Form 990-EZ for tax year 2023

Totals

Total revenue

$54,113

Total expenses

$90,863

Contributions and grants received

$49,610

Grants paid

$0

Program service revenue

$1,713

Membership dues (line 3)

$0

Investment income (line 4)

$284

Gain or loss on sale of assets (line 5c)

$0

Gaming and fundraising events, net (line 6d)

$2,506

Gross profit on inventory sales (line 7c)

$0

Other revenue (line 8)

$0

Total assets, end of year

$35,466

Total liabilities, end of year

$993

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$34,473

Program service expenses (Part III)

$43,064

Program services were 47.4% of total expenses calculated — Part III's total program service expenses over total expenses, both as filed.

Mission and programs · 2023

• In 2023, the Children's Discovery Museum (CDM) provided invaluable, free services to the community, welcoming 6,492 visitors through its doors. Among these, 1,783 were first-time guests, reflecting the museum's growing impact and outreach. To meet increasing demand and broaden accessibility, CDM expanded its offerings and extended its operating hours from two to four days a week, allowing more families to take advantage of the museum's resources. This growth enabled CDM to provide even more diverse programming and engaging educational experiences, all accessible without financial barriers. The free admission model ensures every child and family, regardless of income, can benefit from hands-on exhibits, interactive learning, and community-focused events, highlighting the museum's dedication to inclusivity and community enrichment. As families continue to face the social and emotional impacts of COVID-19, CDM's expanded hours and enhanced programs create a supportive space for children to reconnect, learn, and heal through play. By fostering a safe and joyful environment, the museum plays a critical role in helping children rebuild essential social skills, resilience, and confidence, supporting the community's recovery and growth in the post-pandemic landscape.

  Expenses $18,319

• Quarterly Exhibits: The quarterly exhibits at CDM brought fresh, new experiences for children and families, creating an environment that is always evolving and engaging. Each exhibit served as an educational tool, designed to spark curiosity and support hands-on learning in a dynamic setting. By rotating themes-from Introduction to Theatre & Local Arts in the Community, which allowed children to explore acting and creativity, to Introduction to Music: Percussion and Cultural Instruments, where kids learned about global rhythms and instruments-these exhibits offered families something new with every visit. The Boy Scouts of America Camping Safety exhibit taught essential outdoor skills, promoting safe exploration, while CDM's First Holiday Exhibit brought the joy of the season to life, establishing a new family tradition. Through interactive, themed programming, these exhibits not only entertained but also educated, enhancing the museum's role as a place for ongoing discovery and family connection.

  Expenses $13,951

• Special Programming: In 2023, CDM expanded its special programming to offer families a range of immersive and themed events that celebrated imagination, learning, and community. Our special programs included popular culture events like Harry Potter Birthday Extravaganza, Star Wars Day, and Disney Day, each providing themed activities, crafts, and interactive experiences that captivated young fans and fostered community connection through shared interests. These programs brought families together in new and memorable ways, offering opportunities to celebrate favorite stories and characters in a safe, creative environment. They also reinforced CDM's role as a unique community resource, delivering experiences that aren't readily available elsewhere. Each special program was designed not only for fun but also to enhance children's social, creative, and cognitive skills. By combining entertainment with engagement, CDM's special programming in 2023 enriched the community, inspired learning, and created lasting memories for families. In addition to themed events, CDM's 2023 special programming featured Science Sundays and hands-on camps that extended the educational reach of our quarterly exhibits. Each Science Sunday was STEM-focused, providing interactive explorations of topics like chemical reactions, recycling, weather, and volcanology, with a special focus on Mt. St. Helens. These sessions connected scientific concepts to real-world topics, making complex ideas accessible and engaging for young minds. Often partnered with local organizations, Science Sundays emphasized STEM learning through hands-on activities, sparking curiosity in fields like chemistry, geology, environmental science, and meteorology. Our themed camps, such as the Introduction to Theatre Camp, expanded quarterly exhibit themes by immersing children in creative disciplines like acting, playwriting, and character development, supporting both artistic and critical thinking skills. These programs offered ongoing educational enrichment, reinforcing CDM's role as a community resource for STEM learning and creative discovery.

  Expenses $10,794

As filed on the 2023 return.

Listed in Part IV

Compensation is as filed in Part IV of the Form 990-EZ: compensation, contributions to benefit plans, expense account, 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.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type

form_990_ez

Tax year

2023

Filed

15 November 2024

IRS schema version

2023v5.0

Source object

202403209349205455

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