CHILDRENS MUSEUM OF THE LOWCOUNTRY

As filed

Subsection

03

NTEE code

A520

Classification

2000

Street

25 ANN 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 Children's Museum of the Lowcountry serves children from birth through age 8 and their caregivers through a variety of on-site and off-site programs. Designed for both area residents and visitors, the museum features seven indoor galleries with hands-on, inquiry-based exhibits that support early cognitive and social development. All exhibits and activities are intentionally designed to engage young children in the exploration of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM), encouraging learning through play and discovery. (Continued on Schedule O)About the Museum:Situated in a historic building in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry features seven indoor exhibit rooms and an outdoor play area, all designed using expert knowledge of how young children learn through self-directed play. The museum develops educational programs and activities specifically tailored to the developmental needs of children from birth to age 8, with a focus on supporting both cognitive and social-emotional growth.For more than 20 years, the museum has been a regional leader in creating engaging exhibits and innovative early childhood programs that foster curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving. In addition to serving young children, the museum also supports caregiversrecognizing parents as a child's first and most important teacherand provides educators with tools to enhance learning both inside and outside the classroom.To reach as many children and families as possible across South Carolina's diverse Lowcountry region, the museum actively works to remove barriers to access. These efforts include:> Offering all summer camp seats at no cost at the museum's satellite location in St. George;> Hosting twice-monthly private sessions with free admission for families with children with special needs;> Providing two Less-Than-a-Dollar Saturdays annually, one in spring and one in fall;> Participating in the Museums for All program at both locations, through which families receiving SNAP or WIC benefits pay only $3 per personup to $12 off regular admissionresulting in nearly $90,000 in savings to families annually; and> Bringing hands-on STEAM-based learning directly to schools and community events through its Mobile Museum experience, supported through grant funding.Programs:In addition to its interactive exhibits, the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry offers a robust calendar of programming that enhances the visitor experience and deepens learning through hands-on, developmentally appropriate activities. These programs are designed to engage children from birth through age 8 and support their cognitive, social, and emotional development.The museum hosts a variety of regular offerings, including:> Standards-based field trips aligned with South Carolina Department of Education curriculum standards;> Art programs that explore various media and techniques, from drawing and crafting to textile arts;> Science programs that introduce children to foundational scientific concepts through fun, accessible topics such as animal biology, forces of nature, and water power;> Creative movement and early arts classes for toddlers that promote motor skill development and self-expression;> Seasonal camps and birthday party experiences that encourage curiosity and collaboration in a joyful, play-based environment; andThe museum also regularly partners with local organizations and experts to bring special programming to families. For example, the popular Second Saturday Science series features guest presentersincluding local meteorologistswho use engaging, real-world topics like weather to introduce young children to scientific inquiry.These offerings reflect the museum's commitment to both in-house expertise and strong community partnerships, enriching the visitor experience well beyond the exhibit galleries.

  Expenses $1,551,141 · Revenue $1,109,129

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

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

  $2,293,754

  Expenses

  $1,908,558

  Contributions

  $1,048,304

  Grants paid

  $0

• 2023

  Revenue

  $3,307,863

  Expenses

  $2,074,788

  Contributions

  $1,954,962

  Grants paid

  $0

• 2022

  Revenue

  $390,660

  Expenses

  $1,632,172

  Contributions

  $532,397

  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

• 2024 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2021 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,339,647

  Expenses

  $1,069,239

  Assets (EOY)

  $4,118,375

• 2020 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,257,928

  Expenses

  $1,234,694

  Assets (EOY)

  $4,057,450

• 2019 · 990

  Revenue

  $2,716,702

  Expenses

  $1,556,973

  Assets (EOY)

  $4,271,155

• 2018 · 990

  Revenue

  $2,434,621

  Expenses

  $1,395,676

  Assets (EOY)

  $3,056,686

• 2017 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,407,147

  Expenses

  $1,393,860

  Assets (EOY)

  $1,972,527

• 2016 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,272,510

  Expenses

  $1,253,458

  Assets (EOY)

  $1,993,403

• 2015 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,165,185

  Expenses

  $1,105,123

  Assets (EOY)

  $1,909,133

• 2014 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,072,610

  Expenses

  $1,003,153

  Assets (EOY)

  $1,862,022

• 2013 · 990

  Revenue

  $1,093,289

  Expenses

  $1,014,308

  Assets (EOY)

  $1,762,505

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. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

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

• NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TR

  $50,750

  2023 · PUBLIC, SOCIETAL BENEFIT

• COASTAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA INC

  $32,500

  2023 · EDUCATION

• NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TR

  $20,000

  2022 · CULTURE & ARTS

• NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TR

  $18,500

  2024 · CULTURE & ARTS

• DANIEL ISLAND COMMUNITY FUND INC

  $14,634

  2022 · GENERAL FUND

• THE BLACKBAUD GIVING FUND

  $13,695

  2022 · GENERAL SUPPORT

• COASTAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA INC

  $11,000

  2022 · EDUCATION GRANT

• VANGUARD CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT PROGRAM

  $10,000

  2023 · FOR RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE

• VANGUARD CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT PROGRAM

  $10,000

  2022 · FOR RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE

• AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC

  $5,010

  2023 · GENERAL SUPPORT

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

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