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Nonprofiteer
← THE MUSEUM OF LANGUAGE ARTS INCORPORATED

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by THE MUSEUM OF LANGUAGE ARTS INCORPORATED.

Totals

Total revenue
$8,251,730
Total expenses
$7,502,244
Contributions and grants received
$6,486,813
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$238,072
Investment income
$28,693
Other revenue
$1,498,152
Total assets, end of year
$55,849,080
Total liabilities, end of year
$349,977
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$55,499,103
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$6,549,842
Management and general expenses
$528,080
Fundraising expenses
$424,322
Program service expenses (Part III)
$6,549,842

Program services were 87.3% 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.

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $294,642

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $6,192,171

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $121,838

  • 2a · Program service revenue: ADMISSION FEES

    total $137,366 · related or exempt $137,366

  • 2b · Program service revenue: PROGRAM INCOME

    total $70,181 · related or exempt $70,181

  • 2c · Program service revenue: MEMBERSHIP

    total $30,525 · related or exempt $30,525

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $31,755 · excluded $31,755

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $1,066,143

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $0

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $1,066,143

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $1,066,143 · excluded $1,066,143

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $645,378

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

    securities $648,440

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities -$3,062

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total -$3,062 · excluded -$3,062

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $5,500

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $0

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $5,500 · excluded $5,500

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $578,216

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $293,551

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $284,665 · related or exempt $284,665

  • 11a · Other revenue: INSURANCE PROCEEDS

    total $134,724 · excluded $134,724

  • 11b · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS

    total $6,931 · excluded $6,931

  • 11c · Other revenue: HONORARIA

    total $189 · excluded $189

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $141,844

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $540,945 · program services $370,267 · management and general $102,311 · fundraising $68,367

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,943,305 · program services $1,836,246 · management and general $24,925 · fundraising $82,134

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $1,348 · program services $1,200 · management and general $67 · fundraising $81

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $145,269 · program services $133,759 · management and general $4,240 · fundraising $7,270

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $171,287 · program services $152,446 · management and general $8,564 · fundraising $10,277

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $36,667 · management and general $36,667

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $124,130 · management and general $124,130

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $526,418 · program services $427,060 · management and general $40,391 · fundraising $58,967

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $35,367 · program services $35,367

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $119,320 · program services $87,054 · management and general $12,000 · fundraising $20,266

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $169,812 · program services $156,764 · management and general $11,323 · fundraising $1,725

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $1,297,045 · program services $1,235,069 · management and general $28,171 · fundraising $33,805

  • 17 · Travel

    total $15,511 · program services $10,114 · management and general $538 · fundraising $4,859

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $9,721 · program services $405 · management and general $142 · fundraising $9,174

  • 20 · Interest

    total $23,615 · management and general $23,615

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $1,956,793 · program services $1,741,545 · management and general $97,840 · fundraising $117,408

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $96,525 · program services $93,731 · management and general $2,794

  • 24a · Other expenses: REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE

    total $162,399 · program services $162,399

  • 24b · Other expenses: PROCESSING FEES

    total $49,757 · program services $48,980 · management and general $777

  • 24c · Other expenses: HONORARIA

    total $15,742 · program services $15,742

  • 24d · Other expenses: FOOD

    total $9,963 · program services $1,142 · fundraising $8,821

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $51,305 · program services $40,552 · management and general $9,585 · fundraising $1,168

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $718,675 · end of year $2,028,911

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $158,154 · end of year $177,602

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $1,702,375 · end of year $1,242,316

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $12,460 · end of year $56,697

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $64,650 · end of year $63,769

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $83,729 · end of year $110,551

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

    $56,425,576

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

    $4,305,881

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $53,306,230 · end of year $52,119,695

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $57,070 · end of year $49,539

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $291,713 · end of year $334,358

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $6,014 · end of year $12,250

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $1,050,000 · end of year $0

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $5,999 · end of year $3,369

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $53,110,989 · end of year $53,609,101

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,638,628 · end of year $1,890,002

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

PLANET WORD IS A MUSEUM THAT INSPIRES AND RENEWS A LOVE OF WORDS, LANGUAGE, AND READING THROUGH UNIQUE, IMMERSIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES. IT PROVIDES A SPACE TO EXPLORE WORDS AND LANGUAGE THAT IS GROUNDED IN A SOLID UNDERSTANDING OF LANGUAGE ARTS AND SCIENCE.

Activities or mission (Part I)

SEE PART III, LINE 1.

  • ON OCTOBER 22, 2020, THE MUSEUM OFFICIALLY OPENED ITS DOORS TO THE PUBLIC. THE MUSEUM SERVES MORE THAN 150,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY ON-SITE IN THE NEWLY PRESERVED AND REHABILITATED FRANKLIN SCHOOL, A 50,000-SQUARE-FOOT, 5-STORY NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK. THE MUSEUM CURRENTLY FEATURES 10 IMMERSIVE, INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT GALLERIES THAT ENGAGE VISITORS IN EXPERIENCING WORDS AND LANGUAGE FROM A WIDE RANGE OF PERSPECTIVES - FROM THE SCIENCE OF HOW LANGUAGE SKILLS DEVELOP EARLY IN LIFE TO HOW WORDS ARE USED CREATIVELY AND PERSUASIVELY IN MUSIC, POETRY, HUMOR, ADVERTISING, ORATORY, AND LITERATURE. IN ADDITION, THE MUSEUM PROVIDES DYNAMIC AND ROBUST ONGOING ARTS, CULTURE, AND EDUCATION PROGRAMMING IN ITS AUDITORIUM AND CLASSROOM SPACES, AS WELL AS ONLINE, FOR CHILDREN, ADULTS, FAMILIES, STUDENTS, AND TEACHERS. OTHER FEATURES OF THE MUSEUM INCLUDE A GIFT SHOP, OFFICE SPACE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE MUSEUM, A RESTAURANT OPERATED BY A THIRD PARTY, AND AN INTERACTIVE GAME GALLERY THAT OPENED IN MARCH 2022 FEATURING WORD PUZZLES, MYSTERIES, AND RIDDLES TO SOLVE THROUGHOUT THE ROOM.

    Expenses $6,549,842 · Revenue $522,737

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Patty Isacson Sabee

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (UNTIL 11/23)

    Total calculated
    $344,332
    From this org
    $331,187
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,145
    Hours/week
    55

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $331,187
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,145
    Filer's total
    $344,332
  • Ann B Friedman

    CHAIR AND CEO

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    55
  • Thomas L Friedman

    FIRST VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Sara Mark Lesk

    SECOND VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Joseph Sassoon

    THIRD VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Jay D Goldberg

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Douglas L Siegler

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Donald Baer

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Hyesook Chung

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Michael Cornfeld

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Susan Engel

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Samia Farouki

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mary Lou Gorno

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Kenneth D Greer

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Lindsay Cooper Martin

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Caron Garcia Martinez

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Craig Mundie

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jonathan Plutzik

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Deborah Ratner Salzberg

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Stefanie Sanford

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dov Seidman

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Marsha Semmel

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Tina B Small

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Anna Deavere Smith

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Ralph Smith

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Rick Soskin

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Sree Sreenivasan

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Gerard Tarde

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Fred Terrell

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Lynn Thoman

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Natalie Friedman Winston

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Nichelle Dejesus Sertsu Sr Dir

    EXH. & SP. PROJ. (UNTIL 11/23), E.D.

    Total calculated
    $196,613
    From this org
    $196,613
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $171,613
    Bonus
    $25,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $196,613
  • Kelly Carnes

    DEPUTY DIRECTOR (UNTIL 07/23)

    Total calculated
    $239,359
    From this org
    $236,342
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $3,017
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $124,932
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $111,410
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $3,017
    Filer's total
    $239,359
  • Ellett Toomey

    SENIOR DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $120,367
    From this org
    $111,270
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $9,097
    Hours/week
    40
  • Tenesha Vines

    DIRECTOR, FINANCE

    Total calculated
    $115,407
    From this org
    $105,188
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $10,219
    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 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments

Answered no

  • 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
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 4A
KELLY CARNES RECEIVED SEVERANCE OF $111,410.
PART I, LINE 7
NICHELLE DEJESUS SERTSU RECEIVED A SIGNING BONUS OF $25,000.

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.

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Disregarded entities

Part I: entities that legally are the filer and file no return of their own.

  • FRANKLIN SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT LLC

    HOLD PROPERTY; RESTORATION AND REHABILITATION · DC · income $0 · assets $0

    Directly controlled by THE MUSEUM OF LANGUAGE ARTS

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
7 November 2024
IRS schema version
2023v5.1
Source object
202423129349303777

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