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Children's Museum
Also known as The Children's Museum of Houston
Children's Museum reported $22.2 million in revenue and $16.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $76.96 went to program services, $14.95 to management and general costs and $8.09 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 68.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $284,997 (Chief Executive Officer). 14 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 105% 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 $17MFor 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 $22MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 77.0% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 15.0% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 8.1% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.09 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 68.6% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 22.9% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $284,997 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.69% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 14 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 43.0 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 44 of 44 | 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 expenseThe Museum employs credentialled educators who manage thirteen bilingual (English/Spanish) exhibit galleries, an on-site branch of the Houston Public Library, and programming that changes weekly. These exhibits/programs are focused on the development of literacy and engagement in hands-on, inquiry-based investigations of science, technology, engineering, and math (i.e., the STEM disciplines). The museum served 658,000 visitors. Over one-third of the visitors receive free admission via weekly free family nights and the open doors free museum admission passes distributed to low-income families…
Community outreach programs serving low-income families in under-resourced neighborhoods include a) programs that increase the quality of experiential learning opportunities for children participating in after school centers and summer camps; and b) programs that equip parents to engage their children in learning at home using inexpensive and readily available supplies. In FY25, these programs achieved attendance of 136,836 through outreach at 333 locations across Greater Houston. All programing is provided free of charge to participants in collaboration with partners that include Title I…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executive Officer Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $269,675 | $0 | $15,322 | $284,997 |
| Chief Financial Officer Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $205,593 | $0 | $18,541 | $224,134 |
| Chief Strategy Officer Key employee, 45.0 hrs/week | $207,125 | $0 | $16,804 | $223,929 |
| Chief Development Officer Key employee, 45.0 hrs/week | $186,194 | $0 | $13,178 | $199,372 |
| DIRECTOR OF EXHIBIT DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 45.0 hrs/week | $141,263 | $0 | $19,430 | $160,693 |
| Controller Highest compensated employee, 45.0 hrs/week | $137,132 | $0 | $13,703 | $150,835 |
| DIRECTOR OF PR AND PROMOTION Highest compensated employee, 45.0 hrs/week | $133,455 | $0 | $14,646 | $148,101 |
| GRANT WRITER Highest compensated employee, 45.0 hrs/week | $128,534 | $0 | $15,245 | $143,779 |
14 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Children's Museum (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.0M (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–1b44 · 44 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 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 5305
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,864
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| WS Bellows Construction Corporation Construction - Bellows - Entry and NKH | $1,121,067 |
| Heartland Scenic Studio Inc Design and Consulting for new/updated exhibits | $745,089 |
| Argyle Design Inc Design and Consulting for new/updated exhibits | $347,161 |
| Velociti ServicesJanCo FS3 LLC Janitorial and Cleaning Services | $333,526 |
| Trivium Interactive Faithful Friends tech - contract | $324,168 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 11 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
32 private foundations reported grants to Children's Museum totaling $1.6M 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 Children's 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 Children's Museum, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Children's Museum spent in FY2025, $76.96 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Seattle OperaSeattle, WA · revenue $22M · programs 78.9% · FY2025
- Worcester Art MuseumWorcester, MA · revenue $22M · programs 75.7% · FY2025
- The Childrens MuseumBoston, MA · revenue $22M · programs 76.3% · FY2025
- Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of ScienceMiami, FL · revenue $22M · programs 84.9% · FY2025
- Historical Society of Western PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, PA · revenue $22M · programs 74.8% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Texas
Questions people ask
How much of Children's Museum's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Children's Museum reported that 77.0% of its $16.8 million in expenses went to program services, 15.0% to management and general and 8.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Children's Museum pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Children's Museum reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $284,997, for the role of Chief Executive Officer (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Children's Museum get its money?
Of $22.2 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 68.6% came from contributions and grants (including 0.0% from government grants) and 22.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Children's Museum a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 74-2178563 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
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202641329349303019 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202531289349303403 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202440889349301614 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202331259349302483 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202220849349300927 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202110629349300511 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 74-2178563: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.