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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: October 2025 Expires: October 2027

Children's Museum of Richmond

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
18
(804) 474-7000
2626 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA, 23220
https://childrensmuseumofrichmond.org/
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Children's Museum of Richmond does not meet the following 1 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 18 (Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy)
Address privacy concerns of donors by (a) providing in written appeals, at least annually, a means (e.g., such as a check off box) for both new and continuing donors to inform the charity if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, (b) providing a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on any of its websites that tells visitors (i) what information, if any, is being collected about them by the charity and how this information will be used, (ii) how to contact the charity to review personal information collected and request corrections, (iii) how to inform the charity (e.g., a check off box) that the visitor does not wish his/her personal information to be shared outside the organization, and (iv) what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information.

CMoR does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on its website, https://childrensmuseumofrichmond.org/, does not indicate:

  • What security measures are in place to protect personal information that is collected.

Children's Museum of Richmond meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to inspire growth in all children by engaging families in learning through play."

Year, State Incorporated:
1977, VA

The Children's Museum of Richmond (CMoR) provides hands-on, play-based learning experiences for children ages 0–8 and their families across Central Virginia. CMoR offers interactive exhibits aligned with early childhood development domains, including literacy, STEM, social-emotional learning, and motor skills. Programs include school readiness initiatives such as the Trailblazer Club, which supports caregivers of rising kindergarteners through guided learning experiences and at-home activities. The organization reports that it delivers Virginia Standards of Learning-aligned field trips, with nearly half provided free or at reduced cost to Title I schools and early learning centers. Outreach programs bring CMoR’s experiences into neighborhoods, schools, and community events, expanding access to playful learning. The organization reports that, with two museum locations and robust outreach efforts, CMoR reaches more than 300,000 individuals annually.

For the year ended June 30, 2024, Children's Museum of Richmond's program expenses were:

Museum experience $2,196,457
Education and outreach $477,504
Museum shop $153,618
Legendary Santa $110,660
Book bank $76,302
Total Program Expenses $3,014,541

Chief Executive
Danielle Ripperton, Executive Director

Compensation*
$177,209

Chair of the Board
Sally Tate

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Vice President, People Strategies and Marketing, Hourigan

Board Size
29

Paid Staff Size
104

*2023 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Door-to-door appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Membership appeals, Telephone appeals, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.)

Fundraising costs were 22% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,852,388, 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 Children's Museum of Richmond's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2024.

Source of Funds
Contributions $1,149,391
Admission charges $1,072,147
Special events charges $653,895
Membership dues $556,559
Realized/unrealized gain on investments $291,207
Museum shop sales $237,280
Interest and dividend income, net $140,764
In-kind contributions $99,938
Program activities charges $86,967
Grant income $46,500
Total Income $4,334,648

Programs: 77% Fundraising: 10% Administrative: 13%

Total Income $4,334,648
Total expenses: $3,928,299
  Program expenses $3,014,541
  Fundraising expenses $404,281
  Administrative expenses $509,477
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $406,349
Beginning Net Assets $8,103,213
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $8,509,562
Total Liabilities $1,557,882
Total Assets $10,067,444

Note: According to CMoR's audited financial statemetns for the year ended June 30, 2024, the organization received in-kind contributions of $99,938 including books ($70,305), events ($19,333), and auction items ($10,300).

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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Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance