Children's Museum of the Lowcountry

What it reported doing in 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.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 69.9%; rating input score 70
• Program expense ratio: 81.3%; rating input score 81
• Fundraising efficiency: $10.92 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 40; 40th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.9%; rating input score 93; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 16.8%; rating input score 73; 73rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.51; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.1; rating input score 59; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 11%; rating input score 27; 27th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6.2% per year; rating input score 100; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6.7% per year; rating input score 100; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 8.3% per year; rating input score 100; 51st percentile among comparable filings