Childrens Museum of Phoenix
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF PHOENIX MISSION IS TO ENGAGE THE MINDS, MUSCLES, AND IMAGINATIONS OF CHILDREN AND THE GROWN-UPS WHO CARE ABOUT THEM. WITH A FOCUS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT FOR CHILDREN BIRTH TO TEN YEARS, THE MUSEUM PROVIDES HANDS-ON EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS THAT ENCOURAGE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT.
- Income
- $9.1 million
- Spending
- $5.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 24.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 55%
- Employees
- 171
- Volunteers
- 886
- Highest pay
- $237,716, ceo/president
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 24.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 40% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 2523 of 23 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)
- $3.9 million spent. THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF PHOENIX'S MISSION IS TO ENGAGE THE MINDS, MUSCLES, AND IMAGINATIONS OF CHILDREN AND THE GROWN-UPS WHO CARE ABOUT THEM. WITH A FOCUS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT FOR CHILDREN BIRTH TO TEN YEARS, THE MUSEUM PROVIDES HANDS-ON EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS THAT ENCOURAGE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT. TO ENSURE THAT ALL CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY CAN VISIT THE MUSEUM, WE AIM TO PROVIDE FREE OR REDUCED ADMISSION ACCESS TO MORE THAN 110,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR THROUGH OUR EVERY CHILD PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM GIVES LOW-INCOME OR AT-RISK CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ACCESS TO THE MUSEUM'S RICH LEARNING ENVIRONMENT EITHER FOR FREE OR AT A SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED RATE. DURING FY 24-25, 111,092 VISITORS CAME THROUGH OUR EVERY CHILD PROGRAM AN INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY VALUED AT $1,528,722. THIS YEAR, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF PHOENIX, RSP ARCHITECTS, AND CHASSE CONSTRUCTION, WE BEGAN THE DESIGN PHASE OF OUR UPCOMING EXPANSION OF THE MUSEUM WHICH WILL SEE THE MUSEUM GROW INTO ITS FULL 80,000 SQUARE FEET OF SPACE, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 10,000 SQUARE FEET OF NEW SPACE DESIGNED FOR TODAY'S YOUNG EXPLORERS.IN NOVEMBER 2024, THE MUSEUM RECEIVED A LANDMARK $2.5 MILLION GRANT FROM LILLY ENDOWMENT INC. - THE LARGEST IN OUR HISTORY. THIS EXTRAORDINARY GIFT WILL FUEL A SIGNATURE EXHIBIT FOCUSED ON CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND REFRESH BELOVED AREAS ACROSS THE MUSEUM. THIS WORK IS DESIGNED TO FOSTER CHARACTER SKILLS OF KINDNESS, CURIOSITY, BRAVERY, CREATIVITY, AND RESPECT IN CHILDREN, STRENGTHENING THEM FOR LIFE.ALSO IN NOVEMBER, OUR ANNUAL GALA, CASINO ROYALE, DELIVERED AN UNFORGETTABLE EVENING OF SPARKLING DCOR, A THRILLING LIVE AUCTION, DINNER UNDER THE STARS, AND A HIGH-ENERGY SILENT DISCO THAT KEPT GUESTS DANCING LATE INTO THE NIGHT. THE EVENT WELCOMED 324 GUESTS AND RAISED $304,185 IN SUPPORT OF OUR EVERY CHILD PROGRAM, HELPING THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES ACCESS JOY, CONNECTION, AND LEARNING AT THE MUSEUM. IN JUNE 2025, WE CELEBRATED A MILESTONE MOMENT: WELCOMING OUR FIVE MILLIONTH VISITOR! THAT'S FIVE MILLION CHANCES FOR CHILDREN TO IMAGINE, BUILD, CLIMB, DISCOVER, GIGGLE, AND GROWOFTEN SIDE BY SIDE WITH THEIR FAMILIES, CAREGIVERS, AND FRIENDS. THIS ACHIEVEMENT BELONGS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND ESPECIALLY TO OUR DONORS, WHOSE GENEROSITY HAS MADE THE MUSEUM A VIBRANT, JOYFUL SPACE WHERE PLAY HAS POWER AND EVERY CHILD IS VALUED. IN OUR CONTINUING COMMITMENT TO IDEA (INCLUSION, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY), THE MUSEUM WAS HONORED TO FEATURE SPECIAL ARTISTS SUCH AS FIESTA MEXICANA DANCERS AND SAMPRADAYA DANCE OF INDIA TO CELEBRATE DIVERSE CULTURES WITH OUR GUESTS. IN ADDITION, WE HAD THE PLEASURE OF DISPLAYING THE ARTWORK OF LOCAL ARTISTS AS WE CELEBRATED HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IN SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER AND NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN NOVEMBER. WE ALSO WELCOMED NINE AMAZING INDIVIDUALS INTO OUR IDEA FELLOWS PROGRAM THIS YEAR OFFERING SEMESTER-LONG, PAID FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, GIVING THEM VALUABLE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WORKING ALONGSIDE MUSEUM STAFF IN OUR EDUCATION, EXHIBITS, MARKETING, AND INNOVATION & LEARNING DEPARTMENTS. ALL IN ALL, THE MUSEUM WELCOMED 360,583 VISITORS DURING FY 24-25.
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? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
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 May 1999.
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.