named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Dynamic H2O
Interactive water exhibit and program series featuring water games, science activities, and guest-led events like Water Wednesdays.
Harbor Hooray
Themed summer program celebrating NYC’s maritime history with activities like ship sculptures and nautical letter flags, tied to the Sail4th 250 celebration.
Makerspace Activities
Rotating art and STEM projects for children ages 5+ such as Sky Motion Mobiles, My NYC Pouch, and Miniature Lighthouse Scenes, held on the museum’s first floor.
PlayWorks
Daily drop-in program for children ages 0–4 featuring Circle Time, Messy with Art, mural creation, and storytime, designed to support early developmental stages through play-based learning.
School Residencies
Customized, curriculum-based classroom programs led by CMOM educators, including "Anansi to Zeus" which explores global myths and folktales through storytelling and art for grades 1–5.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Museum-Based Educational Outreach 2 activities
- Community outreach and inclusive programmingDelivers learning experiences to children in shelters and Head Start programs across New York City in collaboration with the Department of Homeless Services, and provides adaptive, inclusive programs for children and families with diverse needs. Engages hundreds of thousands beyond the museum walls through touring exhibitions, outreach programs, and online tools.
- On-site museum programming for children and familiesOffers hands-on exhibits and daily drop-in programs at its Upper West Side location for children ages 0–6, including Circle Time, art activities, Water Wednesdays, musical performances, and storytelling, with accessibility supports such as Accessibility Kits and stroller check. The museum operates daily from 10 am to 5 pm and serves over 225,000 on-site visitors annually.
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Cultural Facility Development and Management 1 activity
- Development of new museum facilityPlanning and constructing a new museum facility featuring research-backed exhibits, immersive experiences, a performance space, and a rooftop terrace, designed to more than double visitor capacity and extend programming to children from birth to age 10. The current museum remains operational during construction, with progress marked by milestones such as the Board of Directors’ site tour on November 5, 2025.
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Play-Based Early Childhood Education 1 activity
- Early childhood classes and family programsOffers registered small-group early childhood classes focused on preschool preparation, early separation, science, art, and Spanish, led by expert educators. Also runs the Family Connections Program in partnership with the NYC Department of Correction, fostering parent-child bonds through creative activities for incarcerated parents and their children.
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Storytelling and Literacy Resource Development 1 activity
- Educator and caregiver resource developmentProvides award-winning curriculum guides and activity resources through its Resource Library to support educators, caregivers, and families in fostering early childhood learning and creativity.
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Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
- School and group educational programsProvides guided tours for school and camp groups of 15 or more students, as well as educator-led school residencies that deliver research-backed curricula in science, art, and culture. Programs include hands-on, inquiry-based learning experiences such as Beakers and Brushes (integrating science and art), Bug Out! (ecosystems and insects), and Anansi to Zeus (global myths and literacy), serving grades Pre-K through 5.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$40.11M
Contributions & grants$37.40M93%
Program service revenue$1.72M4%
Investment income$1.65M4%
Other revenue$-650K
expenses
Total expenses$8.60M
Program expenses65%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising28%
Salaries & benefits$4.43M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$154.70M
Cash$35.32M
Investments$1.96M
Liabilities$19.97M
Net assets$134.73M
Liquid reserves52.0 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -24.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 9
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVA SCHUB | CEO AND DIRECTOR | 40 | $418K |
| PEGGY HWAN HEBARD | COO AND CFO | 40 | $296K |
| KAREN KINCAID CHIEF | ADVANCEMENT OFFICER | 40 | $279K |
| LESLIE MCMAHON BUSHARA | CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER | 40 | $279K |
| THOMAS G QUARANTA | CAPITAL PROJECT MANAGER | 40 | $175K |
| KARANN PASHKIN | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE | 40 | $154K |
| STEPHANIE BERNABEI | DEPUTY DIR OF CAPITAL CAMP | 40 | $143K |
| ADENA KERSTEIN | SR. DIR. SPECIAL EVENTS | 40 | $125K |
| WILL SULIVAN | DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS | 40 | $122K |
board members · 16
- ALEXANDRA TRABER MCNAMARA — DIRECTOR
- AMY LIU CHEN — DIRECTOR
- ANDREW KAHN — TREASURER
- ANDREW SHORE — DIRECTOR
- BEN SCHENKMAN — DIRECTOR
- BRITTANY KURZ — DIRECTOR
- DEBORAH WILLIS — DIRECTOR
- DEEPEN PARIKH — DIRECTOR
- GREER TESSLER MIRANDA — DIRECTOR
- JEAN MARGARET SMITH — DIRECTOR
- JOHN BESSONETTE — SECRETARY
- JOSHUA LAFER — DIRECTOR
- JUDITH HANNAN — DIRECTOR
- JULIA ARNHOLD — VICE CHAIR
- JULIEN GHESQUIERES — DIRECTOR
- LAURIE M TISCH — FOUNDING BOARD CHAIR
relationships · 14
Who they work with
- Ariel Handelman Government — Press contact for media inquiries and press release archives.
- CMOM Network — Corporate members support CMOM's mission and programs
- Central Park Government — Location adjacent to the planned new museum site on 96th Street and Central Park West.
- Department of Homeless Services Partner — Partners with CMOM to deliver learning experiences in shelters and Head Start programs across New York City.
- Metropolitan Pavilion Partner — Venue partner for the Sunday Funday event.
- NYC Department of Correction Partner — Collaborates with CMOM on the Family Connections Program to support relationships between incarcerated parents and their children.
- NYC Health + Hospitals Partner — Collaborates through shared leadership involvement, with Sewit Teckie, MD, MBA serving as System Chief Medical Officer for Clinical Affairs and Business Strategy at NYC Health + Hospitals and as a board member at CMOM.
- NYU Langone Health Partner — Collaborates through shared leadership involvement, with Sarah D. Cascante, MD serving as Clinical Assistant Professor at NYU Langone Health and as a board member at CMOM.
- STEMmersive Partner — Collaborates on water-focused educational activations with puppets, stories, and interactive activities.
- Spellbound Theater Partner — Collaborates on interactive storytelling performances for children ages 2–5 at the museum.
- The New York Times Partner — Featured coverage of the new museum project in a published article.
- Tisch School of the Arts at NYU Partner — Collaborates through shared leadership involvement, with Deborah Willis, Ph.D serving as University Professor at Tisch School of the Arts at NYU and as a board member at CMOM.
- West Side Soccer League Partner — Partners on soccer-themed movement activities and team games during World Cup events.
- nearby dining options Partner — Collaborates with local restaurants to offer discount dining options for visitors
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.
- Inclusive Community Learningmethodology: inclusive-community-learningBy creating intentionally inclusive environments that highlight diverse perspectives, we foster empathy and shared learning across differences because inclusive design enables children and families from all backgrounds to engage meaningfully and see themselves reflected in the learning experience.
- Learning Through Playmethodology: learning-through-playBy designing interactive, play-based experiences grounded in research, we foster cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development in children because play naturally motivates exploration, creativity, and sustained engagement.
- Research-Backed Exhibit and Program Designmethodology: evidence-based educationBy grounding exhibits and educational programming in developmental science and expert collaboration, we ensure that learning experiences are developmentally appropriate and effective because evidence-based design aligns with how young children actually learn and grow.