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The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis reported $84.4 million in revenue and $48.8 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $70.21 went to program services, $24.16 to management and general costs and $5.63 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 42.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $664,086 (President and CEO). 19 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 126% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $49MFor 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 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $84MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 70.2% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 24.2% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 5.6% | 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 | 42.9% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.4% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 21.9% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $664,086 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.36% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 19 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 110.4 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 33 of 33 | 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
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseEducational activities, programs and school tours: the children's museum inspires teachers and students of all ages through its numerous educational programs and school tours. Our school programs cover the arts, sciences, and humanities and provide immersive curricular experiences that cannot be replicated in the classroom. The museum also supports teachers by providing an ever-expanding library of units of study that meet both the indiana and the national academic standards for grades k through 12
Exhibit design: the children's museum conceives, develops, implements, and maintains exhibits that focus on history, art, and science for its 13 galleries. Each exhibit is designed to foster family learning through hands-on experiences, interpretive programming, and the use of authentic objects. Many of the museum's exhibits are based upon strong relationships with historians and experts who help US in sharing powerful stories such as ruby bridges, astronaut dr. David wolf, and underwater archaeologist charlie beeker
Collections - the children's Museum of Indianapolis boasts a collection of more than 130,000 artifacts and specimens. The collection is a storehouse of ideas and concepts; not only are these objects pathways to the thinking that have shaped our collective past, but also to the new connections and discoveries yet unborn in the minds of young visitors. Since its founding in 1925, the museum has nurtured the growth of its collection which is divided into three domains: natural world domain: collections contain many real specimens, from dinosaur eggs and precious gems to sausage tree pods. Many…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · 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 and CEO Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $625,980 | $0 | $38,106 | $664,086 |
| COO\CIO Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $314,448 | $0 | $27,516 | $341,964 |
| Chief Financial Officer Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $261,444 | $0 | $27,520 | $288,964 |
| VP Human Resources Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $227,941 | $0 | $45,772 | $273,713 |
| VP of Experience Development & Family Learning Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $233,774 | $0 | $38,977 | $272,751 |
| General Counsel Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $220,531 | $0 | $16,694 | $237,225 |
| AVP Experience Development & Family Learning Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $151,798 | $0 | $40,327 | $192,125 |
| VP of Advancement from 4/2/24 Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $164,360 | $0 | $11,480 | $175,840 |
19 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Children's Museum of Indianapolis (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.2M (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
2024 · 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–1b33 · 33 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 15aNo
- 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 4No
- 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 5471
- Volunteers Part I, line 6550
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| EchoPoint Media Marketing Consulting Services | $1,336,164 |
| Office Pride Janitorial Services | $979,231 |
| F A Wilhelm Construction Co Inc Construction | $784,665 |
| Cambridge Associates LLC Investment Services | $757,769 |
| Tech Electronics IT Consulting | $259,245 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 16 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
32 private foundations reported grants to The Children's Museum of Indianapolis totaling $1.4M 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 Children's Museum of Indianapolis'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 Children's Museum of Indianapolis, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 The Children's Museum of Indianapolis spent in 2024, $70.21 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Pittsburgh Cultural TrustPittsburgh, PA · revenue $84M · programs 90.5% · 2024
- Cleveland Museum of ArtCleveland, OH · revenue $84M · programs 83.2% · FY2025
- National Arts Centre Corporation Dba NacCanada, · revenue $84M · programs 91.4% · FY2025
- Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History FoundationLos Angeles, CA · revenue $84M · programs 64.0% · FY2025
- San Francisco Opera AssociationSan Francisco, CA · revenue $83M · programs 74.8% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Indiana
Questions people ask
How much of The Children's Museum of Indianapolis's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis reported that 70.2% of its $48.8 million in expenses went to program services, 24.2% to management and general and 5.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Children's Museum of Indianapolis pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Children's Museum of Indianapolis reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $664,086, for the role of President and CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Children's Museum of Indianapolis get its money?
Of $84.4 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 42.9% came from contributions and grants (including 1.4% from government grants) and 21.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Children's Museum of Indianapolis a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 35-0867985 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. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202533189349308723 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202413189349309996 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202343159349301104 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202243189349311259 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202123199349316577 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202043159349304434 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 35-0867985: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.