Imagine Children’s Museum

What Imagine Children’s Museum does

Imagine Children's Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1991 in Everett, Washington, operating the largest children's museum in the Pacific Northwest at 40,000+ square feet following a $25 million three-story expansion completed in October 2022. The museum serves children ages 1-12 and their families through more than 40 interactive exhibits built around a STREAM (science, technology, reading, engineering, art, math) curriculum, with a focus on hands-on playful learning. Core programs include general admission visits, summer day camps for ages 4-12, school field trips with enrichment classes, Museum-on-the-Go mobile outreach to schools and libraries, Little Science Lab preschool series delivered at Sno-Isle Libraries branches, birthday party packages, and after-hours private event rentals. The museum holds American Alliance of Museums (AAM) accreditation, placing it among fewer than 20 accredited U.S. children's museums, and has earned 4-star and 100% transparency ratings from Charity Navigator.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue structure with eight distinct streams: general admission ($22 per person with EBT, military, and senior discounts), annual family memberships (recurring), birthday party packages ($195-$795), school field trips ($11-$15 per student), summer camps ($199.50-$480 per week), Museum-on-the-Go outreach ($500-$860 plus travel), on-site retail (Museum Store) and food service (Divy's Grab & Go), plus donations, monthly giving (Imagination League), corporate sponsorships, and grants (including a reinstated $250,000 IMLS federal grant and a Boeing Community Engagement Fund grant). Go-to-market is multi-channel: direct walk-in consumers, school and group bookings through a reservations team, e-commerce for camps/memberships/gift cards, and event-driven corporate sponsorships via the Champions for Children fundraising breakfast. The customer base spans individual families in Snohomish County and the broader Puget Sound region, preschool and elementary schools, community organizations, and corporate partners.

Operationally, the museum employs 101-250 staff across eight senior leadership positions, is governed by an independent Board of Directors, and is led by CEO Elee Wood, PhD (appointed March 2024) following a 26-year tenure by predecessor Nancy Johnson. In April 2024 the organization launched the Imagine HOPE Endowment to build a permanent financial base. The museum served over 293,000 visitors in 2023 — up from 248,000+ in 2019 — and surpassed 4 million cumulative visitors since opening its permanent home in 2004. Outreach programs (Museum-on-the-Go, Little Science Lab) extend geographic reach across six Sno-Isle Libraries branches and into schools and childcare centers countywide, while accessibility is supported through $5 EBT admissions and monthly free Community Access Nights.

Name

Imagine Children’s Museum

Legal name

Imagine Children's Museum

Website

https://imaginecm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Imagine Children's Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the largest children's museum in the Pacific Northwest from a 40,000+ sq ft facility in Everett, WA, serving 293,000+ annual visitors ages 1-12 through interactive STREAM exhibits, summer camps, field trips, and mobile outreach programs funded by a mix of admissions, memberships, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Museum / Cultural & Educational Attractions

NAICS

Museums (71211), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s Museums (THAJADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Kids & Family Learning Workshops (Family Crafts, Junior Maker Classes) (THAJAKAO), Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG)

Keywords

• Children's museum
• Interactive exhibits
• Early childhood education
• Family entertainment
• Play-based learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Everett

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Museum Admission: General admission fees for children and adults at $22 per person, with discounts for seniors, military, and free admission for children under 2 and EBT cardholders at $5 for 4 entries.
2. Annual Memberships: Annual family memberships providing unlimited visits and member benefits including early access to events and members-only programs.
3. Birthday Parties and Event Rentals: Private event bookings including birthday parties starting at $195 for 10 guests, VIP parties up to $695-795 for 50 guests, and exclusive museum access for corporate events.
4. Field Trips and Enrichment Programs: School field trips with enrichment classes at $15 per student, basic field trips at $11 per student, and Museum-on-the-Go outreach programs at varying price points.
5. Summer Camps: Week-long summer camps for ages 4-12 ranging from $199.50-$480 depending on duration and type, with Extended Play add-on options at $70-100.
6. Museum Store: On-site retail store selling toys, Imagine clothing, and STEAM learning materials.
7. Donations and Grants: Charitable donations from individuals, monthly Imagination League donors, corporate sponsorships, and grant funding from organizations including Boeing and federal agencies.
8. Food Service: Divy's Grab & Go food truck on third floor offering snacks, personal-sized pizza, espresso, and beverages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Imagine Children's Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit interactive children's museum in Everett, Washington, operating a 40,000+ square-foot facility of hands-on exhibits and play-based learning experiences for children (primarily ages 1-12) and their families. The museum sells daily admissions, annual memberships, summer camps, birthday party packages, school/group field trips, and educational programs, and runs a small gift shop.

Product overview

Imagine Children's Museum is a nonprofit children's museum offering interactive exhibits and educational programs primarily for children aged 1-12. The museum operates as a unified physical experience with various program offerings including themed exhibits like Game On! The Soccer Experience, structured summer camps spanning STEM to arts themes, field trip options with enrichment classes, birthday party packages, and outreach programs such as Museum-on-the-Go and Little Science Lab. Additional offerings include Community Access Nights for underserved families, Imagination League monthly giving program, and on-site retail and food services. The museum serves as both a physical destination and community outreach provider throughout Snohomish County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Admission (Museum Visits) Single-visit, walk-up admission for the general public (families and children) to access the museum's interactive exhibits.
• Annual Membership Subscription-style membership granting repeat/seasonal access to the museum and member perks for families with children.
• Summer Camps Themed, fee-based day camps for children during the summer break, typically themed around STEM, art, or play.
• Birthday Party Packages Hosted birthday party rental packages at the museum for families, including use of party space and access to exhibits for guests.
• School and Group Field Trips Group-rate visits and educational programming for schools, preschools, daycares, homeschool co-ops, and youth organizations.
• Museum Gift Shop On-site retail store selling educational toys, books, souvenirs, and kid-themed merchandise to visiting families.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served over 293,000 visitors in 2023 through museum visits and outreach programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Snohomish County Sports CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Partnership for Game On! The Soccer Experience exhibit, which spotlights local soccer legends and celebrates athletes and community members who have made their mark on soccer in Snohomish County.
• Glacier West Self StoragecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025First Annual Business Sponsor for 2025, featured throughout year in newsletters, event promotions, and at Champions for Children breakfast. Helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for community programs.
• American Alliance of Museums (AAM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association that granted AAM accreditation to the museum, signifying excellence and commitment to high professional standards.
• Association of Children's Museums (ACM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association for children's museums providing networking, resources, and best practices.
• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association supporting early childhood education; museum's programs align with early learning standards.
• Northwest Association of Youth Museums (NWAYM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional association connecting youth museums in the Pacific Northwest for shared learning and collaboration.
• Sno-Isle LibrariescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner locations for Little Science Lab preschool programs at Monroe, Lynnwood, Sultan, Lake Stevens, Lakewood/Smokey Point, and Granite Falls library branches.
• Corporate Sponsors (Champions for Children)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors include American Distributing, Custom Mechanical Solutions, D.A. Davidson, Diamond Parking, Dunlap Industrial Hardware, Forbes Anderson, ILWU Local 32, McKinley Irvin, Stephen Hager, Westrock Construction, Everett Bayside Marine, and many others supporting annual fundraising breakfast.
• Museums for All PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with EBT, Apple Health, CHIP, SNAP, WIC, Foster Parent programs to provide affordable access ($5 for 4 visits) to low-income families through Museums for All initiative.
• Everett AquaSoxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partnership for Baseball Day events at the museum, bringing family-friendly activities and team engagement.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Please Touch Museum: Philadelphia-based children's museum with hands-on exhibits and play-based learning for young children. Directly comparable product category and target demographic with similar programming approach.
• Children's Museum of Houston: One of the top-rated children's museums in the U.S. with extensive interactive exhibits, summer camps, and school programming. Comparable operating model and revenue mix including memberships and outreach.
• The Strong National Museum of Play: Rochester, NY-based museum dedicated to play and learning, AAM-accredited. Directly comparable mission of promoting learning through play; a relevant peer for exhibit development and program design.
• Children's Museum of Tacoma: Tacoma, WA-based children's museum offering play-based learning experiences for young children. Same Pacific Northwest regional market with overlapping family audience.
• Minnesota Children's Museum: St. Paul, MN-based children's museum with interactive exhibits and early childhood programming. Comparable in scale and programming mix; another AAM-accredited children's museum peer.
• Seattle Children's Museum: Children's museum in Seattle, WA serving similar age groups with interactive hands-on exhibits and family programming. Closest geographic direct peer in the Pacific Northwest children's museum segment.
• Portland Children's Museum (now Portland Children's Museum): Portland, OR-based children's museum with hands-on exhibits and educational programs for children. Comparable product mix in a neighboring Pacific Northwest market.

Broad incumbents

• Children's Museum of Indianapolis: Largest children's museum in the world, also AAM-accredited. Comparable product model (interactive exhibits, educational programming) at significantly larger scale; useful benchmark for operational best practices.
• Boston Children's Museum: One of the oldest and most established children's museums in the U.S. Comparable in audience (families with young children) and exhibit philosophy; offers benchmark for membership programs and educational partnerships.

Others

• Association of Children's Museums (ACM): Professional association for children's museums providing industry research, networking, and best practices. Imagine is a member; ACM represents the broader peer ecosystem and serves as an industry context reference.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/imaginechildrensmuseum
• Facebookfacebook.com/ImagineChildrensMuseum

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Imagine Children’s Museum