We champion children's museums and together enrich the lives of children worldwide.
Association of Children's Museums Inc centers its grantmaking on hosting support and participation in shared play events for children's museums. In 2024, the largest awards in the recent list were $15,900 grants to Santa Fe Children's Museum and Kids Discovery Museum for FFACES hosting support and Nickelodeon Worldwide Day of Play participation, showing a pattern of event-based funding tied to museum activation and family/community engagement. The funder also supported a broad mix of children's museums with $15,000 hosting grants, including Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum, Treehouse Children's Museum, and Westchester Children's Museum. Across the recent grants, the association appears to use its funding to help museums stage public programming, connect with families, and take part in coordinated national initiatives. Its stated focus areas include children's museums, playful learning, early childhood learning, equity and inclusion, professional development, research and data, advocacy, and environmental sustainability. Recent awards also point to support for museum professionals through conference financial aid and cohort-based learning programs, alongside recognition and emergency relief programs that serve member museums.
Event and hosting support is the clearest thread in the recent grants. The association gave $15,900 to Santa Fe Children's Museum for FFACES hosting grant and Nickelodeon Worldwide Day of Play participation, and the same amount to Kids Discovery Museum for the same purpose. It also awarded $15,000 to Treehouse Children's Museum, Westchester Children's Museum, and Montshire Museum of Science for FFACES hosting grants. Professional development appears in the active programs as well: InterActivity Recognition & Financial Aid supports attendance and participation for museum professionals, while MuseumLab for Museum Professionals provides cohort-based learning, mentorship, and award funding. The foundation also maintains a recognition track through the ACM Outstanding Practice Award, which highlights practice in children's museums.
Typical grants cluster tightly around the mid-five-figure range: p25 is $10,750, median is $15,000, and p75 is $15,000. That points to a narrow distribution with many awards at the same level. The recent list shows repeated annual patterns in 2023 and 2024, especially for hosting support, which suggests recurring program-based funding rather than isolated one-off gifts. The organization is a membership-based association, not a fund that supports individuals; its structure also includes a nonprofit emergency relief fund for member museums affected by Hurricane Harvey. Some active programs accept unsolicited applications, including InterActivity Recognition & Financial Aid and MuseumLab for Museum Professionals.
$372K
$3.3M
$4.2M
$4M
Most grants fall between $11K and $15K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$11K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$15K
About 5% of grants go to recipients in NY.
ARTHUR G AFFLECK III
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Giving is national, and every recent grant listed goes to a U.S. recipient. Michigan appears as the top state by grant count, with Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum among the listed recipients; Virginia also appears in the recent awards through Wonder Universe in Christiansburg and Children's Museum of Richmond in Richmond. Other recipient cities include Santa Fe, Bainbridge Island, Rochester, and Jackson, showing a spread across regions rather than concentration in one metro area. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S., with 19 grants in the sample.
The recent grants go to children's museums and related museum organizations, including Santa Fe Children's Museum, Kids Discovery Museum, Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum, and Treehouse Children's Museum. Its active programs also serve museum professionals through conference aid and cohort-based learning.
Its recent grant sizes are tightly grouped around $15,000. The distribution shows p25 at $10,750, median at $15,000, and p75 at $15,000.
No. The recent list shows repeated hosting grants in both 2023 and 2024, including grants to multiple children's museums for similar purposes. That suggests recurring, program-based support rather than isolated awards.
Michigan is the top state by grant count. Virginia also appears among recent recipients, but the grants are spread nationally across U.S. museums.
Yes. InterActivity Recognition & Financial Aid accepts unsolicited applications, and MuseumLab for Museum Professionals also accepts unsolicited applications.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Association of Children's Museums that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Likely early- to mid-career museum professionals and/or staff of children's museums; may prioritize ACM members. Exact eligibility not specified on scraped pages.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DISCOVERY PLACE | CHARLOTTE, NC | $18,050 | 2026 | MEOWSEUM PARTICIPATION, SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION |
| WOW CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | LAFAYETTE, CO | $18,050 | 2026 | MEOWSEUM DISCOVERY DAYS, SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION |
| ABOVE & BEYOND CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $16,550 | 2026 | SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION, WORLD WIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION 2025, MEOWSEUM PARTICIPATION |
| SANTA CRUZ CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY | CAPITOLA, CA | $16,550 | 2026 | SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION, WORLD WIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION 2025, MEOWSEUM DISCOVERY DAYS |
| ZING ZUMM CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | JACKSONVILLE, NC | $16,550 | 2026 | SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION, WORLD WIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION 2025, MEOWSEUM DISCOVERY DAYS |
| KIDS DISCOVERY STATION | MERCED, CA | $16,550 | 2026 | SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION, WORLD WIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION 2025, MEOWSEUM DISCOVERY DAYS |
| VIRGIN ISLANDS CM | ST THOMAS, VI | $16,550 | 2026 | SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION, WORLD WIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION 2025, MEOWSEUM PARTICIPATION |
| FAIRBANKS CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | FAIRBANKS, AK | $16,550 | 2026 | MVP COHORT YEAR 3, SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION |
| CHESAPEAKE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $16,150 | 2026 | WORLD WIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION 2025, SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION |
| DULUTH CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | DULUTH, MN | $16,150 | 2026 | SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION, WORLD WIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION 2025 |
| CAPE COD CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | MASHPEE, MA | $16,150 | 2026 | SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION, WORLD WIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION 2025 |
| CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF GREEN BAY | GREEN BAY, WI | $16,150 | 2026 | SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION, WORLD WIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION 2025 |
| BUELL CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | PUEBLO, CO | $16,150 | 2026 | SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION, WORLD WIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION 2025 |
| NORTH COUNTRY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | POTSDAM, NY | $16,150 | 2026 | SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION, WORLD WIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION 2025 |
| WISE WONDERS CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | BILLINGS, MT | $15,950 | 2026 | MEOWSEUM PARTICIPATION, SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION |
| TERRE HAUTE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | TERRE HAUTE, IN | $15,950 | 2026 | MEOWSEUM PARTICIPATION, SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION |
| CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AT SARATOGA | SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY | $15,950 | 2026 | MEOWSEUM DISCOVERY DAYS, SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION |
| WONDERFEET KID'S MUSEUM | RUTLAND, VT | $15,550 | 2026 | SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION |
| PEORIA PLAYHOUSE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM (COUNTY OF PEORIA) | PEORIA, IL | $15,550 | 2026 | SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION |
| CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF ILLINOIS | DECATUR, IL | $15,550 | 2026 | SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION |
| BROOKLYN CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | BROOKLYN, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | MEOWSEUM DISCOVERY DAYS |
| BOSTON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | MEOWSEUM PARTICIPATION |
| DISCOVERY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | LAS VEGAS, NV | $7,000 | 2026 | MEOWSEUM DISCOVERY DAYS |
| CHILDREN'S CREATIVITY MUSEUM | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $7,000 | 2026 | MEOWSEUM DISCOVERY DAYS |
| REGNIER FAMILY WONDERSCOPE CHIDLREN'S MUSEUM | KANSAS CITY, MO | $6,000 | 2026 | BEREAVEMENT COHORT HONORARIUM, MEOWSEUM PARTICIPATION |
| KEARNEY AREA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | KEARNEY, NE | $15,000 | 2025 | FFACES HOSTING GRANT |
| KIDS DISCOVERY MUSEUM | BAINBRIDGE IS, WA | $15,900 | 2024 | FFACES HOSTING GRANT & NICKELODEON WORLDWIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION |
| SANTA FE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | SANTA FE, NM | $15,900 | 2024 | FFACES HOSTING GRANT & NICKELODEON WORLDWIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION |
| TREEHOUSE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | ALEXANDRIA, LA | $15,000 | 2024 | FFACES HOSTING GRANT |
| WONDER UNIVERSE | CHRISTIANSBURG, VA | $15,000 | 2024 | FFACES HOSTING GRANT |
| MONTSHIRE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE | NORWICH, VT | $15,000 | 2024 | FFACES HOSTING GRANT |
| ANN ARBOR HANDS-ON MUSEUM | ANN ARBOR, MI | $15,000 | 2024 | FFACES HOSTING GRANT |
| WESTCHESTER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | RYE, NY | $15,000 | 2024 | FFACES HOSTING GRANT |
| SPARK | ROCHESTER, MN | $11,400 | 2024 | FFACES HOSTING GRANT & NICKELODEON WORLDWIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION |
| CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF RICHMOND | RICHMOND, VA | $10,750 | 2024 | FFACES HOSTING GRANT & NICKELODEON WORLDWIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION |
| AMELIA PARK CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | WESTFIELD, MA | $10,750 | 2024 | FFACES HOSTING GRANT |
| ADVENTURE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | EUGENE, OR | $10,500 | 2024 | FFACES HOSTING GRANT |
| BUILDING FOR KIDS CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | APPLETON, WI | $10,500 | 2024 | FFACES HOSTING GRANT |
| CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF SOUTH DAKOTA | BROOKINGS, SD | $10,500 | 2024 | FFACES HOSTING GRANT |
| MISSISSIPPI CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | JACKSON, MS | $10,500 | 2024 | FFACES HOSTING GRANT |
| FREDDA TURNER DURHAM CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | MIDLAND, TX | $15,000 | 2023 | HOSTING GRANT |
| DISCOVERY MUSEUM | ACTON, MA | $15,000 | 2023 | HOSTING GRANT |
| SACRAMENTO CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | RANCHO CORDOVA, CA | $15,000 | 2023 | HOSTING GRANT |
| DISCOVERY CENTER OF THE SOUTHERN TIER | BINGHAMTON, NY | $15,000 | 2023 | HOSTING GRANT |
| KIDSPLAY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | TORRINGTON, CT | $15,000 | 2023 | HOSTING GRANT |
DISCOVERY PLACE
$18,050MEOWSEUM PARTICIPATION, SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION
WOW CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$18,050MEOWSEUM DISCOVERY DAYS, SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION
ABOVE & BEYOND CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$16,550SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION, WORLD WIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION 2025, MEOWSEUM PARTICIPATION
SANTA CRUZ CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY
$16,550SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION, WORLD WIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION 2025, MEOWSEUM DISCOVERY DAYS
ZING ZUMM CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$16,550SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION, WORLD WIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION 2025, MEOWSEUM DISCOVERY DAYS
KIDS DISCOVERY STATION
SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION, WORLD WIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION 2025, MEOWSEUM DISCOVERY DAYS
VIRGIN ISLANDS CM
$16,550SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION, WORLD WIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION 2025, MEOWSEUM PARTICIPATION
FAIRBANKS CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$16,550MVP COHORT YEAR 3, SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION
CHESAPEAKE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$16,150WORLD WIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION 2025, SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION
SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION, WORLD WIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION 2025
CAPE COD CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$16,150SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION, WORLD WIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION 2025
SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION, WORLD WIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION 2025
BUELL CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$16,150SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION, WORLD WIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION 2025
NORTH COUNTRY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$16,150SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION, WORLD WIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION 2025
WISE WONDERS CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$15,950MEOWSEUM PARTICIPATION, SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION
TERRE HAUTE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$15,950MEOWSEUM PARTICIPATION, SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION
MEOWSEUM DISCOVERY DAYS, SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION
WONDERFEET KID'S MUSEUM
$15,550SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION
PEORIA PLAYHOUSE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM (COUNTY OF PEORIA)
$15,550SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION
CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF ILLINOIS
$15,550SIMONS FOUNDATION MATH LITERACY COHORT PARTICIPATION
REGNIER FAMILY WONDERSCOPE CHIDLREN'S MUSEUM
$6,000BEREAVEMENT COHORT HONORARIUM, MEOWSEUM PARTICIPATION
KEARNEY AREA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$15,000FFACES HOSTING GRANT
KIDS DISCOVERY MUSEUM
$15,900FFACES HOSTING GRANT & NICKELODEON WORLDWIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION
FFACES HOSTING GRANT & NICKELODEON WORLDWIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION
TREEHOUSE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$15,000FFACES HOSTING GRANT
WONDER UNIVERSE
$15,000FFACES HOSTING GRANT
WESTCHESTER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$15,000FFACES HOSTING GRANT
FFACES HOSTING GRANT & NICKELODEON WORLDWIDE DAY OF PLAY PARTICIPATION
AMELIA PARK CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$10,750FFACES HOSTING GRANT
ADVENTURE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$10,500FFACES HOSTING GRANT
BUILDING FOR KIDS CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$10,500FFACES HOSTING GRANT
CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF SOUTH DAKOTA
$10,500FFACES HOSTING GRANT
SACRAMENTO CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$15,000HOSTING GRANT
DISCOVERY CENTER OF THE SOUTHERN TIER
$15,000HOSTING GRANT
