irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2025
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $83KOCFS LICENSED SACC PROGRAM - AS A LICENSED OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES SCHOOL-AGE CHILD CARE PROGRAM, THE MUSEUM OFFERS SCHOOL-AGE CHILD CARE SERVICES FOR FAMILIES ON SELECT SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AND SCHOOL BREAK WEEKS, INCLUDING SUMMER BREAK.
- #2 $134KNON-OCFS PROGRAMS - THE MUSEUM OFFERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND PRESCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN ON-SITE AND OFFERS COMMUNITY-BASED OUTREACH PROGRAMMING THAT INCORPORATES HANDS-ON, PLAY-BASED LESSONS THAT SUPPORT NEW YORK STATE CURRICULUM STANDARDS
named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Non-OCFS Educational Programs
Play-based educational programming for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and adults offered on-site and through community outreach, aligned with New York State curriculum standards
OCFS Licensed SACC Program
Licensed school-age child care program offering services on school holidays, break weeks, and summer breaks for families in need of supervised, educational programming
activities · 12 groups
What they do
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Holiday and Seasonal Essentials Distribution 1 activity
- Co-host annual Coats & Cans drivePartners with BankOnBuffalo to co-host an annual Coats & Cans drive, collecting winter clothing and non-perishable food items for families in need in Buffalo.
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Play-Based Early Childhood Education 1 activity
- Deliver on-site and community-based educational programmingProvides play-based educational programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children, both on-site and through community outreach. Programs align with New York State curriculum standards and are designed to prepare children for formal education.
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Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
- Deliver summer and school-break day camps for childrenOffers year-round day camps for children in grades K–3, including summer programs such as Imaginarium Art, Kitchen Chemistry, Dino Discovery, and Build, Invent, Imagine!, as well as holiday and break camps. The museum is licensed as a child care center to provide these services.
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Museum Volunteer Engagement & Operations Support 1 activity
- Engage volunteers in operations and community programmingRecruits and utilizes volunteers in museum operations, community programming, special events, and committees across Western New York.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Host seasonal and themed special eventsOrganizes recurring seasonal and themed events including a Halloween Spooktacular with trick-or-treating and crafts, a Touch A Truck event featuring over 50 vehicles, and a family mini-golf event. Also hosts adults-only mini-golf and holiday-themed day camps.
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Infection Prevention & Control Protocols 1 activity
- Maintain museum hygiene and safety standardsConducts routine disinfection of toys and exhibit materials using hospital-grade cleaning agents to ensure a safe environment for children and families.
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Equitable Access Admission Programs 1 activity
- Offer free admission and programming on Fifth FridaysProvides free museum admission to all guests on months with five Fridays (Fifth Fridays), sponsored by M&T Bank. Events include hands-on financial literacy activities, sensory-friendly spaces, and partner workshops such as New York Power Authority’s EnergizeU.
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Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
- Operate children's museum with permanent and rotating exhibitsOperates a 43,000-square-foot children's museum at Canalside in downtown Buffalo featuring seven permanent Play Zones and a rotating temporary exhibit gallery, currently hosting the Person Centered Services Community Treehouse. The museum serves over 60,000 children and families annually at this location.
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Library-Provided Cultural Access Passes 1 activity
- Participate in community-wide family engagement initiativesParticipates in the Canalside Summer Scavenger Hunt, a free summer-long program encouraging family exploration of local attractions, offering 10% discounts on admission and purchases as an incentive.
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Children's Play and Motor Development Spaces 1 activity
- Provide free weekly outdoor play events at CanalsideHosts weekly Free Play Fridays outdoor events for children at Canalside’s Pierce Lawn from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., open to the public without registration or admission fees. These events are held year-round and are consistently described across multiple sources.
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Sensory-Inclusive Programming and Support 1 activity
- Support accessibility and family needs on-siteProvides changing stations, including a fully accessible station and family care rooms on the 2nd and 4th floors. Offers quiet rooms in the Moving Waters and Treehouse exhibits for sensory accommodations.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Host school field trips and group visitsCloses to the general public every Tuesday to accommodate school field trips and large group visits of 100 or more. These visits are part of the museum’s structured educational outreach.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$2.62M
Contributions & grants$878K34%
Program service revenue$1.52M58%
Investment income$-567-0%
Other revenue$222K
expenses
Total expenses$3.54M
Program expenses73%
Admin / overhead22%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$1.81M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$11.85M
Cash$203K
Investments$284K
Liabilities$811K
Net assets$11.04M
Liquid reserves1.6 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -43.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 4
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHELLE URBANCZYK | CEO | 40 | $217K |
| JERRY SILVIS | COO | 40 | $103K |
| HUBERT JERAS | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE | 1 | $46K |
| WILLIAM WELLS | FORMER CFO | 40 | $34K |
board members · 21
- ALEX CALDIERO — TRUSTEE
- AMBER MELVIN — TRUSTEE
- BART LAFASO — TRUSTEE
- BREAUNA CRUMPLER — TRUSTEE
- BRYAN HARBISON — TREASURER
- DAVID BERTOLA — TRUSTEE
- DR FADI DAGHER — TRUSTEE
- ELIZABETH DEMAKOS — TRUSTEE
- IAN BARRETT — TRUSTEE
- JASON SANTIAGO — VICE PRESIDENT
- JON DANDES — PRESIDENT
- JONATHAN JASINSKI — TRUSTEE
- KENNETH WEBSTER — TRUSTEE
- KEVIN BERCHOU — TRUSTEE
- LAURA ZACCHIGNA — TRUSTEE
- LINDSEY TAYLOR — TRUSTEE
- NICK ORTIZ — SECRETARY
- NINA HEARD — TRUSTEE
- PETER PETRELLA — TRUSTEE
- ROYCE WOODS — AT LARGE MEMBER
- RYAN STANG — TRUSTEE
relationships · 58
Who they work with
- Alice Partner — Featured program partner for Back to School Blitz event at Free Play Fridays.
- Alice, Ever After Books Partner — Featured partner for the August 28 Back to School Blitz event during Free Play Fridays.
- Alice, Ever After Books Partner — Featured program partner at Free Play Fridays
- Association of Children’s Museums Network — Participates in the Association of Children’s Museum Reciprocal Membership program, offering member benefits to visiting members.
- BankOnBuffalo Partner — Co-hosts the Coats & Cans drive with Explore & More to support families in Buffalo.
- Barb’s Book Buddies Partner — Featured program partner at multiple Free Play Fridays events
- Barb’s Book Buddies Partner — Featured program partner providing activities during multiple Free Play Fridays events.
- Barb’s Book Buddies Partner — Recurring featured partner providing programming across multiple Free Play Fridays events.
- Barb’s Book Buddies Partner — Recurring featured program partner across multiple Free Play Friday events.
- Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Partner — Collaborates to provide a Halloween bracelet craft activity during the Halloween Spooktacular event.
- Buffalo Construction Consultants Partner — Sponsors the Halloween Spooktacular event.
- Buffalo Urban League Partner — Participates in Fifth Friday events with programming or outreach activities.
- Buffalo Waterfront Partner — Cosponsors the Canalside Summer Scavenger Hunt with Explore & More.
- Canalside Partner — Explore & More is an anchor tenant at Canalside in downtown Buffalo.
- Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation Partner — Sponsors the Canalside Summer Scavenger Hunt in which Explore & More participates.
- Ever After Books Partner — Featured program partner during a Back to School Blitz event.
- Ever After Books Partner — Featured program partner for Back to School Blitz event at Free Play Fridays.
- Family Promise of WNY Partner — Beneficiary organization of the Coats & Cans drive hosted by Explore & More and BankOnBuffalo.
- Gerard Place Partner — Beneficiary organization of the Coats & Cans drive hosted by Explore & More and BankOnBuffalo.
- Government Officials Government — Volunteers are encouraged to engage government officials as advocates for the museum.
- Highmark BCBS Western New York Partner — Presenting sponsor of Free Play Fridays at Canalside
- Highmark BCBS Western New York Partner — Presenting sponsor of Free Play Fridays at Canalside.
- Highmark BCBS Western New York Partner — Presenting sponsor of Free Play Fridays outdoors at Canalside.
- Kenworth Northeast Group Partner — Sponsor of the Touch A Truck event.
- Little Portion Friary Partner — Beneficiary organization of the Coats & Cans drive hosted by Explore & More and BankOnBuffalo.
- M&T Bank Partner — Presenting sponsor for Fifth Fridays at Explore & More, providing free admission and special programming.
- M&T Bank Partner — Sponsors Fifth Fridays with free admission and supports the Halloween Spooktacular event.
- M&T Bank Partner — Title sponsor of the Fifth Fridays program, providing support for free admission and programming.
- Modern Partner — Title sponsor of the Touch A Truck event at Canalside.
- Modern Partner — Title sponsor of the Touch A Truck event.
+ 28 more
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Family-Engaged Learning Through Co-Participationmethodology: family-engaged_learningBy requiring caregiver supervision and integrating family interaction into exhibits and events, the museum strengthens developmental outcomes because adult-child co-engagement reinforces learning, deepens connection, and extends educational impact beyond the museum visit.
- Inclusive Design for Sensory and Access Equitymethodology: inclusive_designBy designing exhibits and programming with sensory accommodations and removing structural barriers (e.g., cost, registration), the museum enables engagement for children of all abilities because inclusive access reduces anxiety and supports full participation, particularly for neurodivergent or sensory-sensitive children.
- Play-Based Learning for Early Childhood Developmentmethodology: play-based_learningBy centering programming around unstructured, hands-on play experiences, the museum promotes cognitive, social, and emotional development in children because play stimulates curiosity, imagination, and brain development, particularly in early childhood.