The Children's Museum of Phoenix

What The Children's Museum of Phoenix does

The Children's Museum of Phoenix is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit children's museum operating since June 2008 inside the historic Monroe School Building (originally opened 1913) at 215 N. 7th Street in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. The facility spans more than 48,000 square feet across three floors and contains 300+ hands-on interactive exhibits and play experiences designed for children from birth to age 10. The museum is supported by a full-time staff headcount of 11–50 employees and a deep bench of named community and board leadership, with executive roles covering operations, development, marketing and communications, visitor experience, exhibits, retail, café, and education programs.

The core product is paid museum admission ($19 for adults and children age 1+, $18 for seniors, with discounted rates for military/police/fire, American Indian visitors, SNAP EBT cardholders, and Title I schools), augmented by an annual membership program spanning eight tiered levels from $149 (Climber: 1 adult + 1 child) to $389 (Adventurer: 8 people), a contributing Playmaker tier starting at $1,200, and a Very Important Grown-Up add-on at $65 per year. Ancillary revenue lines include birthday party packages ($445 member / $495 non-member), summer camps ($305–$345 weekly for ages 5–8), Title I and standard field trips ($6–$14 per student), special event and venue rentals (prom packages from $10,000, weddings and corporate events utilizing the 2,700 sq ft Grand Ballroom, 8,928 sq ft Historic Courtyard, and full 50,000 sq ft facility capacity for 25–2,500 guests), the aMUSE Toys & Fun Stuff gift shop, the Delish | Delicioso café, and the Free First Friday Nights access program. The Every Child Program serves 110,000+ visitors annually with free or reduced admission.

The business model is hybrid: a consumer-visit admission plus recurring membership subscription engine on the revenue side, cross-subsidized by philanthropic gifts, grants, and corporate sponsorships from partners including Gila River Indian Community (Free First Friday Nights), PNC Bank (Room for Threes & Younger gallery), Desert Financial Credit Union (~ $2.3M cumulative grants), the City of Phoenix ($10.5M voter-approved bond in 2001 for facility acquisition and renovation), Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, and Flinn Foundation. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via an on-site box office, the Blackbaud-powered online ticketing storefront at 19875.blackbaudhosting.com, school and group bookings, birthday party reservations, and corporate event sales. A March 2026 announcement of a $23.5 million expansion campaign and a partnership with Fred Rogers Productions and Children's Museum of Pittsburgh to host the 'Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood: A Grr-ific Exhibit' (September 2026 through January 2027) signal the next phase of facility and programmatic growth at the existing single-site footprint.

Name

The Children's Museum of Phoenix

Legal name

The Children's Museum of Phoenix

Website

https://childrensmuseumofphoenix.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Children's Museum of Phoenix is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating 48,000+ square feet of hands-on exhibits across three floors of the historic Monroe School Building in downtown Phoenix, serving more than 110,000 children and families annually from birth to age 10.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Museum Services

NAICS

Museums (712110), 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

Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG), Children’s Entertainment Booking (Clowns, Characters, Princess Parties) (HSACAHAF)

Keywords

• Children's museum
• Interactive exhibits
• Early childhood education
• Museum memberships
• Educational field trips

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. General Admission: The museum generates revenue from admission fees charged to non-member visitors. Adults and children over age 1 pay $19.00, seniors $18.00, with discounts for military, police, fire, American Indian visitors, and SNAP EBT cardholders.
2. Memberships: Annual membership tiers ranging from $149 (Climber, 1 adult + 1 child) to $389 (Adventurer, admits 8 people), plus Playmaker contributing memberships starting at $1,200. Members receive free admission, discounts, and exclusive access.
3. Birthday Parties: Private party room bookings at $445 for members and $495 for non-members, including 2-hour room rental, admission for up to 20 guests, and party amenities. Foam parties available as premium option.
4. Special Event Rentals: Corporate events, weddings, proms, and meetings held in various museum spaces including the Grand Ballroom (2,700 sq ft), Historic Courtyard (8,928 sq ft), and other venues with capacities ranging from 27 to 500+ guests.
5. Field Trips and Group Visits: Group school visits at $12 per student (regular season) or $14 per student (peak season March-May), with Title I schools receiving $6 per student rate. Includes educational programs aligned with Arizona State Standards.
6. Summer Camps: Week-long camp programs for children ages 5-8 at $345 per child ($305 for members), with extended care options available for $100 per week.
7. Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations supporting the museum's mission and Every Child Program. Major donors include Desert Financial Credit Union, Gila River Indian Community, and numerous corporate sponsors.
8. Retail Sales: Proceeds from aMUSE Toys & Fun Stuff gift shop offering educational toys, plush, puzzles, apparel, and souvenirs. Also includes café sales from Delish | Delicioso.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Children's Museum of Phoenix is a nonprofit children's museum operating three floors of hands-on, interactive exhibits and play experiences designed for children ages birth to 10, housed in the historic Monroe School Building in downtown Phoenix. Its core offering is general admission access to over 300 play experiences spanning art, science, music, math, and early childhood development, complemented by annual memberships, birthday party packages, summer camps, school field trips, event venue rentals, and a community access program. The museum generates revenue through admissions, memberships, programs, retail, food service, private event rentals, and philanthropic donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations.

Product overview

The Children's Museum of Phoenix is a children's museum offering hands-on, interactive play experiences for children ages birth to 10. The museum operates as a single physical location with multiple integrated products and services: core Museum Admission providing access to three floors of over 300 interactive exhibits including permanent attractions like The Climber, Noodle Forest, BlockMania, and Foam Zone; Membership Programs including Classic tiers ($149-$389) and the premium Playmakers program ($1,200+); Birthday Party Packages with private room rentals and Foam Parties; Summer Camps for ages 5-8 with themed weekly programs; Field Trips aligned to Arizona State Standards; and the Every Child Program providing free/reduced admission access. Auxiliary offerings include aMUSE Toys & Fun Stuff gift shop, Delish | Delicioso café, and Event Venue Rental for private functions in the historic Monroe School Building. The museum also hosts rotating temporary exhibits like the upcoming Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood (Sept 2026-Jan 2027).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 110,000 people annually through the Every Child Program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PNC BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresents 'Room for Threes & Younger' exhibit gallery, exclusively designed for infants and toddlers with components meeting particular developmental needs. Partnership supports early childhood development focus.
• Talking Stick ResortcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor of School House Prep Month programs, supporting school readiness activities including math, literacy, and learning-focused programs during July. Partnership includes event sponsorship and promotional support.
• United WayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner supporting access programs and volunteer initiatives.
• Valle del SolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner listed in donor and community partner sections.
• PAL ExperiencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to create custom Pal Video and digital Pal Guide supporting visitors with autism, anxiety, and other learning differences. Museum designated as 'Pal Place' offering resources for non-visible disabilities.
• Association of Children's MuseumsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association membership connecting the museum with the broader children's museum community.
• Arizona PBSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting educational programming and outreach.
• ASU Mary Lou Fulton Teachers CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership supporting educator resources and professional development.
• Preferred Caterers (Atlasta Catering, Casual Catering AZ, Fabulous Food, etc.)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved catering partners for museum events, weddings, and private functions. Partnership ensures quality food service for venue rentals.
• thinkLawminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerColin Seale, Founder & CEO of thinkLaw, serves on board as IDEA Chair. Organization supports critical thinking education.
• Fred Rogers ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Fred Rogers Productions to bring Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood: A Grr-ific Exhibit (opening September 2026 through January 2027). Created by Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Children's Museum of Indianapolis: The largest children's museum in the world, also a 501(c)(3) operating a 472,000 sq ft facility with hundreds of interactive exhibits. Directly comparable in mission, business model (admissions, memberships, events, donations), and target demographic (children and families).
• Please Touch Museum: Philadelphia-based children's museum with hands-on exhibits targeting children ages 0-7. Comparable in target demographic, exhibit-based operating model, and membership/field trip/event revenue structure.
• Discovery Children's Museum: Las Vegas-based children's museum with three floors of interactive exhibits and educational programming. Direct peer in scale, model, and Southwestern U.S. family entertainment market positioning.
• Children's Creativity Museum: San Francisco children's museum focused on creativity, technology, and arts. Direct peer offering hands-on exhibits, memberships, and educational programs for similar age demographic.
• Children's Museum of Houston: Major children's museum in Texas with hands-on exhibits, summer camps, and a city-funded operating model. Direct peer with similar program offerings (field trips, birthday parties, memberships) and educational mission.
• Children's Museum of Pittsburgh: Two-building campus in Pittsburgh featuring hands-on, play-based exhibits for children. Operates as a direct peer with similar revenue mix (admissions, memberships, field trips, events) and creates the Daniel Tiger traveling exhibit that CMoPhoenix is hosting.
• Kohl Children's Museum: Chicago-area children's museum with hands-on exhibits targeting children ages 0-8. Direct peer in scale, target demographic, and operational model (admissions, memberships, field trips, birthday parties).
• Boston Children's Museum: One of the oldest and largest children's museums in the U.S., offering interactive exhibits, programs, and memberships. Closely comparable in business model and target market, though with a more established brand and larger scale.
• Madison Children's Museum: Wisconsin-based children's museum with hands-on, interactive exhibits and programs. Operates a similar nonprofit model with comparable mix of admissions, memberships, programs, and donor-supported community access.

Broad incumbents

• Arizona Science Center: Phoenix-based science museum and major family attraction in the same downtown-adjacent market. Competes for family education/entertainment spend and school field trips, though with a science (vs. play-based) focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/childmusephx
• Xx.com/ChildMuse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

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 The Children's Museum of Phoenix