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The Childrens Museum
Also known as Boston Children's Museum
The Childrens Museum reported $22.1 million in revenue and $12.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $76.27 went to program services, $16.47 to management and general costs and $7.26 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 64.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $304,841 (PRESIDENT/CEO). 8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 201% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $12MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $22M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$60.95 $13M
- Government grants$2.97 $657K
- Program service revenue$24.80 $5.5M
- Investment income$11.28 $2.5M
Other revenue was negative: −$51,427. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 76.3% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 16.5% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.3% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.06 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 64.1% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 3.0% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 24.9% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $304,841 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.44% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 62.2 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 30 of 30 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseVisitor experiencethe goal of visitor experience is to provide high quality experiences for our large audience of diverse visitors, whether they come in as school or community groups, or families. We seek to address the learning needs and interests of children birth to ten years old, as well as their accompanying adults who comprise 50% of the audience. To do this, we develop staff talent in delivering excellent customer service, public programs, and engaging interaction with visitors to help them maximize the learning impact and delight in discovery. Visitor experience works to create an…
Education programsthe goal of education programs is to develop and implement interactive experiences that enhance the museum's exhibits for children and adults in the areas of STEM and steam, visual and performing arts, health and wellness, cultures, early childhood development and learning, and community engagement. Education programs include self-guided and structured school programs, school readiness programs in partnership with community agencies, designated programs for children and families with special needs, science discovery programs, art studio workshops, performing arts…
Exhibitionsthe goal of exhibitions is to develop, design and produce innovatively awesome experiences that engage children and adults in meaningful activities that inspire creativity, curiosity, experimentation, problem solving, and collaboration. Exhibits are powerful tools for play and learning, and for opening the imagination to new worlds and ideas. With a great depth and breadth of staff expertise in the arts, STEM/steam, health and wellness, cultures and early childhood education, the museum creates exhibits that may appear deceptively simple but are founded in the theory and practice…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT/CEO Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $270,581 | $0 | $34,260 | $304,841 |
| VP OF DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $202,881 | $0 | $18,058 | $220,939 |
| SVP/CFO (UNTIL 10/14/24) Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $184,415 | $0 | $17,753 | $202,168 |
| VP OF CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $139,732 | $0 | $16,942 | $156,674 |
| VP OF PROGRAMS & EXHIBITS Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $141,676 | $0 | $5,667 | $147,343 |
| & MANAGING DIRECTOR FINANCE Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $126,697 | $0 | $7,247 | $133,944 |
| SENIOR DIRECTOR, EXHIBITS Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $108,825 | $0 | $14,802 | $123,627 |
| ASSISTANT SECRETARY Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $53,744 | $0 | $8,930 | $62,674 |
8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Childrens Museum (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $683K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b30 · 30 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5124
- Volunteers Part I, line 6103
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| CBRE INC Property management | $473,223 |
| ACP CLEANING INC Museum and tenant cleaning | $440,749 |
| SECURITAS SECURITY SERVICES US Museum and building security | $427,744 |
| ATKINSON CARPET & FLOORING Flooring installation | $265,558 |
| NORTHEASTERN MECHANICAL INC Hvac service & repair | $243,750 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 8 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
26 private foundations reported grants to The Childrens Museum totaling $789K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from The Childrens Museum's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Childrens Museum, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Childrens Museum spent in FY2025, $76.27 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Historical Society of Western PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, PA · revenue $22M · programs 74.8% · FY2025
- Seattle OperaSeattle, WA · revenue $22M · programs 78.9% · FY2025
- Technology ReviewCambridge, MA · revenue $22M · programs 85.4% · FY2025
- Children's MuseumHouston, TX · revenue $22M · programs 77.0% · FY2025
- Fair Park FirstDallas, TX · revenue $22M · programs 86.7% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Massachusetts
Questions people ask
How much of The Childrens Museum's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, The Childrens Museum reported that 76.3% of its $12.5 million in expenses went to program services, 16.5% to management and general and 7.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Childrens Museum pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Childrens Museum reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $304,841, for the role of PRESIDENT/CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Childrens Museum get its money?
Of $22.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 64.1% came from contributions and grants (including 3.0% from government grants) and 24.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Childrens Museum a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 04-2103993 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202621219349300712 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202501299349301870 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401179349301500 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202331299349304248 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202201269349302885 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202131239349302178 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 04-2103993: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.