The Childrens Museum of Denver Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

The museum provides rich play experiences and a dynamic learning environment with more than 20 innovative exhibits, ever-changing daily programs and exciting year-round special events. Museum staff also take experiences into classrooms through outreach programming and regularly participate in community events. These experiences and programs help develop skills children need in the 21st century, such as critical thinking and collaboration. All school group programming aligns with Colorado academic standards, and museum offerings are guided by the museum's education framework, head start's child development and early learning framework, and developmentally appropriate practice. An active member of the association of children's museums, the museum stays current on best practices to offer its guests exceptional informal learning experiences. Examples of museum programs and exhibits include: 1) the center for the young child, the region's only developmentally-appropriate play environment exclusively for children from birth to age three and their caregivers; 2) water, a lively, stem-rich exhibit that invites children to experiment with water and explore its properties; 3) the art studio, a new area dedicated to creative works using paint, clay, found materials and other media and providing opportunities for children to work alongside professional artists through the museum's new artist-in-residence program; 4) outreach programs, which enhance curriculum taught in area classrooms; and 5) school group field trips, which allow students to explore the museum on their own and participate in on-site facilitated educational programs.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 70.8%; rating input score 71
• Program expense ratio: 76.8%; rating input score 77
• Fundraising efficiency: $9.22 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • 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; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 13.2%; rating input score 73; 73rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.79; rating input score 73; 73rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.07; rating input score 79; 79th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 13.2%; rating input score 11; 11th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 8.1% per year; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 2.2% per year; rating input score 100; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 3.2% per year; rating input score 100; 24th percentile among comparable filings