Association of Childrens Museums Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ASSOCIATION OF CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS WILL STRENGTHEN ALL CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS THROUGH LEADERSHIP, ADVOCACY, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICE.
- Income
- $4.2 million
- Spending
- $4.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 1.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 44%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $262,649, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 2518 of 18 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 September 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 (7)
- $1.1 million spent. EDUCATION AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT - CONNECTING CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS THROUGH INITIATIVES THAT FOCUS ON PRIORITIZING EDUCATION AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT THROUGH MISSION-ALIGNED PLAYFUL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.
- $789,205 spent. MEMBERSHIP SERVICES - SUPPORTING CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS TO CREATE A WORLD THAT PRIORITIZES THE RIGHTS OF ALL CHILDREN TO PLAYFUL LEARNING AND A HEALTHY, SAFE, AND EQUITABLE FUTURE.
- $661,980 spent. MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES - VARIOUS MEETINGS INCLUDING ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS STAFF AT ALL LEVELS.
- $139,212 spent. ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP & EDUCATION - PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN'S MUSEUM PROFESSIONALS THAT INCLUDES KNOWLEDGE-SHARING AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT TO OFFER EFFECTIVE PRACTICES FOR THE FIELD.
- $216,729 spent. MUSEUMS OF ALL- A COOPERATIVE INITIATIVE WITH IMLS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY FAMILY, CHILD, AND INDIVIDUAL HAS ACCESS TO A HIGH-QUALITY MUSEUM EXPERIENCE BY OFFERING DEEPLY DISCOUNTED ADMISSION TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS.
- $491,090 spent. RESEARCH - CO-CREATING RESEARCH-BASED RESOURCES THAT DRAW ATTENTION TO EMERGING TRENDS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ELEVATING THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM FIELD.
- $10,628 spent. CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING - CONNECTING CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS WITH RESOURCES AND EFFECTIVE PRACTICES THAT HELP THEM DEVELOP EXPERIENCES THAT EQUIP FAMILIES TO BETTER NAVIGATE A GLOBALLY CONNECTED WORLD.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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 September 2025.
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 1988.
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.