Home › Arts, culture & humanities
Stepping Stones Museum for Children
Stepping Stones Museum for Children reported $9.1 million in revenue and $9.9 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $82.78 went to program services, $14.18 to management and general costs and $3.04 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 57.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $184,840 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 10% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $9.9MFor 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
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $9.1MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.8% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.2% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.0% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.08 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 42.1% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 57.1% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $184,840 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.87% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 15.6 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 13 of 13 | 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseStepping Stones is a premier multidimensional educational resource that provides exceptional and meaningful interactive learning experiences that enrich the lives of children and families. The museum's learning purpose is to spark children's curiosity, imagination and interests by engaging them in playful exploration of interactive learning experiences and shared moments of discovery with parents, caregivers, and educators, exciting and preparing them for an increasingly complex, changing and diverse future
Highest reported compensation
2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $184,840 | $0 | $0 | $184,840 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $155,413 | $0 | $0 | $155,413 |
| VP, TEACHING & LEARNING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $145,559 | $0 | $0 | $145,559 |
| VP, MUSEUM OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $142,241 | $0 | $0 | $142,241 |
| DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJEC Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $136,591 | $0 | $0 | $136,591 |
| VP, INTEGRATED FUNDRAISING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $116,134 | $0 | $0 | $116,134 |
6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Stepping Stones Museum for Children (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $340K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · 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–1b13 · 13 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13No
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aNo
- 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 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5162
- Volunteers Part I, line 6182
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SERVICE MANAGEMENT GROUP LLC Cleaning,janitorial | $298,112 |
| MCCANN SYSTEMS LLC Digital & lighting upgrades | $190,989 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
14 private foundations reported grants to Stepping Stones Museum for Children totaling $292K 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 Stepping Stones Museum for Children's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Stepping Stones Museum for Children, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Stepping Stones Museum for Children spent in 2025, $82.78 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- San Antonio Children's MuseumSan Antonio, TX · revenue $8.9M · programs 85.0% · 2025
- The Preservation Foundation of Palm BeachPalm Beach, FL · revenue $9.2M · programs 83.1% · FY2025
- Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts FoundationLittle Rock, AR · revenue $8.2M · programs 100.0% · 2024
- Buddy Holly HallLubbock, TX · revenue $9.3M · programs 93.9% · FY2025
- Indiana Repertory TheatreIndianapolis, IN · revenue $7.9M · programs 77.5% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Connecticut
Questions people ask
How much of Stepping Stones Museum for Children's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Stepping Stones Museum for Children reported that 82.8% of its $9.9 million in expenses went to program services, 14.2% to management and general and 3.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Stepping Stones Museum for Children pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Stepping Stones Museum for Children reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $184,840, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Stepping Stones Museum for Children get its money?
Of $9.1 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 42.1% came from contributions and grants and 57.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Stepping Stones Museum for Children a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 22-3199269 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202632379349302123 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202543149349302429 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202433059349301913 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202323049349301802 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202212429349301396 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202112359349300326 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202013089349302476 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 22-3199269: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.