Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← STEPPING STONES MUSEUM FOR CHILDREN INC

Form 990 for tax year 2025

Filed by STEPPING STONES MUSEUM FOR CHILDREN INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$9,055,331
Total expenses
$9,890,547
Contributions and grants received
$3,808,884
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$5,166,332
Investment income
$70,738
Other revenue
$9,377
Total assets, end of year
$13,911,462
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,075,002
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$12,836,460
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$8,187,267
Management and general expenses
$1,402,607
Fundraising expenses
$300,673
Program service expenses (Part III)
$8,187,267

Program services were 82.8% 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

    $966,642

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $2,842,242

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $1,804,950

  • 2a · Program service revenue: EARLY LANGUAGE & LITERACY INITIAT

    total $2,074,092 · related or exempt $2,074,092

  • 2b · Program service revenue: ADMISSIONS

    total $1,081,428 · related or exempt $1,081,428

  • 2c · Program service revenue: MEMBERSHIPS

    total $885,944 · related or exempt $885,944

  • 2d · Program service revenue: CAFE

    total $475,730 · related or exempt $475,730

  • 2e · Program service revenue: STORE

    total $183,970 · related or exempt $183,970

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $465,168 · related or exempt $465,168

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $35,902 · excluded $35,902

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $1,993,527

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

    securities $1,958,691

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $34,836

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $34,836 · excluded $34,836

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $78,400

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

    $966,642

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $446,825

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$368,425 · excluded -$368,425

  • 11a · Other revenue: EMPLOYER RETENTION CREDITS

    total $377,802 · related or exempt $377,802

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $377,802

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $340,253 · program services $157,673 · management and general $159,746 · fundraising $22,834

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $5,152,351 · program services $4,617,336 · management and general $355,127 · fundraising $179,888

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $681,262 · program services $579,029 · management and general $85,729 · fundraising $16,504

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $442,766 · program services $388,752 · management and general $38,773 · fundraising $15,241

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $4,535 · program services $250 · management and general $4,285

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $19,977 · management and general $19,977

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $11,740 · management and general $11,740

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $277,461 · program services $273,848 · management and general $3,013 · fundraising $600

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $5,338 · program services $29 · management and general $5,280 · fundraising $29

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $210,178 · program services $177,563 · management and general $29,594 · fundraising $3,021

  • 17 · Travel

    total $2,342 · program services $2,036 · management and general $306

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $3,200 · program services $3,200

  • 20 · Interest

    total $13,795 · management and general $13,795

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $786,295 · program services $318,483 · management and general $467,812

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $132,116 · program services $125,371 · management and general $5,516 · fundraising $1,229

  • 24a · Other expenses: REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE

    total $379,895 · program services $362,101 · management and general $14,554 · fundraising $3,240

  • 24b · Other expenses: CAFE EXPENSES-FOOD

    total $262,730 · program services $261,741 · management and general $956 · fundraising $33

  • 24c · Other expenses: CONSULTANTS

    total $164,147 · program services $114,085 · management and general $84 · fundraising $49,978

  • 24d · Other expenses: UTILITIES

    total $160,705 · program services $152,501 · management and general $6,711 · fundraising $1,493

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $839,461 · program services $653,269 · management and general $179,609 · fundraising $6,583

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $284,513 · end of year $73,144

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $1,911,132 · end of year $648,649

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $76,374 · end of year $110,265

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $164,074 · end of year $147,452

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $86,255 · end of year $290,703

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

    $24,141,269

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

    $12,895,285

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $10,940,966 · end of year $11,245,984

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $1,150,926 · end of year $1,395,265

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $41,701 · end of year $0

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $165,191 · end of year $196,154

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $290,661 · end of year $126,586

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $607,193 · end of year $752,262

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $10,554,447 · end of year $10,986,941

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $3,038,449 · end of year $1,849,519

Mission and programs · 2025

Mission

THE MISSION OF STEPPING STONES MUSEUM FOR CHILDREN IS TO BROADEN AND ENRICH THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN AGES TEN AND UNDER AND ENHANCE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD. THE MUSEUM SEEKS TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT INSPIRES LIFE-LONG LEARNING AND SUPPORTS PARENTS, CAREGIVERS AND EDUCATORS AS FACILITATORS OF CHILDREN'S EXPLORATIONS.

  • STEPPING STONES IS A PREMIER MULTIDIMENSIONAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE THAT PROVIDES EXCEPTIONAL AND MEANINGFUL INTERACTIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT ENRICH THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THE MUSEUM'S LEARNING PURPOSE IS TO SPARK CHILDREN'S CURIOSITY, IMAGINATION AND INTERESTS BY ENGAGING THEM IN PLAYFUL EXPLORATION OF INTERACTIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND SHARED MOMENTS OF DISCOVERY WITH PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, AND EDUCATORS, EXCITING AND PREPARING THEM FOR AN INCREASINGLY COMPLEX, CHANGING AND DIVERSE FUTURE.

    Expenses $8,187,267 · Revenue $5,544,134

As filed on the 2025 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Barbara S Koteen

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Michael Serrao

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jacqueline Kaufman

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Clifford Bogue MD

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Sandra J Miklave

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Michael E Wallace

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • John S Foster

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Betsy Falkoff

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Barbara Brown

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Gayley Woolston

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Thomas Bumbolow

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • G Patrick Fox

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Natasha Hill

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Amanda Connell

    CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $155,413
    From this org
    $155,413
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $155,413
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $155,413

  • Franklin Vagnone

    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $184,840
    From this org
    $184,840
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $184,840
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $184,840

  • Cristina Matos

    VP, TEACHING & LEARNING

    Total calculated
    $145,559
    From this org
    $145,559
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • Michael Jacabacci

    VP, MUSEUM OPERATIONS

    Total calculated
    $142,241
    From this org
    $142,241
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • Kathy Labieniec

    DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJEC

    Total calculated
    $136,591
    From this org
    $136,591
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • Carolyn B Knott

    VP, INTEGRATED FUNDRAISING

    Total calculated
    $116,134
    From this org
    $116,134
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    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 · Written employment contract
  • 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.

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
2025
Filed
24 August 2026
IRS schema version
2025v4.2
Source object
202632379349302123

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.