  3. $299,231 spent. COMMUNITY AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS TWO OF THE ROOMS WITHIN THE BUILDING WILL OFFER OPPORTUNITIES TO HOST EVENTS. THIS WILL BE A SECONDARY COMPONENT OF THE FACILITY. THERE WILL ALSO BE EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE AROUND THE EXHIBIT FLOOR SPACE. THESE WILL BE MORE FOR GATHERINGS THAT SHOWCASE THE COMMUNITY AND TARGETED AUDIENCES ABOUT WHAT THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM HAS TO OFFER. THE ROOMS DEDICATED FOR EVENTS WILL BE FOR BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND COMMNUNITY GATHERINGS FOR THE YOUTH. THERE WILL ALSO BE A THEATER ON THE TOP FLOOR OF THE BUILDING. THIS WILL BE USED FOR EVENTS AND THEATRICAL PROGRAMMING FOR THE YOUTH THAT WILL COMPLEMENT WITH THE PROGRAMMING AND EXHIBITS FOR THE COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 April 2020.

    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.