Kidspace a Participatory Museum
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF KIDSPACE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IS TO NURTURE THE POTENTIAL OF ALL CHILDREN THROUGH KID-DRIVEN EXPERIENCES, INSPIRING THEM TO BECOME JOYFUL, ACTIVE LEARNERS.
- Income
- $6.8 million
- Spending
- $7.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- -0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 70%
- Employees
- 150
- Volunteers
- 107
- Highest pay
- $271,209, chief executive officer
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
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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 2517 of 17 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)
- $5.7 million spent. KIDSPACE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IS A NONPROFIT MUSEUM DESIGNED TO DELIGHT AND ENGAGE CHILDREN EMOTIONALLY, INTELLECTUALLY, AND PHYSICALLY THROUGH JOYFUL KID-DRIVEN EXPERIENCES. WE INVITE ALL CHILDREN TO PLAY, DISCOVER, CREATE, THRIVE, AND TO EXPLORE THE WORLD WITH CURIOSITY AND KINDNESS. OUR 3.5-ACRE OUTDOOR CAMPUS FEATURES MORE THAN 40 INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, INCLUDING THE ARROYO PEQUEO, WHICH SHOWCASES THE NATIVE HABITAT AND WILDLIFE OF THE SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS. IN 2024, OUR ATTENDANCE AND COMMUNITY IMPACT CONTINUED TO SOAR, WITH 395,000 GUESTS, INCLUDING 80,574 CHILDREN AND CAREGIVERS WHO BENEFITED FROM COMPLIMENTARY OR DISCOUNTED ADMISSION. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)KIDSPACE IS DEDICATED TO BROADENING ACCESSIBILITY AND OPENING DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. THIS INCLUDES A PARTNERSHIP WITH PASADENA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT WHOSE STUDENT BODY CONSISTS OF 80% INDIVIDUALS OF COLOR AND 58% ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES. KIDSPACE CONTINUES TO EXPAND ITS FREE FIELD TRIP PROGRAM TO ALL PRE-K AND KINDERGARTEN CLASSES WITHIN THE DISTRICT. IN 2024, KIDSPACE PROVIDED 3,861 FREE SCHOOL VISITS. IN MARCH 2024, THE MUSEUM LAUNCHED BIG LITTLE MORNINGS, A FREE MONTHLY PROGRAM FOR NEW FAMILIES IWTH CHILDREN AGED 0-3. THE PROGRAM IS A COLLABORATIVE MODEL FOR SUPPORTING EARLY LEARNERS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOLARS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, EDUCATORS, AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. BIG LITTLE MORNINGS SERVED OVER 7,000 INDIVIDUALS IN 2024.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1980.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.