Children's Museum of Memphis
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Hands-On Exhibits
The museum has these 30 + indoor, hands-on, interactive exhibits:
4 & Under toddler area, American Airways pneumatic tubes, Bank, Campground, Earthquake Table, Engine House 18, Farm, Garage, Going Places (FedEx plane), Grocery Store, P.D. Parrott's Healthy Habitat, giant Light Bright, Little Fixins Kitchen, Role Play (theatre exhibit), Mississippi River, Book Nook, Midtown Houses, Railroad Safety, Skyscraper (climbing), Smiles, Inc., Time Square, Tornado, Tree House, Doodlebug Studio, Art & Innovation Laband Memphis Grand Carousel.
School Programs
We offer add-on programs for school children that visit on a field trip. Students love these exciting, dynamic and memorable learning experiences. A variety of School Programs are available to match the learning needs of your class.
Art & Innovation Lab
The Art and Innovation Lab serves as a permanent fixture in the Children’s Museum, is a testament to our mission, and a necessity for art education to become central to the museum’s programming and outreach. CMOM’s Art and Innovation Lab is needed for visiting families and children to have a dedicated art-space in the museum to create, play, learn, and make memories. The Art and Innovation Lab is an investment in our mission to have a comprehensive curriculum, and an investment dedicated to our community to provide a communal children’s arts and cultural center. Within the Lab, innovative programming, intergenerational learning, and artist and art-community partnerships and networking will occur. CMOM aspires for the Art & Innovation Lab to be an arts and culture asset and staple for our community to come together and create.
Where we work
Awards
Best Museum - 2nd Place 2022
Memphis Flyer's Best of Memphis
Affiliations & memberships
American Alliance of Museums 2009
Greater Memphis Chamber 2010
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) 2002
Tennessee Association of Museums 1990
Momentum Nonprofit Partners 1990
Association of Fundraising Professionals 2015
Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau 1990
Association of Children's Museums 1990
Memphis Tourism 2019
External reviews
Photos
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The Children's Museum of Memphis will continue to be one of the top ten best children's museums in the United States by providing the absolute best hands-on, interactive exhibits and educational programs to children, families and school groups. We will also continue to be a complement to classroom education and teachers as well as an informal learning institution for field trips in our local public and private schools. We will continue to expand our educational offerings and be a leader in our field by keeping up with industry trends through the Association of Children's Museums. We want to grow our audiences and expand our outreach by continuing to expand inside, outdoors and with enhanced exhibits and more programming.
Our core values reflect
the guiding principles of our institution and our people.• The intersection of play and hands-on learning (based
on early childhood research, the museum believes that play IS learning!)
• A positive impact on the community (the museum strives to provide educational
experiences to help improve the quality of life for everyone in the city and
surrounding areas)
• A positive family experience (the museum wants to be the place for quality
family time that gives children and their caregivers the chance for positive
and educational interaction)• A complement to classroom education (the museum wants
to continue to provide quality educational experiences for teachers and their
classrooms – which also meets state curriculum standards and SPIs)
• Inclusiveness (the museum strives to include all children through outreach
and the continuation of the “Yes, EVERY Child” Fund)
• Excellent customer service (the museum wants to meet and exceed all customer
expectations)
• Nurturing appropriate partnerships in the community (the museum seeks out
ways to partner in mutually beneficial ways with appropriate organizations)
• Following the best practices of the children’s museums field (the museum is a
founding member of the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) and seeks ways
to ensure it is following industry standards for excellence)
The Children’s Museum of Memphis helps children develop essential foundational skills.The Children’s Museum of Memphis respects childhood.The Children’s Museum of Memphis lights a creative spark for discovery and lifelong learning.The Children’s Museum of Memphis is an environment where families play and connect in meaningful ways.The Children’s Museum of Memphis is uniquely positioned to help reverse stigma and discrimination.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The museum's board of trustees works with the staff on our Institutional Plan goals. Each goal in our Institutional Plan has specific objectives with various tasks and deadlines to accomplish the goal. The museum also recently received a grant to help with long-range institutional planning.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Because of our recent accreditation, the museum is in the best position it has ever been - we are strong in our board of trustees, staff, community contacts and finances. We have a track record of strong growth, and we will continue to expand our educational programs and hands-on exhibits and continue to be in the top 2% of all children's museums. We will remain a community asset and continue to improve the quality of life for all Memphians.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Functioning as the region’s children’s museum, CMOM provides varied special educational programming, 30 educational exhibits and activity stations, and an outdoor waterpark for our 215,000 families annually to enjoy, explore and learn. CMOM’s exhibitions highlight the importance of play while retaining education information focused on science, math, the arts, communication, and self-discovery. CMOM values accessibility to education, enrichment, and fun for all children in our community. Pre-Covid, 60% of our school groups visits came from Title I designated schools. Recently, we have partnered with another non-profit in our community to dedicate 1,500 full museum memberships to low-income families. Our current strategic priorities are as follows: fostering educational outreach, enhancing our stellar exhibitions and programs, and generally sustaining the museum's operations through the uncertainty of the pandemic; all of which our auction will help support.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Children's Museum of Memphis
Board of directorsas of 03/06/2023
Mr. Philip Pontius
LINQ Sr. Director of Finance & Controller
Term: 2017 - 2023
Bridgette Speake
The Finished Product
Katina Gaines
Gaines & Associates
Greg Smithers
FirstBank
Liz Glotzbach
Community Volunteer
Allison Magness
International Paper
Kevin Williams
AutoZone
Jacob Biddle
Avison Young
Philip Pontius
LINQ
Rajiv Subramanium
FedEx
Patrick O'Connor
Duncan Williams Managment
Amy Knight
Community Volunteer
Cleo Griffin
Memphis Parks & Neighborhoods
Dr. Marlo Zarzaur
Child & Adolescent Therapist
Dr. Dwight Dishmon
Interventional Cardiologist
Danny Broadway
Fine Artist
Gia Broadway
Fine Artist & Instructor
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data