CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM

EIN: 621509462 501(c)(3) Arts, Culture & Humanities

Chattanooga, TN

Total Revenue
$5,289,033
Total Expenses
$5,887,534
Total Assets
$25,077,546
Net Assets
$20,583,920
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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
1992
Legal Domicile
TN
Principal Officer
GORDON A STALANS
Phone
4237852054
Tax Period
2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31

CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM, founded in 1992, is a community nonprofit in the Arts, Culture & Humanities sector that reported $5.3M in total revenue in fiscal year 2023. Revenue decreased 16% compared to the prior year. Expenses of $5.9M exceeded revenue, resulting in a 11% operating deficit.

Mission

THE CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUMS MISSION IS TO INSPIRE ALL CHILDREN TO EXPLORE, INNOVATE, CREATE AND PLAY

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $1,846,885

THE CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM USES PROVEN, EVIDENCE-BASED PRINCIPLES TO ENGAGE THE SENSES, INSPIRE EXPLORATION AND IGNITE CHILDRENS PASSION FOR LEARNING. WHILE SOME GUESTS MAY VIEW A VISIT TO THE...

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THE CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM USES PROVEN, EVIDENCE-BASED PRINCIPLES TO ENGAGE THE SENSES, INSPIRE EXPLORATION AND IGNITE CHILDRENS PASSION FOR LEARNING. WHILE SOME GUESTS MAY VIEW A VISIT TO THE MUSEUM AS MERELY A FUN OUTING, RESEARCH HAS LONG PROVEN THAT PLAY IS THE WORK OF CHILDHOOD. THROUGH PLAY CHILDREN GAIN MENTAL, PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL SKILLS NECESSARY TO SUCCEED IN THEIR ADULT LIVES. IN 2023 THE MUSEUM SERVED OVER 322,000 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH MUSEUM VISITS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE ADMISSIONS AND MUCH MORE

Program 2
Expenses: $2,348,243

THE MUSEUM ACHIEVES ITS MISSION FIRST THROUGH ITS PERMANENT EXHIBITION PROGRAM FOCUSING ON ARTS, SCIENCES, EARLY CHILDHOOD, HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT AND THROUGH TRAVELING EXHIBITS THAT COMPLEMENT...

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THE MUSEUM ACHIEVES ITS MISSION FIRST THROUGH ITS PERMANENT EXHIBITION PROGRAM FOCUSING ON ARTS, SCIENCES, EARLY CHILDHOOD, HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT AND THROUGH TRAVELING EXHIBITS THAT COMPLEMENT AND SUPPLEMENT THE EDUCATION CONTENT OF ITS CORE EXHIBITS. CDM TRADITIONALLY OFFERS A WIDE ARRAY OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS WITHIN THE MUSEUM THAT COMPLEMENT AND ENHANCE THE EXHIBITS INCLUDING SCIENCE THEATER DEMONSTRATIONS, INFANT AND TODDLER DEVELOPMENT CLASSES, HOME SCHOOL WORKSHOPS, SUMMER CAMPS, A TEEN VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, INCLUSIVE ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, ART PERFORMANCES AND DEMONSTRATIONS, SPECIAL EVENT DAYS AND WALK-IN ACTIVITIES. ADDITIONALLY, CDM SUPPORTS THE LOCAL SCHOOLS WITH A VARIETY OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDING SCHOOL TOURS AT THE MUSEUM, SCHOOL OUTREACH LESSONS, AND FAMILY NIGHTS AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS. ANNUALLY, THE MUSEUM SERVES APPROXIMATELY 40,000 STUDENTS PER

Program 3
Expenses: $197,406

THE MUSEUM IS COMMITTED TO BEING AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE TO FAMILIES. EACH YEAR CDM PROVIDES MORE THAN 50,000 FREE OR DISCOUNTED ADMISSIONS. THE MUSEUM IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE 2ND THURSDAY...

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THE MUSEUM IS COMMITTED TO BEING AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE TO FAMILIES. EACH YEAR CDM PROVIDES MORE THAN 50,000 FREE OR DISCOUNTED ADMISSIONS. THE MUSEUM IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE 2ND THURSDAY EVENING OF EACH MONTH. EVERY YEAR MORE THAN 15,000 VISITORS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MUSEUMS FOR ALL PROGRAM WHICH ALLOWS ANYONE WITH AN EBT OR FOOD STAMP CARD TO BE ADMITTED FOR 3. CDM ALSO PROVIDES FREE ADMISSION FOR A RANGE OF SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS. A CURRENT STRATEGIC GOAL IS TO WELCOME CHILDREN OF ALL BACKGROUNDS AND CULTURES TO THE MUSEUM AND INCREASE THEIR GLOBAL AWARENESS AND CULTURAL LITERACY THROUGH EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS. CDM PUBLISHED SOCIAL STORIES, MADE SENSORY ACCOMODATING MATERIALS AVAILABLE TO GUESTS, AND PROVIDED PROGRAMS SUCH AS FREE SENSORY FRIENDLY NIGHTS. THE MUSEUM ALSO HOSTED CLUB DISCOVERY, AN INCLUSIVE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK TO EXPLORE THE WORLD IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT SPECIAL NEEDS, AND FRIENDS DISCOVERY CAMP, A SUMMER CAMP SIMILAR TO CLUB DISCOVERY.

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

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Financial Overview (2023)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $1,957,084
Program Service Revenue $3,167,278
Investment Income $10,308
Other Revenue $154,363
TOTAL REVENUE $5,289,033

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0
Salaries & Benefits $2,758,524
Fundraising Expenses $147,697
Program Expenses $4,392,534
Other Expenses $3,129,010
TOTAL EXPENSES $5,887,534

Year-over-Year Comparison

2023 2022 Change
Revenue $5,289,033 $6,266,199 -0.2%
Expenses $5,887,534 $4,441,400 +0.3%
Net Income $-598,501 $1,824,799 -1.3%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
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Governance

Voting Members
19
Independent Members
19
Employees
114
Volunteers
60

Governance Policies

Conflict of Interest Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

Operated a School
Operated a Hospital
Provided First Class Travel
Reported Conflict of Interest
Reported Asset Diversion
Excess Benefit Transaction
Made Political Expenditures
Engaged in Lobbying
Operated Donor Advised Fund
Maintained Art Collections
Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers
6
$182,945
Total Directors
19
$0
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
0
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
HENRY SCHULSON FORMER CEO 040.00
Officer
$153,407 $7,879 $161,286
TIM SEARS CEO 040.00
Officer
$20,909 $750 $21,659
TAYLOR VINSON BOARD CHAIR 008.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
CHRISTIE BURBANK SECRETARY 004.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
TREY WHITE TREASURER 004.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
THOMAS BARNES TRUSTEE 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
WAYNE BROWN TRUSTEE 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
BETSY CAKE TRUSTEE 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MICKEY CLOUD TRUSTEE 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
LISA CONNOR TRUSTEE 002.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
MARIO DUARTE TRUSTEE 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JAY HILL TRUSTEE 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
BAILEY HOWARD TRUSTEE 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
PATRICK KEEGAN TRUSTEE 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
CHRIS RENEAU TRUSTEE 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JACK SILBERMAN TRUSTEE 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
PATRICK STOWE TRUSTEE 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
CAITLIN STUDER TRUSTEE 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
DORI WALLER TRUSTEE 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MICHAEL WALTON TRUSTEE 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KRISTIN WATTS TRUSTEE 002.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Net Income
2024 No data No data No data No data
2023 $5,289,033 $5,887,534 $25,077,546 $-598,501
2022 $6,266,199 $4,441,400 $25,252,992 $1,824,799
2021 $5,712,908 $3,477,227 $21,187,184 $2,235,681
2020 $5,019,548 $3,555,864 $18,457,640 $1,463,684
2019 $7,436,994 $4,387,871 $15,889,084 $3,049,123
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