Activate the power of play to enrich the lives of children and their families, build stronger communities, and create a better world.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
73¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$718K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2023 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
0 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $1.7M a year · 41% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 0 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
73%
of spending
Fine: 73% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$718K
to officers and key staff · 11% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 11% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.3 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
10
named funders · $357K
Looks good: 10 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$16.2M
66% of total assets
Worth a look: liabilities are 66% of assets; over 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
23
of 23 voting members
Looks good: 23 of 23 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$4.9M
+7% vs prior year
Spent
$6.4M
To programs
73%
Net assets
$8.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$4.9M
FY2023▲ +7%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$5.0M
FY2021$3.4M
FY2022$4.6M
FY2023$4.9M
FY2024$3.8M
FY2025$2.7M
Expenses
$6.4M
FY2023▲ +18%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$6.5M
FY2021$4.6M
FY2022$5.5M
FY2023$6.4M
FY2024$5.9M
FY2025$5.5M
Net assets
$8.4M
FY2023▼ -15%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$11.2M
FY2021$10.8M
FY2022$9.9M
FY2023$8.4M
FY2024$6.3M
FY2025$3.6M

From the FY2023 Form 990 (year ending June 2023) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Feb 2005.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

73 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 73% · $4.7M Management & general 19% · $1.2M Fundraising 8% · $544K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

34 people listed on the 990; $718K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
President & Founder
$248,240Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Executive Officer
$178,369Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Advancement Officer
$150,100Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Program Officer
$122,050Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Operating Officer
$19,630Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Jessica Aronoff’s $239K as CEO (thru 07/2024) is at the 92nd percentile of top reported officer pay among 3924 $1–10M arts & culture nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 7 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Esther Netter—$193,222$248,240$249,099$254,399$259,647
Jessica Aronoff$239,391$180,178$178,369$159,894$143,873$40,491
Lisa Sherman-Colt—$150,870$122,050———
Carly Harrill——$150,100$138,951$128,319$117,348
Amy Shapiro—————$121,919
Christopher Jackson—$121,282$19,630———
Anneliese Sinzinger$114,507—————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Sharewell executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Empowers young people to become responsible community members who positively shape the world.

Questions for Sharewell

Tap to ask. Sharewell sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Sharewell answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

1 program · $4.7M · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

The cayton children's museum offers a 21,000 square foot facility of hands-on exhibits, art studios, and theater and multipurpose space just blocks from the pacific ocean in the heart of santa monica.

$4.7Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
See all 10 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$4.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$31K
Money outPt IX
$6.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$4.7M
Managementcol C$1.2M
Fundraisingcol D$544K
Owns and owesPt X
$8.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.2M
Total assetsLn 16$24.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$16.2M
PeoplePt VI, VII
34
listed · VII A
PaidVII A5
Voting boardVI 1a23
IndependentVI 1b23
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$474K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$70K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$1.0M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$31K
Total revenueLn 12$4.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.2M
SavingsLn 2$36K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$7.6M
Other assetsLn 15$11.7M
Total assetsLn 16$24.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$16.2M
Net assetsLn 32$8.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 555
VolunteersI 650
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.3M$1.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.1M$1.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$8.8M$7.6M
Total assetsLn 16$14.0M$24.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.1M$16.2M
Net assetsLn 32$9.9M$8.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$660K$352K$98K$210K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.7M$1.5M$35K$190K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$38K$18K$2K$18K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$159K$157K$537$1K
Payroll taxesLn 10$181K$143K$12K$27K
Legal feesLn 11b$74K$74K
Accounting feesLn 11c$166K$166K
Investment management feesLn 11f$8K$8K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$45K$27K$11K$7K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$95K$77K$3K$14K
Information technologyLn 14$129K$111K$2K$16K
OccupancyLn 16$788K$734K$28K$26K
TravelLn 17$6K$5K$963$276
InterestLn 20$61K$61K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1.2M$1.2M$18K
InsuranceLn 23$60K$56K$4K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$867K$205K$656K$6K
All other expensesLn 24e$188K$144K$19K$25K
Total functional expensesLn 25$6.4M$4.7M$1.2M$544K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $2.7M$5.5M−$2.8M$3.6M 990 PDF
FY2024 $3.8M$5.9M−$2.1M$6.3M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $4.9M$6.4M−$1.5M$8.4M 990 PDF
FY2022 $4.6M$5.5M−$850K$9.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 $3.4M$4.6M−$1.2M$10.8M 990 PDF
FY2020 $5.0M$6.5M−$1.5M$11.2M 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $4,934,515 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $3,884,219$3,497,742
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $906,955$1,670,805
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $24,635$30,928
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$215,400−$264,960
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $4,600,409$4,934,515
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,365,208$2,774,403
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $3,084,841$3,661,233
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $5,450,049$6,435,636
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$849,640−$1,501,121
Part VI · Governance 23 of 23 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body23
VI-1b Independent voting members23
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $4,934,515 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1b Membership dues$181,781
VIII-1c Fundraising events$1,002,056
VIII-1e Government grants$473,508
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,840,397
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$69,864
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,497,742
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,670,805$1,670,805
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $30,928$30,928
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$279,211−$279,211
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $14,251$14,251
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,670,805 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$234,032$4,934,515
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $6,435,636 across 18 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $351,919 · Management $98,367 · Fundraising $209,998$660,284
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,511,481 · Management $34,649 · Fundraising $189,652$1,735,782
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $17,855 · Management $2,279 · Fundraising $18,200$38,334
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $156,792 · Management $537 · Fundraising $1,373$158,702
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $142,645 · Management $11,606 · Fundraising $27,050$181,301
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $74,266$74,266
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $165,990$165,990
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $7,733$7,733
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $27,398 · Management $10,845 · Fundraising $6,827$45,070
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $77,283 · Management $3,125 · Fundraising $14,213$94,621
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $111,180 · Management $1,952 · Fundraising $16,135$129,267
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $734,034 · Management $28,441 · Fundraising $25,680$788,155
IX-17 TravelPrograms $5,229 · Management $963 · Fundraising $276$6,468
IX-20 InterestManagement $60,776$60,776
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $1,156,008 · Management $17,726$1,173,734
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $56,360 · Fundraising $3,677$60,037
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $204,980 · Management $656,094 · Fundraising $5,972$867,046
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $144,491 · Management $18,515 · Fundraising $25,064$188,070
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $4,697,655 · Management $1,193,864 · Fundraising $544,117$6,435,636
Part X · Balance sheet $24,570,712 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $392,683$1,197,556
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $951,840$35,645
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $2,722,638$2,802,525
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $71,800$67,222
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $8,763,798$7,625,982
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,073,060$1,140,287
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $0$11,701,495
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $13,975,819$24,570,712
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $401,952$480,530
X-19 Deferred revenue$503,505
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $1,705,946$13,210,777
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $4,107,898$16,194,812
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $8,808,411$6,330,384
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,059,510$2,045,516
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $9,867,921$8,375,900
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $13,975,819$24,570,712
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $8,375,900 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$4,934,515
XI-2 Total expenses$6,435,636
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$1,501,121
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$9,867,921
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$9,100
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$8,375,900

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.