SAN JOSE CHILDRENS DISCOVERY MUSEUM

Financials

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

180 WOZ WAY, SAN JOSE, CA 95110-2722

Principal officer (990 for 2024)

MARITE MARLOW, 180 WOZ WAY, SAN JOSE, CA 95110

Signed the 990

MARITE MARLOW, CHIEF FINANCIAL & ADMIN OFFICER

Phone

(408) 298-5437

Website

WWW.CDM.ORG

Return prepared by

ARMANINO ADVISORY LLC

California records

California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 94-2870828 or by the name SAN JOSE CHILDRENS DISCOVERY MUSEUM.

Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers

Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)

Secretary of State, bizfile Online

Corporation status, entity number, agent for service

Franchise Tax Board

Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)

Mission

CHILDREN'S DISCOVERY MUSEUM OF SAN JOSE INSPIRES CREATIVITY, CURIOSITY AND LIFELONG LEARNING.

Program accomplishments

• CHILDREN'S DISCOVERY MUSEUM OF SAN JOSE ("THE MUSEUM") IS A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION ORGANIZED IN 1982 AND INCORPORATED IN 1983. THE MUSEUM OPERATES A CHILDREN'S MUSEUM WHICH ADDRESSES THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY THROUGH PARTICIPATORY EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS THAT ENGAGE THE SENSES AND CHALLENGE THE MIND.EXHIBITSOVER ITS 35 YEARS OF OPERATION, THE MUSEUM HAS WELCOMED MORE THAN 10.5 MILLION VISITORS. DURING THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2025, THE MUSEUM PROVIDED ENGAGING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO OVER 223,800 FAMILY VISITORS AND 24,200 IN GROUPS. AN INCREASE OF 5% OVER THE PRIOR YEAR, ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE ONGOING RECOVERY AFTER COVID AND DIRECTED MARKETING STRATEGIES. THE MUSEUM MAINTAINED A FULL-DAY SCHEDULE ON WEEKENDS, HOLIDAYS, AND DURING THE SUMMER, OPERATING FROM 9:30 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M., AND A SHORTER WEEKDAY SCHEDULE, TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 9:30 A.M. TO 1:00 P.M.THE MAJORITY OF CDM'S EXHIBITS, WHICH FOCUS ON CHILDREN TO AGE 10 AND THEIR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS, ARE HIGHLY TACTILE AND ENCOURAGE TOUCHING, EXPLORING, MANIPULATING AND EXPERIMENTING, WHILE CUTTING ACROSS THE DISCIPLINES OF ART, SCIENCE AND THE HUMANITIES. THE WONDER CABINET SERVES THE NEEDS OF THE MUSEUM'S YOUNGEST VISITORS AS AN EARLY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WITH EXHIBITS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE COGNITIVE, EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF INFANTS, TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS. WHETHER CHILDREN ARE ROLEPLAYING A FIREFIGHTER ON THE AUTHENTIC FIRE ENGINE IN THE STREETS OF SAN JOSE EXHIBIT, OR USING COLORFUL PLASTIC BALLS TO STUDY HOW WATER RUSHES AND FLOWS IN WATERWAYS, THEY ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN LEARNING, INSPIRED BY THEIR OWN CURIOSITY TO INVESTIGATE HOW THINGS WORK AND TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE. THE AMAZING AIRMAZE EXHIBIT, WHICH SPANS TWO FLOORS INSIDE THE MUSEUM AND FEATURES SCARVES AND YARN BALLS MOVING THROUGH A SERIES OF PLEXIGLASS TUBES AND EMERGING FROM ONE OF SIX EXITS, FOSTERS PREDICTIVE LEARNING AND PROVIDES GREAT DELIGHT TO MUSEUM VISITORS.SINCE OPENING ITS DOORS IN THE SPRING OF 1990, THE MUSEUM AND ITS STAFF HAVE WORKED TO ENHANCE THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE IN ITS 28,000 SQUARE FEET OF INDOOR EXHIBITION SPACE WITH 13 DEDICATED GALLERIES, EACH HOUSING 8 TO 10 INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS THAT ADDRESS THE DISTINCTIVE NEED FOR CHILDREN TO LEARN THROUGH CONCRETE INTERACTIONS, AND AN ADJACENT OUTDOOR EXHIBIT SPACE, BILL'S BACKYARD, WHICH ESSENTIALLY DOUBLED THE MUSEUM'S EXHIBIT SPACE. EXHIBIT SIGNAGE IN ENGLISH, SPANISH AND VIETNAMESE FOCUSES VISITOR INTERACTIONS ON THE UNIQUENESS OF OUTDOOR PLAY, SUCH AS TO BUILD, ROLL, CLIMB, PLANT, AND OBSERVE TO NAME A FEW. TEN DIFFERENT LOCAL SPECIES OF ANIMALS AND INSECTS WERE CAST IN BRONZE AND PLACED APPROPRIATELY THROUGHOUT THE AREA TO ALLOW CHILDREN TO DISCOVER THEM IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT. A 7,200-GALLON RAIN-HARVEST SYSTEM IS USED TO IRRIGATE THE NATIVE LANDSCAPE AND TO TEACH VISITORS ABOUT WATER CONSERVATION AT THE SAME TIME. BY BRINGING NATURE TO CHILDREN, CDM HOPES TO CREATE A SPARK SO THAT CHILDREN WILL THEN SEEK OUT OTHER OUTDOOR OPPORTUNITIES CLOSE TO THEIR HOME AND BECOME ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS AS THEY GROW UP.IN JUNE 2025, THE MUSEUM OPENED BUBBLING UP! A NEW, IMMERSIVE BUBBLES EXHIBIT, DESIGNED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DENVER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM'S DESIGN DIVISION. THE NEW EXHIBIT IS LOCATED OUTSIDE IN BILL'S BACKYARD AND FEATURES A HIGH NUMBER OF UNIQUE ACTIVITIES. IN THE FALL, THE MUSEUM PRESENTED "DINOSAURS: LAND OF FIRE AND ICE," A TRAVELING EXHIBIT FROM THE MINNESOTA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AS A WAY TO TEST THE SUCCESS OF HOSTING A TRAVELING EXHIBIT DURING THEFALL/WINTER MONTHS AS OPPOSED TO THE TYPICAL SUMMER TIMEFRAME, WHICH HAS BEEN SHORTENED OVER THE YEARS DUE TO CHANGING SCHOOL SCHEDULES. THE EXHIBIT WAS POPULAR AND DID HELP TO INCREASE ATTENDANCE DURING THE MONTHS OF ITS TENURE. THE MUSEUM ALSO CHOSE TO PRESENT A NEW TYPE OF TEMPORARY EXHIBIT DURING THE WINTER/SPRING MONTHS. POTENTIAL SPACE: A SERIOUS LOOK AT CHILDREN'S PLAY, WAS CREATED BY PHOTOGRAPHER/AUTHOR NANCY RICHARDS FARESE AND IS COMPRISED OF OVER 50 PHOTOGRAPHS FROM 14 DIFFERENT WORLDWIDE LOCATIONS SHOWCASING CHILDREN'S UNCANNY ABILITY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PLAY DESPITE THE SEVERE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THEY LIVE, SUCH AS REFUGEE CAMPS AND COMMUNITIES HIT BY NATURAL DISASTERS. MUSEUM STAFF ENHANCED THE EXPERIENCE BY REPLICATING SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES FEATURED IN THE PHOTOS.VISITOR AMENITIES WERE ADDRESSED THROUGH THE REOPENING OF FOOD SERVICE IN THE MUSEUM IN JANUARY WITH IJAVA CAFE AS THE PROPRIETOR. IN ADDITION, WITH BOARD-APPROVAL TO UTILIZE SOME RESERVE FUNDING, THE MUSEUM'S BATHROOMS WERE RENOVATED AND CARPETING ON THE SECOND FLOOR AND GRAND STAIRWAY REPLACED.IN SPRING 2025, THE MUSEUM WAS AWARDED A CITY OF SAN JOSE CAPITALIZATION AND SUSTAINABILITY GRANT (CAPSUS). THIS COMPETITIVE GRANT IS DESIGNED TO HELP ORGANIZATIONS BE MORE EFFICIENT AND SUSTAINABLE. CDM'S GRANT REQUESTED SUPPORT TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A ZERO-EMISSION ELECTRIC RIZON STAKE BED TRUCK TO REPLACE ITS 2007 GASOLINE-POWERED FORD TRUCK. THE TOTAL COST OF THE TRUCK PURCHASE WAS OVER $176,000, BUT OFFSET BY THE $130,000 IN HVIP INNOVATIVE SMALL E-FLEET VOUCHERS APPROVED BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPSUS GRANT OF $33,000. THE TOTAL COST FOR PURCHASE TO CDM WILL BE LESS THAN $20,000.CDM'S PRESENCE IN TERMINAL B AT THE MINETA SAN JOSE AIRPORT, ZOOM ZONE, WHICH OPENED IN 2021, CONTINUES TO PROVIDE AN EDUCATIONAL AND INTERACTIVE PLAY SPACE FOR VERY YOUNG CHILDREN AROUND THE THEME OF "THINGS THAT FLY." THIS SPACE HAS BEEN WELL-RECEIVED BY TRAVELING FAMILIES AND PROMOTED AS AN AIRPORT AMENITY BY CITY OF SAN JOSE (THE "CITY"). THE CITY HAS REQUESTED THAT CDM RENEW ITS LEASE FOR THIS SPACE FOR AN ADDITIONAL 5 YEARS. IN ADDITION, IN PREPARATION FOR THE MAJOR SPORTS EVENTS TO BE HOSTED IN THE BAY AREA IN 2026, THE CITY HAS ASKED CDM TO CREATE ASECOND INTERACTIVE SPACE. DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEGUN TO IDENTIFY A SUITABLE SPACE TO HOUSE A "SENSORY ROOM" EXHIBIT WHICH WILL SERVE FAMILIES TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM. THE SPACE WILL BE SPONSORED BY NUTANIX AND PRO BONO CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT PROVIDED BY SWINERTON CONSTRUCTION.IN ADDITION, THE MUSEUM HAS BEGUN DISCUSSION WITH THE BERRYESSA UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT AND KIDANGO TO DEVELOP A CHILDREN'S CENTER AT THE TOYON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LOCATION, WHICH CLOSED IN JUNE. THE SITE WILL PROVIDE LOCAL FAMILIES WITH CHILDCARE SERVICES, A CHILDREN'S LIBRARY AND ACTIVITIES. CDM IS CONSIDERING THE INSTALLATION OF THE FIRSTS-FUNDED "POTTER THE OTTER" EXHIBIT, WHICH WILL COMPLETE ITS CALIFORNIA-WIDE TOUR IN WINTER OF 2026. CDM HAS ALSO BEEN APPROACHED BY CHILD ADVOCATES OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TWO PROGRAM SPACES IN ITS NEW HEADQUARTERS TO SERVE FOSTER CHILDREN AND THEIR CASAS.
  Expenses $2,073,036 · revenue $2,243,985
• EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMSTHE MUSEUM PROVIDES ON-SITE AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS WHICH COMPLEMENT ITS EXHIBITS AND SUPPORT VISITOR INTERACTIONS AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. DURING THE YEAR, CDM SAW AN INCREASE IN GROUP VISITS TO THE MUSEUM, WITH OVER 24,200 SERVED, WHICH REPRESENTS 7% INCREASE IN GROUP ATTENDANCE OVER THE PRIOR YEAR AND AN ADDITIONAL 8,800 SERVED THROUGH ON-SITE OR OUTREACH PROGRAMS. IN EARLY SPRING, CDM REACTIVATED ITS BIRTHDAY PARTY PROGRAM IN THE TEAL PARTY ROOM ADJACENT TO THE MUSEUM'S FRONT ENTRANCE, WHICH HAS BEEN WELL RECEIVED BY MUSEUM VISITORS.THE MUSEUM'S MISSION CONTINUES TO SUPPORT A THREE-PRONGED APPROACH TO THE ARTS: ENGAGEMENT WITH AND VIEWING THE WORK OF PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS, EXPLORING OTHER CHILDREN'S ART, AND CREATING INDIVIDUAL WORKS OF ART IN VARIOUS FORMATS. THE ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM, HOUSED IN THE LEROY NEIMAN ARTS STUDIO, CONTINUES TO SHOWCASE LOCAL PROFESSIONAL VISUAL ARTISTS OVER A THRECMONTH RESIDENCY, LEADING CHILDREN IN ART-MAKING ACTIVITIES AND SHARING THEIR PROFESSIONAL TALENTS.THROUGH VARIOUS CULTURAL FESTIVALS, SUCH AS MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, DIWALI, MENORAHS AND MIRACLES, DIA DE LOS TRES REYES MAGOS, LUNAR NEW YEAR, CHILDREN OF THE DRAGON, AND PROUD OF MY FAMILY, AND JUNETEENTH, CDM CONTINUES TO OFFER ITS LOCAL COMMUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE REGION'S DIVERSE ETHNIC COMPOSITION. CDM'S EVENT SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM, PLAY YOUR WAY, WAS OFFERED ON THREE EVENINGS IN THE 2025 FISCAL YEAR. ADVENTURE, CDM'S OUTREACH PARTNERSHIP WITH SOMOS MAYFAIR, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, CONTINUED FOR A SECOND YEAR BY OFFERING EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS IN THE MAYFAIR FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS, WHICH ENGAGE THE WHOLE FAMILY TO ENSURE SCHOOL READINESS, WAS UNDERWRITTEN BY THE PNC FOUNDATION.THE 2ND KRISTI YAMAGUCHI FAMILY LITERACY FESTIVAL OCCURRED IN EARLY SEPTEMBER 2024 WITH OVER 1,400 VISITORS AND SEVERAL CELEBRITY READERS IN ATTENDANCE. IN MID-SEPTEMBER, CDM LAUNCHED A MONTH-LONG HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION, FEATURING LOCAL GROUPS SUCH AS THE BOULEVARD BOMBS, A LOWRIDERS GROUP WHO DISPLAYED THEIR RIDES TO MUSEUM VISITORS, AND A LUCHA LIBRE GROUP, ALONG WITH MUSIC AND ART ACTIVITIES AND TRADITIONAL GAMES. A HALL OF FAME DISPLAY RECOGNIZED LOCAL HISPANIC INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SANTA CLARA COMMUNITY.WITH THE CESSATION OF FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING, CDM'S 6-YEAR COLLABORATION (1 YEAR EXTENSION APPROVED BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION) WITH THE EXPLORATORIUM WAS TERMINATED IN JUNE, 2025. THE COLLABORATION WAS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE STEM PARTICIPATION BY LATINX AUDIENCES, LEVERAGING CDM'S DECADE LONG CCLI PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION WITH THE EXPLORATORIUM'S WORK TO REACH LATINX AUDIENCES. THE PROJECT WAS LARGELY COMPLETED WITH JUST MINOR DELIVERABLES OUTSTANDING, SUCH AS DISSEMINATING RESULTS THROUGH A WEB SITE. THE CULMINATING SUMMIT MEETING HELD IN APRIL 2025 WITH 90 PARTICIPANTS REPRESENTING 19 INFORMAL SCIENCE INSTITUTIONS, 7 NATIONAL ADVISORS, 6 VIP GUESTS AND 10 CAMBIO LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBERS. AFTER 35 YEARS OF OPERATION, THE MUSEUM TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD UPON THE FINDINGS OF 2 PRO BONO MARKETING PARTNERSHIPS TO DEVELOP STRATEGIC MARKETING PLANS TO INCREASE ITS REACH TO VISITORS AND DONORS. THE ADOBE PROJECT FOCUSED ON CREATING PERSONAS FOR THE "FENCE-SITTERS" (THOSE PERSONS WHO FIT THE PROPENSITY TO VISIT PROFILE, BUT DO NOT VISIT CDM) AND CRAFTING POTENTIAL MARKETING MESSAGES TO REACH THESE PERSONS. THE PRO BONO TEAM FROM PWC BUILT UPON THE ADOBE FINDINGS THROUGH ANALYTICAL ANALYSES OF CDM VISITORS AND MEMBERS, AND IDENTIFIED MICROSEGMENTS IN TERMS OF THEIR PROPENSITY TO VISIT; PROPENSITY TO BECOME A MEMBER; AND PROPENSITY TO DONATE, AND THEIR GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS. NEW MARKETING MESSAGES WERE CREATED TO REACH OUT TO BOTH NEW VISITORS AND NEW DONORS. IN ADDITION, THE CREATIVE INPUT FROM THE PWC TEAM LED THE MUSEUM STAFF TO SEEK OUT BOTH A NEW MUSEUM LOGO AND A NEW WEB SITE. BOTH WERE DESIGNED BY G-W DESIGNS, BASED IN SWEDEN, LAUNCHED IN SUMMER 2025, AND WELL-RECEIVED BY STAFF, BOARD MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC.AFTER 35 YEARS OF OPERATION, THERE WILL BE SIGNIFICANT STAFF CHANGES IN THE 2025-2026 YEAR. SPRING 2024-2025, THE MUSEUM HIRED A CHIEF FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER TO ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE RETIRING DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION AND DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND COMPLIANCE. STARTING IN THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR, THE BOARD RETAINED A RECRUITMENT FIRM, SHELLI HERMAN AND ASSOCIATES, TO IDENTIFY AND HIRE A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
  Expenses $2,563,865 · revenue $36,148

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in August, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

94-2870828

Tax-exempt status

501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization

Foundation status

Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))

Donations deductible (Pub 78)

Public charity, 50% deduction limit

Exempt since

1983

Accounting year ends

August

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Arts, culture and humanities (A520)

Assets (IRS master file)

$24,589,919

Income (IRS master file)

$6,380,966

Filing history

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 94-2870828).

Questions about SAN JOSE CHILDRENS DISCOVERY MUSEUM

What is the EIN of SAN JOSE CHILDRENS DISCOVERY MUSEUM?

The employer identification number (EIN) of SAN JOSE CHILDRENS DISCOVERY MUSEUM is 94-2870828.

Is SAN JOSE CHILDRENS DISCOVERY MUSEUM tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1983.

Are donations to SAN JOSE CHILDRENS DISCOVERY MUSEUM tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does SAN JOSE CHILDRENS DISCOVERY MUSEUM file?

Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.

When is the next return of SAN JOSE CHILDRENS DISCOVERY MUSEUM due?

The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending August 31, 2026) is due January 15, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did SAN JOSE CHILDRENS DISCOVERY MUSEUM last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended August 2025.

Who is the principal officer of SAN JOSE CHILDRENS DISCOVERY MUSEUM?

The 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 names MARITE MARLOW.

Who are the officers and directors of SAN JOSE CHILDRENS DISCOVERY MUSEUM?

The 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 lists 37 people; 7 received compensation from the organization, the highest $272,320 (MARILEE JENNINGS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).

How much revenue does SAN JOSE CHILDRENS DISCOVERY MUSEUM have?

On its 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $6,093,974, expenses of $7,022,651 and total assets of $24,589,919 at year end.

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