irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $41KBIRTHDAY PARTIESDESCRIPTION: IN OUR BIRTHDAY PARTIES, OUR MUSEUM FACILITATORS LEAD PERSONALIZED CELEBRATORY EXPERIENCES FOR SMALL TO MEDIUM-SIZED GROUPS OF CHILDREN, WHO COME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO COMMEMORATE A CHILD'S SPECIAL DAY.CONTENT: THESE BIRTHDAY PARTIES INCLUDE DEDICATED PLAYTIME THROUGHOUT THE MUSEUM'S HANDS-ON EXHIBITS AND ACTIVITIES, PLUS EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO A PRIVATE BIRTHDAY ROOM FOR CAKE AND CELEBRATIONS. PARTIES CAN BE ENHANCED WITH OPTIONAL HANDS-ON STEAM WORKSHOPS LED BY OUR MUSEUM FACILITATORS. THE WORKSHOP TOPIC IS CHOSEN AHEAD OF TIME BY THE PARTY ORGANIZER FROM OUR MENU OF CREATIVE OPTIONS, INCLUDING SILLY SLIME, PLAY-DOH, PAINT EXTRAVAGANZA, AND ARTS + CRAFTS.WHERE: BIRTHDAY PARTIES ARE HELD IN THE MUSEUM ON WEEKENDS (9:30-11:30, 12:30-2:30, 3:30-5:30) AND WEEKDAYS (2:30-4:30), ACCOMMODATING UP TO 25 CHILDREN PLUS PARENTS AND GUARDIANS, WITH FULL ACCESS TO THE MUSEUM ON THE DAY OF THE PARTY AVAILABLE (WCM STAFF, USUALLY A PLAYWORKER), NO FOOD IS HANDLED/SERVED DURING THE PARTIES.
- #2 $5KFIELD TRIPSDESCRIPTION: IN OUR FIELD TRIPS, OUR MUSEUM EDUCATORS LEAD PLAYFUL LEARNING VISITS FOR LARGE NUMBERS OF CHILDREN, WHO USUALLY COME FROM A REGIONAL SCHOOL OR OTHER ORGANIZATION BY BUS OR CARPOOL. CONTENT: THESE FIELD TRIPS ARE USUALLY A COMBINATION OF FACILITATED/GUIDED PLAY IN VARIOUS ACTIVITY/EXHIBIT LOCATIONS WITHIN THE MUSEUM, WITH THE OPTION TO ADD A HANDS-ON STEAM WORKSHOP LED BY OUR MUSEUM EDUCATORS. THE OPTIONAL ADD-ON WORKSHOP TOPIC IS CHOSEN AND SCHEDULED AHEAD OF TIME BY THE SCHOOL ORGANIZER, CHOSEN FROM OUR MENU OF TOPICS IN THE EDUCATOR'S GUIDE. WHERE: FIELD TRIPS ARE HELD IN THE MUSEUM EVERY WEEKDAY, IN WHICH UP TO 6 CLASSROOMS PER DAY, ALONG WITH THEIR TEACHERS AND CHAPERONES, HAVE FULL ACCESS TO THE HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES IN THE MUSEUM.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Baby & Me
Weekly early childhood program for infants aged 0–18 months and caregivers, offering sensory play, music, and movement in a quiet, pre-opening setting
Birthday Parties
Personalized birthday celebrations for children, including private room rental, museum access, and optional hands-on STEAM workshops such as slime-making, painting, or crafts
Field Trips
Guided educational visits for school groups featuring facilitated play, exhibit exploration, and optional STEAM workshops aligned with curriculum topics
Workshops
Hands-on STEAM workshops for children on weekends, covering visual and performing arts, science topics like static electricity and DNA, and creative projects
activities · 11 groups
What they do
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Hands-On STEM Education Programs 1 activity
- Deliver STEAM-based educational programs for young childrenProvides STEAM-focused educational programming for children from pre-kindergarten through middle school, including hands-on workshops, creative play, and science-based learning activities. Offers age-specific programs such as summer drop-off STEAM camps for children ages 5–10 with structured morning and afternoon sessions.
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Play-Based Early Childhood Education 1 activity
- Deliver early childhood development programs for infants and toddlersOffers weekly early childhood programs including “Baby & Me” for infants aged 0–18 months and “Toddler & Me” for children aged 19–36 months, featuring hands-on sessions before public hours. Programs are offered as drop-ins or prepaid class packs and include caregiver participation.
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Public Astronomy & Space Science Education 1 activity
- Design and operate interactive, age-appropriate exhibitsOperates original, creative, and hands-on exhibits such as the Physics Lab, WCM Weather Station, and Fit City, designed to engage children of various ages and adults. The museum features a 20,000-square-foot open floor plan at Playland Park Beach that supports supervision across exhibit areas.
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Children's Themed Birthday Parties 1 activity
- Host birthday parties with educational and recreational componentsOffers birthday party packages that include two-hour access to a private room, facilitated play in exhibits, optional STEAM workshops, take-home creations, and support from at least one party facilitator for setup, food service, and cleanup.
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Early Literacy Promotion 1 activity
- Host daily and weekly educational enrichment activitiesProvides daily Story Time and Music & Movement sessions, as well as additional midday Storytime, to promote literacy and engagement. Offers weekly themed programs such as Story + Craft and Dancing Thursday in partnership with The ARC Westchester.
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Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
- Host educational field trips for school groupsConducts guided field trips for school groups that include facilitated play in hands-on exhibits and optional STEAM workshops led by museum educators, providing structured learning experiences aligned with school curricula.
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Event Venue Rental Services 1 activity
- Host public and private events in museum spacesHosts galas, fundraisers, conferences, and community events in multiple gallery spaces and offers adaptable areas for TV, film, and photography shoots. Provides 20,000 square feet of flexible event space combining historic and modern architecture.
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Equitable Access Admission Programs 1 activity
- Offer inclusive admission policies for underserved and military familiesProvides reduced or no-cost admission to EBT cardholders (up to four individuals at $3 per person) through the Museums for All program, and free admission to active-duty military personnel, veterans, and their families through the Blue Star Museums program. Extends access to children under 1 and community groups from underserved communities.
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Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
- Operate museum with regular public hoursOperates daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., providing consistent public access to exhibits, programs, and facilities.
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Sensory-Inclusive Programming and Support 1 activity
- Provide inclusive programming for children with differing abilitiesOffers accessible and inclusive programming with environmental accommodations to support children with differing abilities, including sensory-friendly events and partnerships with organizations such as The ARC Westchester for specialized programs.
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Museum Volunteer Engagement & Operations Support 1 activity
- Provide volunteer engagement opportunitiesOffers volunteer roles for adults to support museum operations, including weekly floor staffing from Wednesday to Sunday, and contributions in fundraising, marketing, and programming. Volunteers assist visitors and support special events and community outreach programs.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.53M
Contributions & grants$888K58%
Program service revenue$622K41%
Investment income$10K1%
Other revenue$10K
expenses
Total expenses$1.58M
Program expenses74%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$1.04M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.80M
Cash$390K
Investments$0
Liabilities$1.07M
Net assets$2.73M
Liquid reserves3.0 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +14.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS SULLIVAN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $119K |
| SARAH DUFF | DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING DIRECTOR | 40 | $114K |
board members · 13
- CAROLYN CARR SPENCER — TREASURER
- CORINNE ZOLA — TRUSTEE
- DENISE SEEDOR — SECRETARY
- IZZY COPUS — TRUSTEE
- JAIME STEERS — TRUSTEE
- KATIE VERNACE — VICE PRESIDENT
- KIM JEFFREY — TRUSTEE
- KIM SPARBER — TRUSTEE
- LAVANYA MISRA — TRUSTEE
- MARC OXMAN — TRUSTEE
- MARVIN CAMPBELL — PRESIDENT
- NAZANINE SCHEUER — TRUSTEE
- PETER LARKIN — TRUSTEE
relationships · 20
Who they work with
- @fischwanders Partner — Visitor or family associated with the Westchester Children's Museum, publicly acknowledging its accessibility features.
- Alexander Partner — Play Worker at the Westchester Children's Museum, recognized by visitors for engagement with children.
- Association for Children's Museums Network — Co-administrator of the Museums for All program in which the museum participates
- Blue Star Families Partner — Offers free admission to Blue Star families as part of a community access initiative.
- Cerbone's Bakery Partner — Local vendor option for birthday party desserts.
- Con Edison Partner — Sponsors the WCM Weather Station within the Wind & Weather exhibit
- Emily Partner — Play Worker at the Westchester Children's Museum, recognized by visitors for engagement with children.
- Esther Partner — Manager at the Westchester Children's Museum, recognized for contributions to visitor experience.
- Fierstein Family Foundation Funder — Funded the Physics Lab exhibit
- Gotham Freeze Partner — Exclusive vendor providing snacks and beverages at the museum cafe
- Gotham Freeze Partner — Local vendor option for birthday party treats.
- Institute of Museum and Library Services Network — Co-administrator of the Museums for All program in which the museum participates
- Interns and Volunteers Team Partner — Internal team responsible for coordinating adult volunteer programs at the museum.
- National Endowment for the Arts Network — Administrator of the Blue Star Museums program in which the museum participates
- Piazza Pizza Partner — Local vendor option for birthday party food orders.
- Tatiele Wares Partner — Lead educator for the Baby & Me program
- The ARC Westchester Partner — Collaborates on weekly programs including Story + Craft and Dancing Thursday.
- White Plains Hospital Partner — Co-developed the Fit City exhibit with the museum
- Yes She Can Inc. Partner — Client organization that hosted an event at the museum and provided positive feedback on staff support and venue quality.
- twares@discoverwcm.org Partner — Contact point for Family Access Membership inquiries related to the Toddler & Me program.
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.
- Developmentally Informed and Sensory-Rich Designmethodology: developmentally-informed_designBy designing exhibits and programs that align with children's cognitive, physical, and sensory development stages, the museum enhances early learning and caregiver-child bonding because age- and ability-appropriate environments reduce barriers to engagement and support neural and emotional growth.
- Inclusive Access Through Adaptive Programming and Designmethodology: inclusive_designBy integrating universal design principles and offering specialized programming such as pre-opening hours for infants and sensory-sensitive experiences, the museum fosters inclusion for children of all abilities and backgrounds because intentionally accessible environments increase participation and belonging.
- Play-Based Learning for Holistic Developmentmethodology: playful_learningBy using play as the primary mode of engagement, the museum promotes cognitive, social, emotional, and academic development in children because playful learning aligns with natural developmental processes and supports diverse learning styles.