Mississippi Children's Museum
Meets Standards
Standards For Charity Accountability
Governance
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Board Oversight
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Board Size
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Board Meetings
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Board Compensation
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Conflict of Interest
Measuring Effectiveness
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Effectiveness Policy
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Effectiveness Report
Finances
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Program Expenses
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Fundraising Expenses
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Accumulating Funds
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Audit Report
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Detailed Expense Breakdown
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Accurate Expense Reporting
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Budget Plan
Fundraising & Info
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Truthful Materials
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Annual Report
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Website Disclosures
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Donor Privacy
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Cause Marketing Disclosures
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Complaints
Mississippi Children's Museum meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Stated Purpose:
"to create unparalleled experiences to inspire excellence and a lifelong joy of learning."
Year, State Incorporated:
1996, MS
Mississippi Children's Network (MCM) reports that it offers hands-on exhibits and programs focusing on literacy, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), health and nutrition, cultural arts, and Mississippi heritage to help children mature into healthy and productive adult learners. MCM has two facilities, one in Jackson and the other in Meridian. In 2025, the organization reports that it welcomed nearly 50,000 visitors during its summer Measurement Rules exhibit, hosted the 10th Annual Mississippi Science Festival across multiple locations statewide, and launched the LIFT Capital campaign dedicated to funding an addition to the Jackson campus.
For the year ended May 31, 2025, Mississippi Children's Museum's program expenses were:
| Exhibits and facilities | $3,102,153 |
| Education | $1,586,866 |
| Retail | $776,432 |
| External affairs | $420,465 |
| Special events | $217,015 |
| Total Program Expenses | $6,102,931 |
Chief Executive
Susan Garrard, President and Chief Executive Officer
Compensation*
$153,464
Chair of the Board
Alicen Blanchard
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Realtor, Overby, Inc.
Board Size
20
Paid Staff Size
100
*2024 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Method(s) Used:
Invitations to fund raising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Membership appeals
Fundraising costs were 7% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $4,161,731 are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)
This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
The following information is based on Mississippi Children's Museum's audited financial statements - consolidated for the year ended May 31, 2025.
Source of Funds
| Admissions | $1,141,446 |
| Contributions | $1,087,282 |
| Grants | $925,779 |
| Educational programs and sponsorships | $819,015 |
| Events | $733,208 |
| Memberships | $441,138 |
| Retail sales | $393,166 |
| Investment income | $359,538 |
| Facility rental | $184,673 |
| In-kind contributions | $155,309 |
| Gain on investments | $73,590 |
| Other income | $15,990 |
| Total Income | $6,330,134 |
Programs: 83% Fundraising: 4% Administrative: 13%
| Total Income | $6,330,134 |
| Total expenses: | $7,347,776 |
| Program expenses | $6,102,931 |
| Fundraising expenses | $303,260 |
| Administrative expenses | $941,585 |
| Other expenses | $0 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $-1,017,642 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $30,215,656 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $0 |
| Ending Net Assets | $29,198,014 |
| Total Liabilities | $19,614,641 |
| Total Assets | $48,812,655 |
Note: According to the organization's audited financial statements – consolidated – for the year ended May 31, 2025, MCM received in-kind contributions totaling $155,309 in the form of special events-related goods ($123,249) and education services ($32,060).
An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.
This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.
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Meets Standards
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Standards Not Met
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Did Not Disclose
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Review in Progress
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Unable to Verify
Report completed by:
BBB Serving Mississippi