NonprofitsCreative Discovery Museum

Arts & Culture

Creative Discovery Museum

CHATTANOOGA, TN

Total revenue

$5.4M

Total expenses

$6.4M

Net assets

$20.1M

Grants received

$4.3M

121 grants

EIN

621509462

Tax year

2024

Mission

To inspire all children to explore, innovate, create, and play.

Programs

2 programs

The Museum achieves its mission first through its permanent exhibition prgram focusing on arts, sciences, early childhood, health, and the environment as well as 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 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. In 2024 the museum served over 49,000 students through school

Expenses: $1.6M

The Museum is committed to being a welcome space for all children and families. The Museum hosts ten free nights per year serving 5,000 individuals. Last year more than 10,000 visitors took advantage of the Museums for All program which allows anyone with an EBT or food stamp card to purchase admission for 5. CDM also provides free admission and partner memberships for a range of non-profit organizations such as Big Brothers, Big Sisters and the Ronald McDonald House. CDM hosts a variety of inclusion programs such as six free sensory-friendly nights per year and the accessible Turquoise Trail Halloween event that engages over 50 volunteers and 200 guests of all abilities. The Museum 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 a Friend Discovery Camp, a summer camp similar to Club Discovery for three weeks

Expenses: $100K

Financials

FY 2024

Revenue

Contributions & grants$2.2M
Program service revenue$3.0M
Investment income$36K
Other revenue$159K
Total revenue$5.4M

Expenses

Grants paid
Salaries & benefits$2.8M
Fundraising$142K
Other expenses$3.7M
Total expenses$6.4M
Total assets$23.6M
Net assets$20.1M

People

18 listed

NameRoleCompensation

Tim Sears

President and CEO

Board

$173K

40 hrs/wk

Taylor Vinson

Board Chair

Board

8 hrs/wk

Christie Burbank

Secretary

Board

4 hrs/wk

Trey White

Treasurer

Board

4 hrs/wk

Thomas Barnes

Trustee

Board

2 hrs/wk

Betsy Cake

Trustee

Board

2 hrs/wk

Mickey Cloud

Trustee

Board

2 hrs/wk

Lisa Connor

Trustee

Board

2 hrs/wk

Mario Duarte

Trustee

Board

2 hrs/wk

Jay Hill

Trustee

Board

2 hrs/wk

Bailey Howard

Trustee

Board

2 hrs/wk

Patrick Keegan

Trustee

Board

2 hrs/wk

Christopher Reneau

Trustee

Board

2 hrs/wk

Patrick Stowe

Trustee

Board

2 hrs/wk

Caitlin Studer

Trustee

Board

2 hrs/wk

Dori Waller

Trustee

Board

2 hrs/wk

Michael Walton

Trustee

Board

2 hrs/wk

Kristin Watts

Trustee

Board

2 hrs/wk

Independent contractors

The Counts Company

Construction services

$472K

Tennessee Aquarium

Management services

$186K

Grants received

Showing 121 of 121

FromAmountPurposeYear
$40K
Namaste India Exhibition
2024
$15K
CHILDREN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
2024
$12K
Intensive Internship Program
2024
$375K
TO FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE
2023
$87K
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
2023
$50K
IGNITE DISCOVERY CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
2023
$50K
PROVIDE FUNDING TO UPGRADE MUSEUM.
2023
$35K
MUSEUM COLLEGE DAZE
2023
$18K
IN FURTHERANCE OF FOUNDATION'S PURPOSES
2023
$18K
2022 MUSEUM SPONSORSHIP
2023
$16K
CONTINGENCY FUND FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF SEARCH FIRM RETAINER FEE
2023
$15K
CHILDREN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
2023
$15K
ARTS, CULTURE & HUMANITIES
2023
$7K
NOT TO BE USED FOR SALARIES
2023
$5K
UNRESTRICTED
2023
$5K
SCIENCE TO SCHOOLS PROGRAM
2023
$3K
General & Unrestricted
2023
$1K
GENERAL OPERATIONS
2023
$375K
TO FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE
2022
$110K
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN AND EDUCATION OUTREACH PROGRAM
2022
$86K
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
2022
$75K
Ignite Discovery
2022
$75K
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN PLEDGE FULFILLMENT
2022
$60K
UTILITY SYS. IMPROV.
2022
$50K
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN PLEDGE (4TH AND FINAL INSTALLMENT)
2022
$50K
DONATION
2022
$50K
PROVIDE FUNDING TO UPGRADE MUSEUM.
2022
$50K
IGNITE DISCOVERY CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
2022
$48K
GENERAL SUPPORT
2022
$43K
2022 MUSEUM SPONSORSHIP
2022
$27K
For grant recipient's exempt purposes
2022
$20K
ARTS, CULTURE & HUMANITIES
2022
$20K
MUSEUM COLLEGE DAZE
2022
$20K
IGNITE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN (4TH OF 5 YEAR PLEDGE)
2022
$15K
CHILDREN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
2022
$10K
PROGRAM SUPPORT
2022
$5K
UNRESTRICTED
2022
$3K
General & Unrestricted
2022
$1K
GENERAL OPERATIONS
2022
$83K
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
2021
$71K
GENERAL SUPPORT
2021
$71K
GENERAL SUPPORT
2021
$50K
PROVIDE FUNDING TO UPGRADE MUSEUM.
2021
$45K
CHILDREN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
2021
$32K
For grant recipient's exempt purposes
2021
$32K
For grant recipient's exempt purposes
2021
$21K
ARTS, CULTURE & HUMANITIES
2021
$15K
MUSEUM COLLEGE DAZE
2021
$10K
PROGRAM SUPPORT
2021
$5K
UNRESTRICTED
2021
$305K
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN INVESTMENT PAYMENT
2020
$121K
IGNITE DISCOVERY CAMPAIGN
2020
$83K
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
2020
$75K
CULTURE & ARTS
2020
$50K
General & Unrestricted
2020
$50K
IGNITE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN (2 OF 5 YEAR PLEDGE)
2020
$50K
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN PLEDGE (2 OF 4)
2020
$40K
1ST PAYMENT OF 2 TOWARD $80,000 IGNITE DISCOVERY CAMPAIGN PLEDGE
2020
$35K
CHILDREN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
2020
$34K
For grant recipient's exempt purposes
2020
$20K
IGNITE DISCOVERY CAMPAIGN (PAYMENT 1 OF 5-YEAR PLEDGE)
2020
$20K
IN FURTHERANCE OF FOUNDATION'S PURPOSES
2020
$20K
IGNITE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN (2ND OF 5 YEAR PLEDGE)
2020
$18K
ARTS, CULTURE & HUMANITIES
2020
$15K
$10,000 ANNUAL FUND/$5,000 COVID-19 EMERGENCY RELIEF
2020
$15K
MUSEUM COLLEGE DAZE
2020
$10K
GENERAL SUPPORT
2020
$10K
General & Unrestricted
2020
$5K
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN PAYMENT #1
2020
$5K
UNRESTRICTED
2020
$5K
1ST PAYMENT OF $22,500 5-YEAR PLEDGE
2020
$3K
Capital Campaign
2020
$2K
ANONYMOUS - UNRESTRICTED DONATION
2020
$1K
GENERAL SUPPORT
2020
$1K
UNRESTRICTED ANNUAL OPERATING FUNDS
2020
$250
UNRESTRICTED 2020 DONATION IN HONOR OF HENRY SCHULSON
2020
$79K
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
2019
$10K
ARTS, CULTURE & HUMANITIES
2019
$5K
UNRESTRICTED
2019
$1K
UNRESTRICTED - GENERAL SUPPORT
2019
$73K
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
2018
$41K
For grant recipient's exempt purposes
2018
$15K
CHILDREN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
2018
$10K
AMUSEUM COLLEGE DAZE
2018
$1K
PROGRAM/OPERATING SUPPORT
2018
$16K
FOR GRANT RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSES
2017
$5K
UNRESTRICTED - GENERAL SUPPORT
2017

Funded by

$4.3M from 31 funders · 121 grants · 2017–2024

Care Foundation Of America Inc

$750K · 2 grants · 2022–2023

Artsbuild

$490K · 6 grants · 2018–2023

Tennessee Health Foundation Inc

$305K · 1 grant · 2020

Benwood Foundation Inc

$231K · 2 grants · 2020–2022

The Clarence E Harris Foundation

$200K · 2 grants · 2020–2023

The Blackbaud Giving Fund

$190K · 3 grants · 2021–2022

Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund

$182K · 6 grants · 2017–2022

Details

EIN621509462
NTEE codeA520
Subsection03
Ruling date1997-09
Formed1992
Employees100
Volunteers534
CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM — Mission, Financials & Grants Received | Grantivo