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Nonprofiteer
← PRETEND CITY THE CHILDRENS MUSEUM OF ORANGE COUNTY

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by PRETEND CITY THE CHILDRENS MUSEUM OF ORANGE COUNTY.

Totals

Total revenue
$4,960,764
Total expenses
$4,384,225
Contributions and grants received
$1,921,561
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$2,784,515
Investment income
$229,819
Other revenue
$24,869
Total assets, end of year
$17,147,264
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,062,135
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$16,085,129
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$2,947,441
Management and general expenses
$544,196
Fundraising expenses
$892,588
Program service expenses (Part III)
$2,947,441

Program services were 67.2% 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.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $377,843

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $248,477

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $1,295,241

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $34,281

  • 2a · Program service revenue: ADMISSIONS

    total $1,914,412 · related or exempt $1,914,412

  • 2b · Program service revenue: FIELD TRIPS & GROUPS

    total $210,040 · related or exempt $210,040

  • 2c · Program service revenue: MEMBERSHIP SALES

    total $620,083 · related or exempt $620,083

  • 2d · Program service revenue: EDUCATION PROGRAM FEES

    total $7,750 · related or exempt $7,750

  • 2e · Program service revenue: G2G PROGRAM REVENUE

    total $32,230 · related or exempt $32,230

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $229,573 · excluded $229,573

  • 4 · Income from investment of tax-exempt bond proceeds

    total $0

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $0 · personal property $0

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $0

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $153,082

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $152,836

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $246

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $246 · excluded $246

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $132,339

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

    $377,843

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $132,339

  • 9a · Gaming: gross income

    $0

  • 9b · Gaming: direct expenses

    $0

  • 9c · Net income from gaming

    total $0

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $0

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $0

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $0

  • 11a · Other revenue: RETAIL STORE REVENUE

    total $18,278 · related or exempt $18,278

  • 11b · Other revenue: VENDING REVENUE

    total $3,446 · related or exempt $3,446

  • 11c · Other revenue: OTHER INCOME

    total $3,145 · related or exempt $3,145

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $24,869

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $0

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $0

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $0

  • 4 · Benefits paid to or for members

    total $0

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $539,781 · program services $198,729 · management and general $63,081 · fundraising $277,971

  • 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

    total $0

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,704,218 · program services $1,196,537 · management and general $236,027 · fundraising $271,654

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $0

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $217,356 · program services $135,147 · management and general $28,972 · fundraising $53,237

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $180,978 · program services $115,393 · management and general $38,285 · fundraising $27,300

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $0

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $12,618 · management and general $12,618

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $35,127 · management and general $35,127

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $0

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $0

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $0

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $392,384 · program services $214,083 · management and general $33,698 · fundraising $144,603

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $22,616 · program services $15,054 · management and general $1,414 · fundraising $6,148

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $0

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $85,789 · program services $51,928 · management and general $9,877 · fundraising $23,984

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $800,059 · program services $716,512 · management and general $56,894 · fundraising $26,653

  • 17 · Travel

    total $7,763 · program services $6,177 · management and general $15 · fundraising $1,571

  • 18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials

    total $0

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $15,889 · program services $8,922 · management and general $2,665 · fundraising $4,302

  • 20 · Interest

    total $4,159 · management and general $4,159

  • 21 · Payments to affiliates

    total $0

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $5,370 · program services $5,370

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $40,973 · program services $28,472 · management and general $9,151 · fundraising $3,350

  • 24a · Other expenses: OTHER EXPENSES

    total $162,489 · program services $113,225 · management and general $4,588 · fundraising $44,676

  • 24b · Other expenses: SUPPLIES AND PROGRAMS

    total $98,191 · program services $91,486 · management and general $4,954 · fundraising $1,751

  • 24c · Other expenses: TELEPHONE AND COMMUNICATIONS

    total $11,039 · program services $8,831 · management and general $552 · fundraising $1,656

  • 24d · Other expenses: EQUIPMENT RENTAL

    total $12,130 · program services $8,772 · management and general $1,679 · fundraising $1,679

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $35,296 · program services $32,803 · management and general $440 · fundraising $2,053

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $2,981,830 · end of year $472,443

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $4,729,083 · end of year $6,502,735

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $5,431,347 · end of year $3,535,750

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $179,410 · end of year $166,997

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $49,029 · end of year $70,588

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

    $7,211,982

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

    $7,211,982

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $5,370 · end of year $0

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $545,460

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $4,025,845 · end of year $5,853,291

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $604,420 · end of year $289,151

  • 18 · Grants payable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $435,951 · end of year $370,395

  • 20 · Tax-exempt bond liabilities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 21 · Escrow or custodial account liability

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $156,616 · end of year $153,082

  • 24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $666,784 · end of year $249,507

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $8,374,818 · end of year $11,136,535

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $7,163,325 · end of year $4,948,594

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

Pretend City is a children's museum focused on the developmental growth and success of children 0-8 through play, imagination and real-world experiences while building the capacity of adults to care for them.

Activities or mission (Part I)

EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

  • For 2024, 201,997 children and adults visited Pretend City Children's Museum. That number included 6,456 children and chaperones experiencing Pretend City via 120 subsidized school or group field trips and 1,893 students and chaperones coming via 32 fully funded scholarships field trips. 5,864 adults and children enjoyed the educational learning Pretend City has to offer while attending birthday parties or facility rentals hosted at the museum. Over 12,000 free admission tickets were distributed to nonprofit organizations and communities throughout Orange County. Through our Good to go! Program initiative, Pretend City screened 671 children for developmental delay throughout the year. 653 health screenings were performed at our annual School Readiness Fair. Additionally, many children received a free screening from one of the following: vision, dental, fine/gross motor, speech & language, bmi, and audiology during our Way to Play days. Pretend City was able to serve 3,420 children and family members at our neurodivergent family nights and 1,893 children and family members attended our baby Steps development mornings.

    Expenses $2,947,441 · Revenue $2,784,515

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

Listed in Part VII

  • Ellen Pais

    Executive Director

    Total calculated
    $210,272
    From this org
    $195,098
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,174
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $195,098
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,174
    Filer's total
    $210,272

  • Sue Harrison

    Chief Development Officer

    Total calculated
    $183,348
    From this org
    $182,962
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $386
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $182,962
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $386
    Filer's total
    $183,348

  • Maria Tinajero-Dowdle

    Chief Operating Officer

    Total calculated
    $146,162
    From this org
    $133,763
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,399
    Hours/week
    40

  • Barbara Powers

    Major Gifts Officer

    Total calculated
    $146,093
    From this org
    $132,249
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,844
    Hours/week
    40

  • Phi Nguyen

    Director of Human Resources

    Total calculated
    $115,463
    From this org
    $105,818
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $9,645
    Hours/week
    40

  • Tiffany Patterson

    Director of Finance

    Total calculated
    $110,942
    From this org
    $110,134
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $808
    Hours/week
    40

  • Erin Boyl

    Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Mark Montoya

    Vice Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jennifer Buchheim

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Adina Stowell

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Anya Popov

    BOARD MEMBER (Thru 02/2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Travis Boyd

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Barbara Bitzer

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Daniel Campos

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Bill H Lyon

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kyle Suryan

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kari Moore

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kevin Rubin

    BOARD MEMBER (Thru 07/2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Mona Shah

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Sandy Peffer-Stone

    BOARD MEMBER/Founder

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Michelle Barto

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Randy Wood

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Nelma Maddox

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Andrew Morrow

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Trevor Tait

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kathy Mohanna

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Casey McCracken

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Iman Movahed

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Carl Tong

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Alexandra Mars Airth

    CO-FOUNDER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Floyd Amuchie

    board member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Elliot Brown

    Board Member (Added in 2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Ben Drutman

    Board Member (Added in 2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Marisa Dukovich

    Board Member (Added in 2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Moises Gonzalez

    Board Member (Added in 2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

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 · 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
17 November 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202543219349312904

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