Imagine Childrens Museum
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
UTILIZE PLAYFUL LEARNING TO ENRICH CHILDRENS LIVES.
- Income
- $5.5 million
- Spending
- $5.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 11 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 59%
- Employees
- 98
- Volunteers
- 168
- Highest pay
- $334,252, ceo through may 2024
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2514 of 14 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 December 31, 2024, 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)
- $5.1 million spent. 1. MUSEUM EXPERIENCES AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS IMAGINES 68,000 SQUARE FOOT, THREE-STORY FACILITY PROVIDES A COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE WHERE FAMILIES SPEND HIGH QUALITY TIME TOGETHER YEAR-ROUND IN A PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY SAFE ENVIRONMENT. IMMERSIVE HANDS-ON EXHIBITS, PERFORMANCES, AND ART AND SCIENCE ACTIVITIES SUPPORT ALL CHILDREN REGARDLESS OF RACE, ETHNICITY, ABILITY, OR FAMILY INCOME. IN 2024 THE MUSEUM WELCOMED 290,917 VISITORS. INCLUDED IN MUSEUM ADMISSION ARE VALUE-ADDED PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE EXHIBIT-BASED PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON STEM TOPICS, CREATIVITY AND THE ARTS, AND PERFORMANCES BY LOCAL ARTISTS AND CULTURAL GROUPS. 2. COMMUNITY ACCESS PROGRAMS NEARLY 30% OF IMAGINES OVERALL VISITATION ARE FAMILIES WHO VISIT FREE OR AT A REDUCED COST. COMMUNITY ACCESS PROGRAMS INCLUDE PARTICIPATION IN THE MUSEUMS FOR ALL PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES LOW-COST ACCESS TO THOSE FAMILIES WHO USE ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER (EBT), APPLE HEALTH, CHIP, FOSTER PARENT CARDS, PROVIDER ONE, SNAP OR WIC. FAMILIES CAN RECEIVE ADMISSION AT $5 PER PERSON FOR UP TO FOUR (4) FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD. ACTIVE MILITARY ALSO RECEIVE DISCOUNTED ADMISSION TO THE MUSEUM. 3. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS IMAGINE ALSO OFFERS PROGRAMS, CLASSES, AND OUTREACH SERVICES TO CHILDREN, FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, AND YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS. PROGRAMS ARE HELD AT THE MUSEUM, SCHOOLS, AND IN LOCAL COMMUNITY SETTINGS. THE MUSEUM ON THE GO PROGRAM PROVIDES HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES LED BY EXPERIENCED MUSEUM EDUCATORS FOR PRESCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY LEVEL STUDENTS IN AREAS OF STEM AND THE ARTS. THE MUSEUM ALSO OFFERS FAMILY ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOL EVENTS AND HOSTS SCHOOLS AT THE MUSEUM THROUGH FIELD TRIPS AND FAMILY EVENTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.
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 September 1995.
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.