Austin Children's Museum

Tax-deductible

Austin, TX501(c)(3)Since 1983Arts & CultureEIN 74-2288789Revenue $6.9M in FY2025

On file with the IRSthinkeryaustin.org1830 Simond Ave, 78723-4603 · Austin, TXTax-exempt since Dec 1983Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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Acm leads the future of play-based steam learning experiences that inspire and equip all children to be confident, creative thinkers

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
80¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 99 volunteers and 169 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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
2 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $1.8M a year · 28% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
80%
of spending
Looks good: 80% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$391K
to officers and key staff · 5% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 89% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 5% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Worth a look: 0.9 months of spending in cash; under 1.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
10
named funders · $200K
Looks good: 10 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$7.1M
61% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 61% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
22
of 22 voting members
Looks good: 22 of 22 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$6.9M
-18% vs prior year
Spent
$8.1M
To programs
80%
Net assets
$4.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$6.9M
FY2025▼ -18%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$6.3M
FY2021$3.4M
FY2022$6.4M
FY2023$6.2M
FY2024$8.5M
FY2025$6.9M
Expenses
$8.1M
FY2025▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$17.4M
FY2021$3.6M
FY2022$5.5M
FY2023$6.3M
FY2024$7.4M
FY2025$8.1M
Net assets
$4.5M
FY2025▼ -20%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$3.0M
FY2021$2.8M
FY2022$4.4M
FY2023$4.3M
FY2024$5.7M
FY2025$4.5M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending September 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Dec 1983.

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

Where the money goes

80 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 80% · $6.4M Management & general 11% · $896K Fundraising 9% · $754K

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

25 people listed on the 990; $391K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
$223,521Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Guest Experience
$114,269Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Operating Officer
$53,592Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Andrew Bell’s $224K as CEO is at the 89th 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 · 5 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Andrew Bell$223,521$217,397$208,130$195,131$201,046—
Patricia Young Brown—————$135,766
Rachel Hamilton$114,269—————
Shaleiah Fox—$111,736$105,209———
Leshia Hoot$53,592—————

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

Creates engaging learning experiences for children and families, fostering creative problem-solving skills.

Questions for Austin Children's Museum

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $6.4M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Provide educational, play-based steam learning experiences to children and their caregivers through out-of-school-time programming and increase kindergarten readiness through an onsite preschool.

$3.8Mprogram expense
02

Provide innovative, hands-on, play-based experiences through steam-focused exhibits and educational experiences for children, their caregivers, and educators through acm's museum space.

$2.6Mprogram expense
03

Operate a museum store to encourage children to explore and learn on their own.

$99Kprogram 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 FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$6.9M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$4.0M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$441K
Money outPt IX
$8.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$6.4M
Managementcol C$896K
Fundraisingcol D$754K
Owns and owesPt X
$4.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$594K
Total assetsLn 16$11.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$7.1M
PeoplePt VI, VII
25
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a22
IndependentVI 1b22
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$81K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$83K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$318K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$4.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$441K
Other incomeLn 4–11$26K
Gains on assetsLn 7$227K
Total revenueLn 12$6.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$594K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$594K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$3.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2.7M
Other assetsLn 15$1.1M
Total assetsLn 16$11.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$7.1M
Net assetsLn 32$4.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5169
VolunteersI 699
Fiscal year endsHeaderSeptember
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.2M$594K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$3.3M$3.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.4M$2.7M
Total assetsLn 16$13.0M$11.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$7.3M$7.1M
Net assetsLn 32$5.7M$4.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$354K$308K$21K$25K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.7M$3.2M$223K$264K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$317K$294K$14K$9K
Payroll taxesLn 10$303K$263K$18K$22K
Legal feesLn 11b$20K$8K$7K$5K
Accounting feesLn 11c$248K$103K$87K$59K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$150K$150K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$699K$351K$296K$52K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$51K$46K$3K$3K
Office expensesLn 13$26K$23K$1K$3K
OccupancyLn 16$366K$319K$44K$3K
TravelLn 17$33K$26K$6K$1K
InterestLn 20$278K$255K$20K$2K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$803K$786K$8K$8K
InsuranceLn 23$94K$84K$5K$5K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$500K$240K$127K$133K
All other expensesLn 24e$157K$130K$15K$11K
Total functional expensesLn 25$8.1M$6.4M$896K$754K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $6.9M$8.1M−$1.1M$4.5M 990 PDF
FY2024 $8.5M$7.4M$1.1M$5.7M 990 PDF
FY2023 $6.2M$6.3M−$116K$4.3M 990 PDF
FY2022 $6.4M$5.5M$858K$4.4M 990 PDF
FY2021 $3.4M$3.6M−$183K$2.8M 990 PDF
FY2020 $6.3M$17.4M−$11.1M$3.0M 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 FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $6,942,182 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $3,578,385$2,475,337
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $4,381,251$4,000,401
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $439,548$440,535
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $99,584$25,909
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $8,498,768$6,942,182
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 $4,771,201$4,665,865
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$150,000
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,615,417$3,275,193
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $7,386,618$8,091,058
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,112,150−$1,148,876
Part VI · Governance 22 of 22 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body22
VI-1b Independent voting members22
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 $6,942,182 across 13 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$318,386
VIII-1e Government grants$80,722
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,076,229
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$83,493
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,475,337
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $4,000,401$4,000,401
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $213,788$213,788
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $56,918$56,918
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $35,662$35,662
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $226,747$226,747
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$90,431−$90,431
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $23,760$23,760
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $4,081,079 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $385,766$6,942,182
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $8,091,058 across 17 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $308,395 · Management $21,156 · Fundraising $24,782$354,333
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $3,204,787 · Management $222,515 · Fundraising $264,102$3,691,404
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $293,974 · Management $14,168 · Fundraising $8,832$316,974
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $263,191 · Management $18,274 · Fundraising $21,689$303,154
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $8,376 · Management $7,075 · Fundraising $4,819$20,270
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $102,581 · Management $86,641 · Fundraising $59,012$248,234
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $150,000$150,000
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $350,957 · Management $296,418 · Fundraising $51,894$699,269
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $45,715 · Management $2,540 · Fundraising $2,540$50,795
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $22,645 · Management $1,204 · Fundraising $2,569$26,418
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $318,712 · Management $44,069 · Fundraising $3,110$365,891
IX-17 TravelPrograms $25,745 · Management $6,185 · Fundraising $1,405$33,335
IX-20 InterestPrograms $255,267 · Management $20,067 · Fundraising $2,196$277,530
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $786,023 · Management $8,298 · Fundraising $8,298$802,619
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $84,238 · Management $4,680 · Fundraising $4,680$93,598
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $240,449 · Management $127,154 · Fundraising $132,854$500,457
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $130,133 · Management $15,314 · Fundraising $11,330$156,777
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $6,441,188 · Management $895,758 · Fundraising $754,112$8,091,058
Part X · Balance sheet $11,623,156 assets, 16 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $1,700,000; see the IRS return.
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,207,139$593,724
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,833,479$1,900,031
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $66,483$2,124
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $82,850$4,481
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $3,405,722$2,669,357
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $3,326,440$3,634,201
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,350,339$1,119,238
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $12,972,452$11,623,156
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $398,711$351,105
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $673,325$501,264
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $1,353,384$1,052,914
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $7,275,420$7,075,000
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,244,587$93,067
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $4,452,445$4,455,089
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $5,697,032$4,548,156
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $12,972,452$11,623,156
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $4,548,156 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$6,942,182
XI-2 Total expenses$8,091,058
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$1,148,876
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$5,697,032
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$4,548,156

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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