Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County
Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County shows consistent asset growth and zero reported officer compensation over a decade.
EIN: 203496878 · Santa Rosa, CA · NTEE: A52 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $4.8M |
| Total Expenses | $2.5M |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| Net Assets | $4.2M |
| Transparency Score | 90/100 |
Is Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County Legit?
Appears Legitimate
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County
Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County (EIN: 203496878) is a nonprofit organization based in Santa Rosa, CA, classified under NTEE code A52. The organization reported total revenue of $4.8M and total assets of $6.5M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 21 years, with 12 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 27.4%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $2.5M |
| Total Expenses | $2.5M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-4,824 |
| Total Assets | $4.6M |
| Total Liabilities | $452K |
| Net Assets | $4.2M |
| Operating Margin | -0.2% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 9.8% |
| Months of Reserves | 21.8 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County reported a deficit of $5K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 21.8 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 9.8% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 12 years of filings (2011–2023), Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27.4%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -1.7% | +18.6% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | +170.6% | +4.8% | +8.9% |
| 2021 | -67.4% | -3.6% | -20.1% |
| 2020 | +60.9% | -5.6% | +19.2% |
| 2019 | +2.5% | +21.3% | -16.5% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2005 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County with a Mission Score of 90 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $5K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 9.8%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no salaries are paid to officers, which is highly unusual and suggests a strong volunteer-driven leadership or that compensation is reported under other categories, though the former is more likely given the consistent reporting.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating strong financial transparency and potentially volunteer-driven leadership.
- Significant asset growth from $1,740,204 in 2013 to $4,637,402 in 2023, demonstrating long-term financial health.
- Resilience in revenue, rebounding from a low of $955,744 in 2021 to $2,543,054 in 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions about Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County
Is Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County a legitimate charity?
Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County (EIN: 203496878) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in California. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 90/100. It has 12 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $4.8M. No red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County spend its money?
Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County tax-deductible?
Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 203496878). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County's spending goes to programs?
Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 90/100 (Excellent), Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County is above average for NTEE category A52 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County located?
Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County is headquartered in Santa Rosa, California and files with the IRS under EIN 203496878. It is classified under NTEE code A52.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County have?
Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County has 12 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $4.8M in total revenue.
Is Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County a good charity?
Based on the available financial data, the Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County appears to be a well-managed charity with strong program focus and excellent transparency regarding executive compensation. Its consistent asset growth and zero reported officer compensation are positive indicators.
How has the organization's revenue trended over the past few years?
Revenue has fluctuated, with a significant dip to $955,744 in 2021, but has since rebounded to $2,543,054 in 2023, showing recovery and resilience.
What is the organization's approach to executive compensation?
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation in all available filings, suggesting a volunteer-led executive team or that executive compensation is not reported under this specific line item, which is a strong indicator of a lean operational model.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County showing financial trends over 12 years of public records:
Over 12 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County's revenue has grown by 1722.9%, moving from $140K to $2.5M. Total assets increased by 3870.6% over the same period, from $117K to $4.6M. Total functional expenses rose by 1640.7%, from $146K to $2.5M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County reported a deficit of $5K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $452K in liabilities against $4.6M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 9.8%), resulting in net assets of $4.2M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $2.5M | $2.5M | $4.6M | $452K | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $2.6M | $2.1M | $4.6M | $384K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $956K | $2.0M | $4.2M | $449K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $2.9M | $2.1M | $5.3M | $418K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $1.8M | $2.3M | $4.4M | $147K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $1.8M | $1.9M | $5.3M | $97K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $1.8M | $1.4M | $5.4M | $94K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $1.6M | $928K | $5.3M | $391K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $3.2M | $443K | $4.7M | $474K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $1.0M | $256K | $1.7M | $229K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $831K | $231K | $910K | $169K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $140K | $146K | $117K | $5K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $2.5M, expenses of $2.5M, and assets of $4.6M (revenue -1.7% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $2.6M, expenses of $2.1M, and assets of $4.6M (revenue +170.6% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $956K, expenses of $2.0M, and assets of $4.2M (revenue -67.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $2.9M, expenses of $2.1M, and assets of $5.3M (revenue +60.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $2.3M, and assets of $4.4M (revenue +2.5% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $1.9M, and assets of $5.3M (revenue +0.7% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $1.4M, and assets of $5.4M (revenue +8.8% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $1.6M, expenses of $928K, and assets of $5.3M (revenue -48.6% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $3.2M, expenses of $443K, and assets of $4.7M (revenue +207.8% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $256K, and assets of $1.7M (revenue +23.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $831K, expenses of $231K, and assets of $910K (revenue +495.9% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $140K, expenses of $146K, and assets of $117K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Childrens Museum Of Sonoma County is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.