CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM

As filed

Subsection

03

NTEE code

A520

Classification

1200

Street

321 CHESTNUT ST

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

• The Creative Discovery Museum uses proven, evidence-based principles to engage the senses, inspire exploration and ignite childrens passion for learning. While some guests may view a visit to the Museum as merely a fun outing, research has long proven that play is the work of childhood. Through play children gain mental, physical, and social skills necessary to succeed in their adult lives. In 2024 the Museum served over 280,000 individuals through museum visits, educational programs, free and reduced-price admissions and much more.

  Expenses $3,144,340

• The Museum achieves its mission first through its permanent exhibition prgram focusing on arts, sciences, early childhood, health, and the environment as well as through traveling exhibits that complement and supplement the education content of its core exhibits. CDM traditionally offers a wide array of education programs within the museum that complement and enhance the exhibits including science theater demonstrations, infant and toddler development classes, home school workshops, summer camps, a teen volunteer program, inclusive activities for children with special needs, art performances and demonstrations, special event days, and walk-in activities. Additionally, CDM supports local schools with a variety of education programs including school tours at the museum, school outreach lessons, and family nights as well as professional development workshops for teachers. In 2024 the museum served over 49,000 students through school

  Expenses $1,623,158

• The Museum is committed to being a welcome space for all children and families. The Museum hosts ten free nights per year serving 5,000 individuals. Last year more than 10,000 visitors took advantage of the Museums for All program which allows anyone with an EBT or food stamp card to purchase admission for 5. CDM also provides free admission and partner memberships for a range of non-profit organizations such as Big Brothers, Big Sisters and the Ronald McDonald House. CDM hosts a variety of inclusion programs such as six free sensory-friendly nights per year and the accessible Turquoise Trail Halloween event that engages over 50 volunteers and 200 guests of all abilities. The Museum hosted Club Discovery, an inclusive after-school program designed to provide a framework to explore the world in a safe environment for children with and without special needs, and a Friend Discovery Camp, a summer camp similar to Club Discovery for three weeks

  Expenses $100,000

As filed on the 2024 return.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

• 2024

  Revenue

  $5,393,387

  Expenses

  $6,441,999

  Contributions

  $2,177,111

  Grants paid

  $0

• 2023

  Revenue

  $5,289,033

  Expenses

  $5,887,534

  Contributions

  $1,957,084

  Grants paid

  $0

• 2022

  Revenue

  $6,266,199

  Expenses

  $4,441,400

  Contributions

  $4,091,456

  Grants paid

  $0

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

• 2021 · 990

  Revenue

  $5,712,908

  Expenses

  $3,477,227

  Assets (EOY)

  $21,187,184

• 2020 · 990

  Revenue

  $5,019,548

  Expenses

  $3,555,864

  Assets (EOY)

  $18,457,640

• 2020 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2019 · 990

  Revenue

  $7,436,994

  Expenses

  $4,387,871

  Assets (EOY)

  $15,889,084

• 2016 · 990

  Revenue

  $3,369,287

  Expenses

  $3,567,310

  Assets (EOY)

  $8,067,311

• 2015 · 990

  Revenue

  $3,294,684

  Expenses

  $3,442,733

  Assets (EOY)

  $8,236,600

• 2014 · 990

  Revenue

  $3,042,708

  Expenses

  $3,357,241

  Assets (EOY)

  $8,502,311

• 2013 · 990

  Revenue

  $3,100,010

  Expenses

  $3,240,828

  Assets (EOY)

  $8,882,722

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

• ARTSBUILD

  $86,500

  2023 · GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT

• ARTSBUILD

  $86,000

  2022 · GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT

• ARTSBUILD

  $83,000

  2024 · GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT

• COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER CHATTANOOGA INC

  $75,000

  2022 · CAPITAL CAMPAIGN PLEDGE FULFILLMENT

• SOUTHFACE ENERGY INSTITUTE INC

  $60,000

  2022 · UTILITY SYS. IMPROV.

• BICENTENNIAL VOLUNTEERS

  $50,000

  2022 · PROVIDE FUNDING TO UPGRADE MUSEUM.

• COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER CHATTANOOGA INC

  $50,000

  2023 · IGNITE DISCOVERY CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

• GREATER CHATTANOOGA SPORTS & EVENTS COMMITEE

  $50,000

  2022 · SUPPORT

• GREATER CHATTANOOGA SPORTS & EVENTS COMMITEE

  $50,000

  2023 · SUPPORT

• BICENTENNIAL VOLUNTEERS

  $50,000

  2024 · PROVIDE FUNDING TO UPGRADE MUSEUM.

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

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