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Nonprofiteer
← MADISON CHILDRENS MUSEUM INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by MADISON CHILDRENS MUSEUM INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$3,805,359
Total expenses
$5,856,552
Contributions and grants received
$3,626,118
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$179,241
Other revenue
$0
Total assets, end of year
$16,438,434
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,517,216
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$14,921,218
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$3,765,449
Management and general expenses
$1,114,193
Fundraising expenses
$976,910
Program service expenses (Part III)
$3,765,449

Program services were 64.3% 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.

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $3,626,118

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $134,580 · excluded $134,580

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $546,803

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

    securities $502,142

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $44,661

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $44,661 · excluded $44,661

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $205,756 · management and general $205,756

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $2,595,750 · program services $2,102,503 · management and general $262,733 · fundraising $230,514

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $254,493 · program services $222,897 · management and general $12,858 · fundraising $18,738

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $280,404 · program services $218,025 · management and general $41,853 · fundraising $20,526

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $36,000 · management and general $36,000

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $984,054 · program services $272,241 · management and general $126,686 · fundraising $585,127

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $45,905 · program services $44,870 · fundraising $1,035

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $386,182 · program services $285,515 · management and general $38,644 · fundraising $62,023

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $94,897 · program services $56,447 · management and general $13,354 · fundraising $25,096

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $261,247 · program services $184,663 · management and general $76,584

  • 17 · Travel

    total $25,638 · program services $4,279 · management and general $102 · fundraising $21,257

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $49,997 · program services $15,317 · management and general $22,166 · fundraising $12,514

  • 20 · Interest

    total $54,421 · program services $2,584 · management and general $51,787 · fundraising $50

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $518,828 · program services $353,736 · management and general $165,092

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $50,232 · program services $135 · management and general $50,097

  • 24a · Other expenses: DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

    total $11,748 · program services $2,237 · management and general $9,481 · fundraising $30

  • 24b · Other expenses: BAD DEBT EXPENSE

    total $1,000 · management and general $1,000

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $422,392 · end of year $99,134

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $172,701 · end of year $178,958

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $4,751,194 · end of year $3,448,344

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $193,610 · end of year $116,095

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $7,074 · end of year $3,382

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $40,489 · end of year $60,782

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

    $19,352,520

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

    $6,877,065

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $12,925,588 · end of year $12,475,455

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $21,730 · end of year $56,284

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $281,874 · end of year $289,243

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $1,259,933 · end of year $1,215,648

  • 24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable

    beginning of year $4,285 · end of year $0

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $16,275 · end of year $12,325

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $16,972,411 · end of year $14,921,218

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

MADISON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM CONNECTS CHILDREN WITH THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND THE WORLD BEYOND THROUGH DISCOVERY LEARNING AND CREATIVE PLAY. MADISON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM STRIVES TO BE A WELCOMING, IMAGINATIVE, JOYFUL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT SUPPORTS FAMILIES IN NURTURING CHILDREN'S CREATIVITY AND CURIOSITY. WE FOSTER THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF ALL CHILDREN SO THAT THEY WILL FULFILL THEIR POTENTIAL AND BECOME ENGAGED COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND GLOBAL CITIZENS. OUR CORE VALUES REFLECT WHAT WE BELIEVE IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF CHILDREN-ALWAYS. WE BELIEVE IN: PLAY, INTEGRITY, CREATIVITY, COLLABORATION, RISK, INCLUSIVENESS, LEARNING, AND SUSTAINABILITY.

Activities or mission (Part I)

MADISON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS FOR LEARNING THROUGH PLAY

  • EXHIBIT ENVIRONMENTS CREATE THE CORE EDUCATIONAL AREAS AND PLAY SPACES WITHIN THE MUSEUM SETTING, PROVIDING INTERACTIVE, ENGAGING PLAY OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES, ALONG WITH THEIR ADULT CAREGIVERS. EXHIBITS ARE INTERDISCIPLINARY AND WEAVE TOGETHER THEMES FROM OUR CORE EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES: ART, HISTORY, CULTURE, SCIENCE, PHYSICAL, AND INNOVATION.THE NICE AGE TRAIL OPENED IN JUNE 2024, CREATING AN IMMERSIVE NEW PLAY SPACE FOR MCM VISITORS. THE NICE AGE TRAIL IS A RICH INTERACTIVE AND HANDS ON EXHIBIT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT EXPLORES THE SCIENCE BEHIND LIFE'S NATURAL RHYTHMS. THE NICE AGE TRAIL CONNECTS CHILDREN TO NATURE IN PROFOUND WAYS, WHEN THEY LEARN THAT THEY HAVE NATURAL SLEEP AND WAKING CYCLES, OR THAT ANIMALS ADAPT TO THE SEASONS AND TIMES OF DAY, JUST LIKE THEM. THE GOAL OF THE NICE AGE TRAIL IS TO INSPIRE WONDER AND CREATE EMPATHIC CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CHILDREN AND OTHER LIVING BEINGS, THROUGH EXPLORING THE SIMILARITIES WE HAVE WITH OTHER SPECIES, WHILE LEARNING ABOUT THE UNIVERSE AND THE SCIENCE BEHIND OUR SHARED CONNECTIONS. THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES IN A RICH AND IMMERSIVE WORLD THAT GUIDE OUR DAILY LIVES, ROUTINES, RITUALS, AND EXPRESSIONS. THIS STEAM-RICH EXHIBIT INFUSES WONDER AND CURIOSITY ABOUT THE WORLD INTO EVERY EXHIBIT EXPERIENCE, WHILE INTRODUCING CHILDREN TO CORE STEAM CONCEPTS ABOUT EARTH SCIENCE, ASTRONOMY, BIOLOGY, MATHEMATICS, MUSIC, ART, WITH THE WONDERGROUND EXPANSION IN FY22/23, EXHIBITS NOW OCCUPY MORE THAN 40,000 SQUARE FEET OF INDOOR AND OUTDOOR PUBLIC SPACE - DESIGNED AND FABRICATED BY A WISCONSIN WORKFORCE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITYINCLUDING MORE THAN 130 LOCAL ARTISTSAND FEATURE THE USE OF LOCALLY OBTAINED MATERIALS. EXHIBIT AREAS PROMOTE LEARNING THROUGH PLAY FOR AGES 5 AND UNDER IN THE WILDERNEST AND URB GARDEN EXHIBITS, BOTH OF WHICH ARE CONSTRUCTED OF NATURAL AND REPURPOSED MATERIALS. THE FOLLOWING AREAS ENGAGE CHILDREN UP TO AGE 12: THE TWO-STORY HODGEPODGE MAHAL CLIMBER AND HUMAN-SIZED GERBIL WHEEL FOR WHOLE-BODY EXERCISE; AND THE ART STUDIO FOR CREATIVE EXPRESSION. AN ACCESSIBLE GREEN ROOF, THE ROOFTOP RAMBLE, ENABLES FOUR-SEASON EXPLORATION OF NATURE IN A "PARK IN THE SKY; AN INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT ABOUT LAKES AND WATER QUALITY CALLED SEYMORE'S ADVENTURE; AND AN HISTORICAL EXHIBIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF CHILDREN'S SEWING CIRCLES CALLED "A STITCH IN TIME".

    Expenses $1,388,749

  • EDUCATION PROGRAMMING ENRICHES THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE THROUGH CLASSES, DROP-IN ACTIVITIES, RESIDENCIES, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND FACILITATION OF THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE IN THE MUSEUM'S EXHIBIT GALLERIES. PROGRAMS PROVIDE DEEPER ENGAGEMENT FOR VISITORS IN THE MUSEUM'S CORE INITIATIVES OF ARTS, SCIENCE AND INNOVATION, CULTURE AND HISTORY, HEALTH, SUSTAINABILITY, EARLY LEARNING, AND ACCESSIBILITY. THE MUSEUM USES ITS PROGRAMS TO EXPRESS ITS VALUES, INCLUDING PLAY, INTEGRITY, CREATIVITY, COLLABORATION, RISK, INCLUSIVENESS, LEARNING, AND SUSTAINABILITY. DURING FY24/25, MCM SERVED 195,000 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ON SITE, AND PRODUCED OVER 1000 PROGRAMS.THE MCM ROADSHOW PROVIDED MOBILE OUTREACH EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE REGION. EIGHTY-FOUR EVENTS, AT FIFTY-SIX LOCATIONS IN DIVERSE, MULTI-LINGUAL NEIGHBORHOODS WERE SERVED IN FY24/25. WE SERVED 2,932 PEOPLE DIRECTLY WITH OVERALL ATTENDANCE OF ALL COMBINED EVENTS AND POTENTIAL EXPOSURE TO APPROXIMATELY 10,000 PEOPLE.THE MUSEUM STRIVES TO SERVE EVERY CHILD, REGARDLESS OF ABILITY, CULTURE, OR ECONOMIC BACKGROUND. THE MUSEUM'S ACCESS FOR EVERYONE PROGRAMS PROVIDE ACCESS FOR NEARLY 1/3 OF ALL VISITORS THROUGH FREE AND LOW-COST ADMISSIONS, MEMBERSHIPS, OUTREACH PROGRAMMING, AND EVENTS. THE MUSEUM INCREASED ITS FREE ADMISSION HOURS IN FY23/24 BY ADDING WEEKLY FREE ADMISSION HOURS ON THURSDAY EVENINGS BEGINNING IN JANUARY 2024, AND WELCOMED MORE THAN 10,000 VISITORS ON FREE THURSDAY NIGHTS.

    Expenses $761,393

  • MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMS HELP THE MUSEUM MEET ITS MISSION BY DEVELOPING AND DELIVERING INFORMATION ABOUT EXHIBITS, PROGRAMS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS TO CONSTITUENTS THROUGHOUT SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN AND FURTHER OUT. THE MUSEUM USES A VARIETY OF COMMUNICATION METHODS TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT MUSEUM ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING ITS WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, EMAIL, MEDIA RELATIONS, ADVERTISING, AND PRINTED COLLATERAL MATERIALS . EXHIBIT SIGNAGE AND MANY MUSEUM PUBLICATIONS INCLUDE BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH VERSIONS.THE CENTERPIECE OF THE YEAR'S ADVERTISING PROMOTED THE NICE AGE TRAIL, THE MUSEUM'S NEWEST EXHIBIT. AN INTEGRATED MARKETING PLAN REACHED WELL OVER 100,000 PEOPLE AND RESULTED IN VISITATION AT A RATE OF 16% OVER THE PREVIOUS SUMMER. ADDING FREE THURSDAY EVENING OPEN HOURS ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE INCREASED ATTENDANCE. THE MUSEUM COLLABORATES WITH ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND STAKEHOLDERS IN ORDER TO EXPAND ITS REACH THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS. THESE ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT; GREATER MADISON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE; GREATER MADISON CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU; AND THE BLACK, LATINO, AND LGBTQ CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.THE DEPARTMENT RESEARCHED VENUE RENTAL PRICING AND POLICIES IN THE AREA AND ADJUSTED ITS OWN FACILITY RENTAL PRICING AND POLICIES ACCORDINGLY. INTEREST IN THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN INCREASING, THOUGH REVENUE LAGS DUE TO ACCRUAL ACCOUNTING. THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT TO THE MUSEUM'S CARETAKERS OF WONDER NATIONAL LEADERSHIP PROJECT AND OTHER SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES. THIS WORK STRENGTHENS THE PROJECT COLLABORATIVE AND ALLOWS PARTNERING MUSEUMS TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE IN WAYS THAT SUPPORT FAMILIES IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND MODEL EFFECTIVE WAYS TO MAKE CHANGE.

    Expenses $1,615,307

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

Listed in Part VII

  • MICHELLE CHANG-DER BEDROSIAN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • KRISTIN SHUTTS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ASYA ALEXANDROVICH

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • BRYAN CHAN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MARTA GIALAMAS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • CRISTINA CHOI

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JANE VILLA

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MARIA SOBRIDO

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JENNIFER JOHNSON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • SARAH CONDELLA

    OFFICER AT LARGE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MATT CORNWELL

    OFFICER AT LARGE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • SYDNEY VANBERG

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5 + 0.5 related

  • MATT PREMO

    BOARD CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5 + 0.5 related

  • JOEL MARTIN

    VICE CHAIR & TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • TOM LINFIELD

    PRESIDENT & CEO

    Total calculated
    $90,312
    From this org
    $85,361
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,951
    Hours/week
    35 + 5 related

  • DEB GILPIN

    PRESIDENT & CEO (FORMER)

    Total calculated
    $38,597
    From this org
    $36,642
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $1,955
    Hours/week
    35 + 5 related

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.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
25 March 2026
IRS schema version
2024v5.5
Source object
202610879349300111

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