Children's Museum of Richmond does not meet the following 5 Standards for Charity Accountability:
Standard 6 (Board Policy on Effectiveness)
Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.
CMR does not meet this Standard because:
- The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least every two years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.
Standard 7 (Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness)
Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.
CMR does not meet this Standard because:
- The organization has not completed an effectiveness assessment in the last two years.
Standard 14 (Budget)
Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.
CMR does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided 2021 budget information, it indicated that the budget:
- Did not identify total projected program service expenses including a breakdown of major program service expenses such as book bank, education and outreach, Legendary Santa, museum experience, and museum shop.
- Did not identify total projected fundraising expenses.
- Did not identify total projected administrative expenses.
Standard 16 (Annual Report)
Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fund raising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.
CMR does not meet this Standard because the 2019 annual report did not include:
- Total expenses for each program in the same categories that appear in the organization’s audited financial statements including book bank, education and outreach, Legendary Santa, museum experience, and museum shop.
- Total end of year net assets.
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.
CMR does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on the organization's website, https://www.childrensmuseumofrichmond.org/, does not indicate:
- How to inform the charity that the visitor does not want his/her information shared with others.
- What security measures are in place to protect personal information that is collected.
The BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information from the organization and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard(s) for Charity Accountability:
15
Children's Museum of Richmond meets the remaining 14 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Children?s Museum of Richmond (CMR) reports that it works to integrate learning and play to help children solve problems and support the Greater Richmond area in achieving school readiness for its students. Museum exhibits aim to improve motor development, language skills, communication and negotiation skills, creativity, reading and comprehension, and spatial skills and coordination. The organization also operates Children's Book Bank and Commonwealth Parenting, which serve to increase youth literacy and engage families with children with special needs and disabilities. In 2019, CMR states that 386,333 individuals visited its four operational museums, distributed 32,312 books, hosted 26,742 school program guests, and held more than 20 special events including Legendary Santa.
For the year ended June 30, 2019, Children's Museum of Richmond's program expenses were:
| Museum experience |
$2,451,030 |
| Education and outreach |
$297,923 |
| Museum shop |
$220,495 |
| Book bank |
$183,051 |
| Legendary Santa |
$120,469 |
| Total Program Expenses: |
$3,272,968 |
*2018 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Note: Danielle Ripperton assumed the position of Executive Director in December 2019. Her compensation is not yet available. Shannon L. Venable served as CMR's Chief Executive Officer in 2018, receiving $139,035 in compensation.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Invitations to fund raising events, Membership appeals
Fundraising costs were 19% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,880,631 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, 2019.
| Source of Funds |
| Contributions |
$1,186,387 |
| Admission charges |
$1,054,773 |
| Special events revenue |
$758,812 |
| Membership dues |
$694,244 |
| Museum shop sales |
$232,609 |
| Program activities revenue |
$136,409 |
| Realized and unrealized gain on investments, net |
$71,180 |
| Interest and dividend income |
$25,028 |
| Total Income |
$4,159,442 |
- Programs: 74%
- Administrative: 19%
- Fundraising: 7%
| Total Income |
$4,159,442 |
| Program expenses |
$3,272,968 |
| Fundraising expenses |
$349,108 |
| Administrative expenses |
$819,591 |
| Other expenses |
$0 |
| Total expenses: |
$4,441,667 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses |
$-282,225 |
| Beginning Net Assets |
$5,819,105 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets |
$0 |
| Ending Net Assets |
$5,536,880 |
| Total Liabilities |
$945,444 |
| Total Assets |
$6,482,324 |
Note: According to CMR's IRS Form 990 for the year ended June 30, 2019, the organization received $202,234 in contributed goods and services.