The Magic House FY2023 filing

Tax-deductible

Saint Louis, MO501(c)(3)Since 1975Arts & CultureEIN 51-0138441

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The Magic House, st. Louis children's museum will engage all children with hands-on learning experiences that spark imagination, pique curiosity, enhance creativity and develop problem-solving skills within a place of beauty, wonder, joy and Magic.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
79¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$665K 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
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $635K a year · 7% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
79%
of spending
Looks good: 79% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$665K
to officers and key staff · 7% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 7% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.3 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $50K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$5.5M
16% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 16% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
34
of 34 voting members
Looks good: 34 of 34 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$11.6M
+69% vs prior year
Spent
$9.0M
To programs
79%
Net assets
$29.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$11.6M
FY2023▲ +69%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$5.4M
FY2021$8.7M
FY2022$6.8M
FY2023$11.6M
FY2024$10.8M
FY2025$9.6M
Expenses
$9.0M
FY2023▲ +11%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$6.6M
FY2021$7.0M
FY2022$8.1M
FY2023$9.0M
FY2024$9.4M
FY2025$9.1M
Net assets
$29.6M
FY2023▲ +15%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$26.2M
FY2021$28.9M
FY2022$25.6M
FY2023$29.6M
FY2024$31.8M
FY2025$32.9M

From the FY2023 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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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 Sep 1977.

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

Where the money goes

79 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 79% · $7.1M Management & general 17% · $1.5M Fundraising 4% · $364K

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

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Who runs it and what they're paid

44 people listed on the 990; $665K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$270,952Pt VII · Sec A
$173,235Pt VII · Sec A
$114,638Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Human Resources
$105,888Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member (thru 8/23)
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Elizabeth Fitzgerald’s $305K as President is at the 97th 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 · 6 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Elizabeth Fitzgerald$304,823$289,869$270,952$249,984$289,453$179,692
Cheryl Darr$192,191$181,985$173,235$163,050$188,568$120,028
Paula Burdge$132,597$122,639$114,638$110,557——
Elizabeth Hartman$114,002$109,077$105,888$103,284——
Vicki Peckron$113,199$108,895————
Mason Glenn$101,662—————

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.

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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

Offers children hands-on learning in a unique educational setting.

Provided by the organization

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3 program services account for $7.1M of program spending, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2023.
01

Museum Experience

The magic house opened in 1979 to provide an educational facility for the children of the greater ST. Louis area. The museum is committed to hands-on learning and provides multi-curricular exhibits for children ages 1 to 11 years within a 55,000 square foot facility on three acres of outdoor space.

$5.6Mprogram expense
02

Public Programs

The magic house offers a wide variety of public programs. These include parent-child classes; art and cultural workshops and performances; summer camps; scout programs; birthday parties; and special events such as earth day, fall farm festival and big truck day.

$1.4Mprogram expense
03

School and Community Programs

The magic house offers facilitated field trip programs for students ages 3 to 14 that connect to classroom curriculum and meet state and national standards. These educational programs take place at both the magic house and our satellite location in the city of ST.

$161Kprogram expense

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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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$50K

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$11.6M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.6M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$5.3M
Other incomeLn 4–11$360K
Money outPt IX
$9.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$7.1M
Managementcol C$1.5M
Fundraisingcol D$364K
Owns and owesPt X
$29.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.5M
Total assetsLn 16$35.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.5M
PeoplePt VI, VII
44
listed · VII A
PaidVII A4
Voting boardVI 1a34
IndependentVI 1b34
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.6M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$544K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$519K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$5.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$240K
Other incomeLn 4–11$360K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$67K
Total revenueLn 12$11.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.2M
SavingsLn 2$1.2M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$10.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$19.8M
Other assetsLn 15$436K
Total assetsLn 16$35.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.5M
Net assetsLn 32$29.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5251
VolunteersI 6230
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
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$2.1M$2.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$8.9M$10.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$17.6M$19.8M
Total assetsLn 16$30.0M$35.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.4M$5.5M
Net assetsLn 32$25.6M$29.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$481K$73K$325K$83K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.7M$3.1M$410K$191K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$140K$123K$10K$6K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$178K$142K$25K$11K
Payroll taxesLn 10$360K$275K$62K$23K
Legal feesLn 11b$6K$6K
Accounting feesLn 11c$43K$43K
Investment management feesLn 11f$44K$44K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$56K$50K$6K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$262K$262K
Office expensesLn 13$495K$404K$42K$50K
OccupancyLn 16$782K$672K$110K
TravelLn 17$18K$18K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$75K$75K
InterestLn 20$82K$55K$27K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1.4M$1.3M$106K
InsuranceLn 23$164K$152K$12K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$714K$714K
Total functional expensesLn 25$9.0M$7.1M$1.5M$364K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $9.6M$9.1M$555K$32.9M 990 PDF
FY2024 $10.8M$9.4M$1.5M$31.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $11.6M$9.0M$2.6M$29.6M 990 PDF
FY2022 $6.8M$8.1M−$1.3M$25.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 $8.7M$7.0M$1.7M$28.9M 990 PDF
FY2020 $5.4M$6.6M−$1.1M$26.2M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2023 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $11,551,334 across 10 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $529,285 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$518,822
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$5,083,422
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$544,275
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$5,602,244
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $5,348,311$5,348,311
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $307,455$307,455
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$67,140−$67,140
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$176,115−$176,115
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $7,294$7,294
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $5,866,517 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $82,573$11,551,334
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $9,001,037 across 18 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $73,089 · Management $325,496 · Fundraising $82,526$481,111
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $3,097,277 · Management $409,622 · Fundraising $191,228$3,698,127
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $123,499 · Management $10,445 · Fundraising $6,169$140,113
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $142,076 · Management $24,856 · Fundraising $10,613$177,545
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $275,139 · Management $61,693 · Fundraising $23,265$360,097
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $5,579$5,579
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $43,200$43,200
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $44,005$44,005
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $50,037 · Management $6,263$56,300
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $262,406$262,406
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $403,616 · Management $41,694 · Fundraising $49,700$495,010
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $671,619 · Management $110,062$781,681
IX-17 TravelPrograms $17,601$17,601
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $75,337$75,337
IX-20 InterestPrograms $54,523 · Management $27,029$81,552
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $1,297,155 · Management $105,893$1,403,048
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $151,515 · Management $12,369$163,884
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $714,441$714,441
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $7,146,924 · Management $1,490,612 · Fundraising $363,501$9,001,037
Part X · Balance sheet $35,129,818 assets, 19 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,719,219$1,245,807
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $399,610$1,208,397
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,023,467$1,457,223
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $24,878$5,178
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $70,407$85,072
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $95,951$73,300
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $17,603,373$19,844,547
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $8,946,644$10,774,666
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $149,894$435,628
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $30,033,443$35,129,818
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $391,194$593,611
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,370,950$1,191,455
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $2,471,430$1,961,508
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $154,438$543,479
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $4,388,012$5,548,915
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $23,727,193$26,656,542
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,918,238$2,924,361
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $25,645,431$29,580,903
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $30,033,443$35,129,818
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $29,580,903 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$11,551,334
XI-2 Total expenses$9,001,037
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$2,550,297
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$25,645,431
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$1,336,548
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$48,627
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$29,580,903

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

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