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STATEN ISLAND CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
STATEN ISLAND, NY · EIN 237379930 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A520 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Medium ($1M-$10M) · sichildrensmuseum.org
revenue
$2.1M
expenses
$2.0M
net assets
$4.9M
employees
42
volunteers
13
program ratio
83%
mission · from form 990

THE MISSION OF THE STATEN ISLAND CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IS TO NURTURE THE CREATIVITY AND CURIOSITY NATURAL TO ALL CHILDREN, TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES, AND TO DEMONSTRATE VIVIDLY THAT LEARNING CAN BE EXCITING AND FUN.

profile · synthesized from sources

Children's museum located on Staten Island, NY, offering interactive exhibits and hands-on educational programming for children ages 1 and up. The museum fosters creativity, curiosity, and learning through play, with 12 indoor and outdoor exhibits focused on science, art, culture, and local ecology. It provides workshops, camps, and family activities designed to engage diverse learning styles in a playful environment.

named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Boogie Woogie Wednesday
Interactive dance workshop series, such as the Mexican folk dance program with Calpulli, that teaches cultural traditions and movement to children and families.
Crazy Science Experiments
STEM-focused workshops, such as building balloon-powered cars, that engage children in hands-on science and engineering activities.
Explore Staten Island Exhibit
Immersive, hands-on exhibit opening October 2026 that simulates Staten Island’s natural and cultural environments, allowing children to engage with local ecosystems, infrastructure, and conservation efforts through interactive stations.
Movers and Shakers
Family movement program featuring dance workshops and a "Music Video Mania" activity where children learn choreography and create their own music videos.
ShopRite Kidz Cook
Hands-on cooking class for young children and caregivers that teaches kitchen skills and food exploration through child-safe tools and ingredient mixing.
Summer Camp
Weekly themed camps for children featuring activities such as STEM experiments, dance workshops, outdoor games, and museum exploration, culminating in community outings.
activities · 12 groups

What they do

  • Community Art Education Workshops 2 activities
    • Delivering educational workshops and programs
      Offers hands-on art, science, dance, and story time workshops for children ages 1 and up, including 90-minute art workshops for Pre-K to 5th grade students and interactive sessions such as balloon-powered car design for STEM learning and Mexican folk dance with cultural instruction.
    • Delivering in-school educational programs
      Provides in-school programs led by teaching artists and educators for PreK and elementary students, covering topics such as art, nutrition, the five senses, dance, and mixed-media creation, customizable to school curricula and offered during class or after-school periods.
  • Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
    • Facilitating school field trips and group visits
      Offers guided field trip programming for schools, scouts, and other groups, including Guided Play visits where students explore three exhibits for 30 minutes each, with optional add-on STEM or art workshops, and supports curriculum-aligned learning through play.
  • Community Wellness Movement Classes 1 activity
    • Hosting movement and creativity events
      Hosts Movers and Shakers events featuring dance, stretching, and movement games designed to promote physical activity, confidence, and creativity in children.
  • Event Venue Rental Services 1 activity
    • Managing event rentals and community gallery exhibitions
      Rents the museum and Community Gallery for private events including birthday parties, holiday parties, school-wide Family Fun Nights, and after-hours engagements; hosts rotating monthly exhibitions of student and community artwork with free display access and flexible reception arrangements.
  • Play-Based Early Childhood Education 1 activity
    • Offering early childhood development programs
      Provides Tot’s Time for children ages 2–4, which includes music, stories, and crafts to support pre-school readiness and developmental growth.
  • History Education Curriculum Development 1 activity
    • Offering supplemental educational resources
      Provides downloadable activity sheets and virtual Supplemental Resources to extend the museum experience for students and families beyond in-person visits.
  • Children's Play and Motor Development Spaces 1 activity
    • Operating public museum with hands-on exhibits
      Operates a children's museum open to the public Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, featuring 12 indoor and outdoor interactive exhibits such as Pets & People, Sea of Boats, House About It, Big Games, Bugs & Other Arthropods, and Portia’s Playhouse that support learning through play in areas like construction, veterinary care, theater, and nature.
  • Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
    • Operating summer camp programs
      Runs themed summer camps for children ages 4–8 focusing on STEAM, cooking, superheroes, carnival games, 1970s culture, and nature exploration, each incorporating hands-on projects, creative expression, and confidence-building activities.
  • Equitable Access Admission Programs 1 activity
    • Providing inclusive access and affordability programs
      Offers free or discounted admission to Corporate Members, Cool Culture families, Culture Connected pass holders, Adult EBT/SNAP card holders, and reciprocity network members (ACM/ASTC), and reserves daily tickets for partner programs to ensure consistent access for underserved communities.
  • Nonprofit-Operated Cafés and Social Enterprises 1 activity
    • Running on-site café services
      Operates The Snack Zone Cafe on Wednesdays through Fridays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, providing food and drink options for visitors.
  • Accessibility Services for Cultural Programs 1 activity
    • Supporting accessibility for visitors with disabilities
      Provides accommodations including free admission for personal care assistants, a downloadable sensory guide, a dedicated Sensory Space equipped with calming tools, and website accessibility features via UserWay for font, color, and screen reader customization.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Providing member-only early access
      Offers members exclusive access to the museum from 9:00 am to 10:00 am on Wednesdays through Fridays before public hours.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.11M
Contributions & grants$1.40M66%
Program service revenue$506K24%
Investment income$208K10%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$2.02M
Program expenses83%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$935K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$5.44M
Cash$1.90M
Investments$3.16M
Liabilities$496K
Net assets$4.94M
Liquid reserves30.1 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -13.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
DINA ROSENTHAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 35 $213K
JENNIFER DUDLEY DEPUTY DIRECTOR 35 $157K
board members · 13
  • ALFREDO P CONTI — TRUSTEE
  • ANDREW HASER — TRUSTEE
  • BONNIE LAUDER — PRESIDENT
  • CHRISTINA TANENBAUM — TRUSTEE
  • DAVID L OLDHAM — VICE PRESIDENT
  • JASON FRIEDHOFF — TREASURER
  • KATE SATIN — SECRETARY
  • LAURIE GUINTA — TRUSTEE
  • MARION FOLEY — TRUSTEE
  • MARK C IRVING — TRUSTEE
  • MIKE SANICOLA — TRUSTEE
  • ULA MCCRINDLE — TRUSTEE
  • VIKAS MITTAL — TRUSTEE
relationships · 13

Who they work with

  • Association of Children’s Museums Network — Participates in the ACM reciprocal network, offering admission benefits to members of other children’s museums.
  • Association of Science and Technology Centers Network — Participates in the ASTC Passport Program, providing access to visitors from member science centers.
  • Attorney General’s Charities Bureau Government — Source for the museum's annual financial report and charity information.
  • Calpulli Mexican Dance Partner — Partners with Calpulli to offer interactive Mexican folk dance workshops for children and families.
  • Cool Culture Partner — Collaborates to provide free or discounted museum access to Cool Culture families.
  • Culture Connected Partner — Provides free or discounted admission to Culture Connected pass holders.
  • Educationdepartment@sichildrensmuseum.org Partner — Contact point for field trip coordination and educational programming support
  • Ensemble Barnya Dance Company Partner — Collaborates with Ensemble Barnya Dance Company to provide energetic dance performances and workshops during summer camp.
  • NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Receives continued support from and collaborates with the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs to ensure arts and culture are accessible to children.
  • PS 29 Partner — Conducted a dance residency program at PS 29 as part of in-school programming.
  • Snug Harbor Partner — Located on the grounds of Snug Harbor, indicating a collaborative or hosted relationship.
  • Supplemental Resources Partner — Provides downloadable educational materials to extend the museum experience to classrooms and families.
  • UserWay Partner — Technology partner providing accessibility software to enhance website usability for people with disabilities.
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.

  • Expanded Access via Community and Cultural Partnerships
    methodology: access-expansion_via_partnerships
    By offering free or discounted admission through partnerships with cultural networks and social service programs, the museum increases equitable access because financial and institutional collaborations remove cost and awareness barriers for underserved families.
  • Experiential Learning Through Hands-On Engagement
    methodology: experiential_learning
    By using hands-on, play-based, and inquiry-driven activities, the museum engages children in active learning because direct interaction with exhibits fosters deeper understanding, critical thinking, and retention across diverse learning styles.
  • Inclusive Access Through Sensory and Structural Accommodations
    methodology: access-inclusion_model
    By providing sensory preparation guides and digital accessibility tools, the museum reduces barriers to participation because anticipatory support and accessible design enable children of all abilities to engage fully and with reduced anxiety.