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Nonprofiteer
← MARBLES KIDS MUSEUM

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by MARBLES KIDS MUSEUM.

Totals

Total revenue
$12,969,491
Total expenses
$8,138,079
Contributions and grants received
$7,753,009
Grants paid
$6,300
Program service revenue
$4,832,162
Investment income
$12,295
Other revenue
$372,025
Total assets, end of year
$33,879,221
Total liabilities, end of year
$3,708,176
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$30,171,045
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$5,346,312
Management and general expenses
$2,128,821
Fundraising expenses
$662,946
Program service expenses (Part III)
$5,346,312

Program services were 65.7% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1b · Membership dues

    $900,516

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $309,149

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $1,245,509

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $5,297,835

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $160,924

  • 2a · Program service revenue: ADMISSION AND OTHER FEES

    total $4,824,124 · related or exempt $4,148,027 · unrelated business $676,097

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $8,038 · related or exempt $8,038

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $12,295 · excluded $12,295

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $53,995

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $309,149

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $148,079

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$94,084 · excluded -$94,084

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $872,525

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $406,416

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $466,109 · related or exempt $466,109

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $6,300 · program services $6,300

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $356,724 · program services $97,555 · management and general $177,939 · fundraising $81,230

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $3,694,015 · program services $2,564,846 · management and general $736,521 · fundraising $392,648

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $38,207 · program services $22,392 · management and general $9,906 · fundraising $5,909

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $422,389 · program services $319,366 · management and general $90,862 · fundraising $12,161

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $293,497 · program services $218,298 · management and general $55,331 · fundraising $19,868

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $42,864 · management and general $42,864

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $36,360 · fundraising $36,360

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $405,870 · program services $127,831 · management and general $267,999 · fundraising $10,040

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $87,848 · program services $87,622 · management and general $100 · fundraising $126

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $101,887 · program services $50,124 · management and general $43,352 · fundraising $8,411

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $207,858 · program services $20,683 · management and general $187,043 · fundraising $132

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $41,829 · management and general $41,829

  • 17 · Travel

    total $31,479 · program services $17,672 · management and general $13,807

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $33,214 · program services $9,920 · management and general $22,658 · fundraising $636

  • 20 · Interest

    total $99,324 · program services $98,808 · management and general $516

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $579,876 · program services $434,084 · management and general $145,792

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $75,910 · program services $1,204 · management and general $74,706

  • 24a · Other expenses: FILM EXPENSE

    total $345,817 · program services $345,817

  • 24b · Other expenses: SUPPLIES EXPENSE

    total $284,505 · program services $231,660 · management and general $52,571 · fundraising $274

  • 24c · Other expenses: REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE

    total $222,822 · program services $129,695 · management and general $93,127

  • 24d · Other expenses: FOOD PURCHASES

    total $203,705 · program services $194,313 · management and general $9,089 · fundraising $303

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $525,779 · program services $368,122 · management and general $62,809 · fundraising $94,848

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $4,800,147 · end of year $6,436,327

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $1,500,176 · end of year $950,861

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $668,441 · end of year $1,961,553

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $45,742 · end of year $16,977

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $132,254 · end of year $193,493

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $69,997 · end of year $55,376

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $13,292,311

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $6,287,862

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $4,899,430 · end of year $7,004,449

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $19,221,553 · end of year $17,260,185

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $725,949 · end of year $501,622

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $987,274 · end of year $968,554

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $2,319,155 · end of year $2,238,000

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $6,360,768 · end of year $7,246,887

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $20,944,594 · end of year $22,924,158

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

SEE SCHEDULE OMARBLES SPARKS IMAGINATION, DISCOVERY AND LEARNING THROUGH PLAY. 1. READY SET LEARN. PLAY BUILDS INTELLECTUAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS FOR SUCCESS IN LEARNING AND IN LIFE. 2. BE HEALTHY BE ACTIVE. PLAY PROMOTES PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH. 3. CREATE INNOVATE. PLAY ENCOURAGES IMAGINATION, CREATIVITY AND SELF-EXPRESSION. 4. EXPLORE EXPERIMENT. PLAY LEADS TO DISCOVERY AND KINDLES CURIOSITY. 5. CONNECT. PLAY TEACHES COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION, STRENGTHENS FAMILIES AND UNITES OUR COMMUNITY.

Activities or mission (Part I)

MARBLES SPARKS IMAGINATION, DISCOVERY, AND LEARNING THROUGH PLAY.

  • IN FY2024-2025 (FY25), MARBLES WELCOMED ALMOST 544,000 VISITORS FROM ALL 50 STATES, 98 NORTH CAROLINA COUNTIES AND EVERY CORNER OF WAKE COUNTY TO EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF PLAY. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE OPENING THE MARBLES PLAYWAY, A JOYFUL COMMUNITY SPACE THAT BRINGS KIDS AND FAMILIES TOGETHER TO CONNECT WITH NATURE AND EACH OTHER. THIS COLORFUL URBAN OASIS WELCOMES MARBLES GUESTS AND DOWNTOWN VISITORS ALIKE TO AN ACCESSIBLE, FREE-TO-ALL DESTINATION IN THE HEART OF RALEIGH. MARBLES IN-HOUSE EXHIBITS TEAM DESIGNED, FABRICATED AND INSTALLED TWO CUSTOM CLIMBING STRUCTURES A DRAGONFLY AND A BEE TO ENCOURAGE KIDS TO KEEP THEIR BODIES AND IMAGINATIONS ACTIVE. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OTHE MARBLES PLAYWAY EARNED TWO HONORS FOR ITS IMPACT ON DOWNTOWN RALEIGH A 2025 DRA IMPRINT AWARD AND THE SIR WALTER RALEIGH AWARD FOR COMMUNITY APPEARANCE. MARBLES ALSO SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED OUR FIRST-EVER CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, BIGGER PLAY, BRIGHTER FUTURES, WITH MORE THAN $9.1 MILLION RAISED. WITH CAMPAIGN FUNDS, MARBLES WILL ADD NEW INDOOR AND OUTDOOR EXHIBITS, ENHANCE GUEST AMENITIES AND LAUNCH THE MARBLES IMPACT FUND TO SUPPORT FUTURE SUSTAINABILITY. IN SUPPORT OF OUR MISSION TO SPARK IMAGINATION, DISCOVERY, AND LEARNING THROUGH PLAY, MARBLES DELIVERS POWERFUL PLAY EXPERIENCES ALIGNED WITH FIVE CORE CONTENT INITIATIVES: READY SET LEARN, BE HEALTHY BE ACTIVE, CREATE INNOVATE, EXPLORE EXPERIMENT, AND CONNECT. CONTENT IS DELIVERED THROUGH INNOVATIVE AND INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, DAILY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, FIELD TRIPS, CAMPS, SPECIAL ACCESS PROGRAMS AND GIANT SCREEN IMAX DOCUMENTARY MOVIES. IN FY25, MARBLES KIDS MUSEUM SERVED ALMOST 544,000 VISITORS ACROSS CAMPUS AND WELCOMED OVER 50,100 FIELD TRIP PARTICIPANTS IN PRESCHOOL THROUGH 8TH GRADE. MUSEUM FIELD TRIPS OFFER OPEN-ENDED MUSEUM EXPLORATION OF OUR EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS AS WELL AS HANDS-ON SPECIALTY PROGRAMS ON TOPICS LIKE STEM, FINANCIAL LITERACY, NUTRITION, AND WEATHER. MARBLES ALSO OFFERS CURRICULUM-ALIGNED EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIPS THAT INTEGRATE AWARD-WINNING IMAX DOCUMENTARIES WITH HANDS-ON LEARNING LABS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 5-8, BRINGING CONTENT TO LIFE THROUGH HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES. CAMP MARBLES ENGAGED MORE THAN 3,000 KIDS IN FUN, INTERACTIVE LEARNING AND PLAY THROUGH CREATING, BUILDING, AND EXPERIMENTING. MARBLES ACCESS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS PROVIDED OVER 50,900 FREE AND REDUCED RATE MUSEUM VISITS IN FY25 FOR TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, ENSURING ALL CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO MARBLES, DESPITE FINANCIAL OR PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS. MARBLES ACCESS PROGRAMS INCLUDE MUSEUM ACCESS FOR AT-RISK TITLE I AND PRESCHOOL GROUPS, EXTENDED HOURS FOR WORKING FAMILIES, FREE EVENTS FOR RISING KINDERGARTENERS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND FREE EVENTS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. IN FY25 MARBLES WON THE ASSOCIATION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTERS' ROY L SHAFER LEADING EDGE AWARD FOR MARBLES' UNDER THE WAVES EXHIBIT (SEPTEMBER 2024).

    Expenses $5,346,312 · Grants $6,300 · Revenue $4,622,174

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Jason Herndon

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Ericka Santos

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Lennie Austin

    TREASURER & FINANCE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Sharon Crawford

    SECRETARY & DEVELOPMENT CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Kristine Lane

    COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jeane Whittington Powers

    FACILITIES CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Sarah Morgan

    LEARNING CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Trey Adams

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Lorie Barnes

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Preston Bergen

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Christian Bigsby

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Korrie Blanchard

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Kelli Braunbach

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Stacey Buescher

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Connie Carrigan

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Heather Cozart

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dawn Dawson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mike Forman

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Deanna Hawkes

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Shirley Huang

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Leslie Ann Jackson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Gail Jones

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Wendy Kaszak

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Naeill Leigh

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dana Martinez

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jennifer Pittman

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Grace Rountree

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mary Beck Skinner

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Bernette Stivers

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Tim Whitney

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jonathan Frederick

    CEO

    Total calculated
    $229,012
    From this org
    $206,870
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,142
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $201,870
    Bonus
    $5,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,278
    Nontaxable benefits
    $17,864
    Filer's total
    $229,012
  • April Ward

    VP, FINANCE

    Total calculated
    $120,237
    From this org
    $94,379
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $25,858
    Hours/week
    40
  • Britt Thomas

    CHIEF ACTIVATION OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $166,590
    From this org
    $141,062
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $25,528
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $138,062
    Bonus
    $3,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $2,829
    Nontaxable benefits
    $22,699
    Filer's total
    $166,590
  • Hardin Engelhardt

    CHIEF LEARNING OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $136,070
    From this org
    $102,468
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $33,602
    Hours/week
    40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
4 May 2026
IRS schema version
2024v5.5
Source object
202601279349300115

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