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Childrens Museum of Skagit County

EIN 91-2081180 · Burlington, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

See Schedule O

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
7.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
20
Volunteers
88
Highest pay
$77,000, exec director

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $722,736 spent. THE CHILDRENS MUSEUM OF SKAGIT COUNTY (CMSC) HAD AN EXCITING, ROBUST FY 2024-2025, WITH NEW SPECIAL EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES, ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE REFRESHED EXHIBITS THROUGHOUT THE MUSEUM. THE OVERALL ATTENDANCE WAS GREATE IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, ALONG WITH PARTICIPATION IN CAMPS, CLASSES, AND SPECIAL EVENTS. THERE WERE MORE VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE STATE, AS WELL AS FROM CANADA, OTHER US STATES, AND OTHER NATIONS. THE 15,400 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY INCREASED THE AVERAGE ANNUAL ATTENDANCE TO 75,000. THE MUSEUM SERVES ALL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, WITH A TARGET AGE OF BIRTH TO 10-12 YEARS OF AGE.
  2. $1,293 spent. THE MUSEUM EXPLORERS PRESCHOOL (MEP) PROGRAM CONTINUED TO BE A THRIVING OPPORTUNITY FOR CHILDREN AGES THREE TO FIVE YEARS OLD. MEP STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO ENJOY THE MUSEUM PRIOR TO OPENING TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THEY THEN TRANSITION TO THE CLASSROOM, AND PARTICIPATE IN A VARIETY OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES, PLUS FINE AND GROSS MOTOR SKILL BUILDING EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING YOGA AND MUSIC/MOVEMENT. THE CAREFULLY DESIGNED CLASSROOM OFFERS A STIMULATING CURRICULUM, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
  3. $144,393 spent. IN OCTOBER OF 2020 WE LAUNCHED THE HELP ME GROW SKAGIT FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER (HMGS FRC), INITIALLY WITH CARES ACT FUNDING THROUGH SKAGIT COUNTY. THE HMG-S FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER PROVIDES BASIC NEEDS FOR FAMILIES, ALONG WITH BOOKS AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR INFANTS AND CHILDREN. IN ADDITION TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF ITEMS, THE HMGS FRC CONNECTS FAMILIES TO THE SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED, INCLUDING OTHER PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES. BASIC NEEDS ITEMS INCLUDE DIAPERS, WIPES, SAFE SLEEP ITEMS FOR INFANTS, CAR SEATS, CLEANING, AND LAUNDRY SUPPLIES. IN FY 2024-2025 THE FRC DID A TOTAL OF NEARLY 3,500 DISTRIBUTIONS, WHICH TRANSLATES TO OVER 14,000 INDIVIDUALS, REPRESENTING A NEARLY 20% INCREASE OVER THE PRIOR YEAR FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.THE ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH PROVIDERS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITY NETWORKS CONTINUALLY IMPROVES THE NUMBER OF SERVICES CLIENTS CAN BE LINKED TO, AND STRENGTHENS THE TIES BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE HMGS FRC. WE ALSO TOOK ON THE ROLE OF FAMILY NAVIGATION, WITH TWO TRAINED TEAM MEMBERS. OUR MULTILINGUAL TEAM MEMBERS ARE ABLE TO ASSIST CLIENTS IN SIX LANGUAGES, AND WITH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, WE HAVE ACCESS TO OUTSIDE INTERPRETERS, AS WELL.

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 November 6, 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 2002.

    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 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.