Omaha Children's Museum, Inc.

What Omaha Children's Museum, Inc. does

Omaha Children's Museum, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1976 and headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, operating a single 60,000 sq ft facility housing 12 permanent exhibits. It serves families with young children, school groups, and community partners through hands-on educational programming in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM), drawing more than 317,000 visitors annually. The organization also operates a traveling exhibit program (e.g., Forever Forest, Bug Squad) and off-site outreach through its Museum Without Walls initiative and an educational video library launched in 2020.

The museum's product surface combines on-site exhibits, outreach programming, birthday-party and facility-rental services, and exhibit-rental offerings, supported by a standard commercial SaaS stack (Simpletix for ticketing, JotForm, Constant Contact). Partnerships with NASA and Varsity Tutors augment the educational content layer, and ASTC reciprocal membership extends membership utility across 250+ partner institutions.

The business model is a hybrid earned-plus-contributed revenue model. Approximately 65% of operating income is earned — primarily through walk-in admissions priced at $17 per visitor, memberships, school field trips, birthday parties, and facility and exhibit rentals — with the remaining 35% from donations channeled through the Rainbow Connectors Guild (which has cumulatively raised $4.5M+ at a $300K+ annual run-rate), the multi-foundation-backed Welcome Fund, and other corporate and individual giving. A 2023 strategic plan guides current operations, with new exhibits (Ciao Bambini! and Super Sports²) scheduled for 2026.

Name

Omaha Children's Museum, Inc.

Legal name

Omaha Children's Museum, Inc.

Website

https://www.ocm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Omaha Children's Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating a single 60,000 sq ft Omaha facility with 12 permanent exhibits, serving families and school groups with hands-on STEAM programming and drawing 317,000+ visitors annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Museum Services

NAICS

Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s Museums (THAJADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Kids & Family Learning Workshops (Family Crafts, Junior Maker Classes) (THAJAKAO)

Keywords

• Children's museum
• Interactive exhibits
• Play-based learning
• STEM education programs
• Family learning experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Omaha

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Admissions and Ticketing: Revenue from daily admissions for adults, children, and seniors. Members receive free admission while non-members pay per visit.
2. Memberships: Annual family, grandparent, patron, contributor, benefactor, and gift of play memberships providing unlimited admission and discounts on programs.
3. Field Trips and Learning Labs: School groups pay per student for field trip admissions and optional Learning Lab add-ons.
4. Birthday Parties: Three tiers of birthday party packages ranging from $340-$1,900, plus add-ons for additional activities and services.
5. Museum Rentals: Corporate events, holiday parties, and private rentals of the entire museum or activity rooms.
6. Science to You Outreach Programs: Off-campus educational programs delivered to schools and camps, including hands-on learning and science show presentations.
7. Museum in a Box Rentals: Portable educational kit rentals for classrooms on topics like electricity.
8. Carousel and Train Rides: Additional ride attractions within the museum available for $3 per ticket.
9. Exhibit Rentals: The museum rents out its traveling exhibits (Forever Forest, Bug Squad, Dinosaur Safari, Moon to Mars) to other institutions across the country.
10. Donations and Fundraising: Individual contributions, corporate donations, sponsorships, and annual fundraising events including 'For the Kids Benefit' which raises over $300,000 annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Omaha Children's Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 60,000-square-foot interactive children's museum with 12 permanent exhibits and rotating special exhibits that deliver hands-on, play-based learning experiences for children ages 0-12. Beyond general admission, the museum sells annual memberships, runs educational programs (field trips, summer camps, off-site Science to You outreach, Museum without Walls, Museum in a Box rentals), hosts birthday parties and private event rentals, produces original educational videos, and licenses its in-house-built traveling exhibits to other institutions nationwide.

Product overview

Omaha Children's Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit children's museum offering hands-on learning through play experiences. The museum operates a multi-exhibit permanent collection including Imagination Playground (early childhood), Charlie Campbell Science & Technology Center, Art Smart Center, and S.T.E.A.M. Cave. It also hosts rotating special exhibits like Ciao Bambini! and Super Sports². Educational programs include field trips, summer camps, Science to You outreach, Museum without Walls community outreach, Museum in a Box rentals, and Educational Videos. Event services include birthday parties, museum rentals, and seasonal special events. The museum generates revenue through admissions ($17/person), memberships (starting at $159/year), food service (Rainbow Cafe), and ride tickets ($3). It also operates a traveling exhibits program renting museum-created exhibitions to institutions nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Camps
• Museum General Admission
• Annual Memberships
• Welcome Fund Membership
• Agency Membership
• Field Trips with Learning Labs
• Birthday Parties
• Museum and Activity Room Rentals
• Science to You Outreach
• Museum in a Box
• Museum without Walls
• Educational Videos
• Traveling Exhibit Rentals
• Ciao Bambini! Special Exhibit
• Super Sports² Special Exhibit

Quantifiable outcome

• Children who visit show increased engagement with STEM concepts through hands-on exhibits
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

62 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ValmontcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerManufacturing company sponsor of exhibits and community programs.
• Woodhouse AutocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAuto dealership sponsor of Woodhouse Service Center exhibit.
• Iowa West FoundationcoreOthersFoundation providing financial support for Welcome Fund membership program for underserved families.
• Lincoln Financial FoundationcoreOthersFoundation supporting Welcome Fund membership program.
• LoziercoreOthersCorporate sponsor supporting Welcome Fund membership program.
• Pacific Life FoundationcoreOthersFoundation sponsor of Welcome Fund membership program.
• Richard Brooke FoundationminorOthersFoundation supporting Welcome Fund membership program.
• Fred and Eve Simon Charitable FoundationminorOthersFoundation supporting Welcome Fund membership program.
• Mammel FoundationminorOthersFoundation supporting Welcome Fund membership program.
• Holland FoundationminorOthersFoundation supporting Welcome Fund membership program.
• Gilbert M. and Martha H. Hitchcock FoundationminorOthersFoundation supporting Welcome Fund membership program.
• Gilbert C. and Mabel L. Criss Memorial FoundationminorOthersFoundation supporting Welcome Fund membership program.
• Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Supporting FoundationminorOthersFoundation supporting Welcome Fund membership program.
• Pottawattamie County Community FoundationminorOthersFoundation supporting Welcome Fund membership program.
• Step Up to QualityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting early childhood quality initiatives.
• Boys TownminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in community outreach and children's services.
• Children's NebraskacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of Imagination Playground's Children's Nebraska healthcare exhibit where children learn through play using medical tools.
• Cox CommunicationscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor and media partner for exhibits and events.
• Fat Brain ToyscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerToy company sponsor supporting Museum Without Walls outreach programs and community events.
• Five Points BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanking partner and sponsor.
• FNBOcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBanking partner and corporate sponsor.
• IAFF (International Association of Fire Fighters)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor union partner for fire safety education programs.
• La CasaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLatino community organization partner.
• Oriental Trading CompanycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor and in-kind donation partner for exhibits and birthday parties.
• RasmussencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerManufacturing company sponsor of Tinker Factory exhibit.
• ScheelscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSports and outdoor retailer sponsor of exhibits and events.
• Seldin CompanycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerReal estate company sponsor and corporate partner.
• RunzaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRestaurant chain sponsor.
• Union PacificcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRailroad company sponsor of Forever Forest exhibit and community partner.
• First National Bank (NEST 529)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Imagination Playground's First National Bank Branch exhibit teaching financial responsibility through interactive displays.
• Hy-VeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrocery partner with kid-sized Hy-Vee store in Imagination Playground featuring Rotella's Bakery, Hy-Vee Italian, and interactive produce station.
• Children's Hospital & Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner with presence in Imagination Playground's Children's Nebraska exhibit.
• Omaha SteaksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides grilling area for Hy-Vee Grocery Store exhibit.
• Varsity TutorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnline tutoring platform partner for free virtual science shows reaching nationwide audiences.
• NASAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASA's Deep Space Exploration Systems at Johnson Space Center provided design support for Moon to Mars exhibit.
• The Magic House, St. Louis Children's MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on creation of Ciao Bambini! exhibit exploring Italian culture.
• Children's Museum of ManhattancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far exhibit, first-of-its-kind interactive exhibition for children.
• Kiewit CorporationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEngineering company sponsor and participant in corporate membership drive.
• Mutual of OmahacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInsurance company sponsor of Moon to Mars and multiple other exhibits.
• HDRcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEngineering firm sponsor and participant in corporate membership drive.
• Alley Poyner Macchietto ArchitectureminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArchitecture firm participant in corporate membership drive.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of NebraskacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHealth insurance sponsor and corporate membership drive participant.
• BoystownminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChild welfare organization participant in corporate membership drive.
• Fusion Medical StaffingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedical staffing company participant in corporate membership drive.
• J. Skinner Baking CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBaking company participant in corporate membership drive.
• Kutak RockminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLaw firm participant in corporate membership drive.
• Metropolitan Utilities DistrictcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUtility company sponsor and corporate membership drive participant.
• NP DodgeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerReal estate company participant in corporate membership drive.
• Omaha SteakscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMeat company sponsor and corporate membership drive participant.
• Pacific LifecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInsurance company sponsor and corporate membership drive participant.
• Performance Food ServiceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFood service company participant in corporate membership drive.
• State of NebraskaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerState government employer participant in corporate membership drive.
• Thompson, Dreessen & Dorner, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerArchitecture/engineering firm participant in corporate membership drive.
• TR ConstructionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConstruction company participant in corporate membership drive.
• University of Nebraska - OmahacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUniversity partner and corporate membership drive participant.
• Valentino'sminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPizza restaurant partner for birthday party catering.
• VirtuActiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare company participant in corporate membership drive.
• The Sherwood FoundationcoreOthersFoundation sponsor of A Generation of Hope: Indigenous Peoples of the Heartland and America to Zanzibar exhibits.
• Douglas CountycoreOthersCounty government sponsor of numerous exhibits including Moon to Mars and Super Sports.
• Conagra Brands FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation sponsor of Santa's Magic exhibit.
• KiewitcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEngineering company presenter sponsor of Diggin' Dinos exhibit.
• Daugherty Business SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Namaste India exhibit.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Children's Museum of Indianapolis: The largest children's museum in the world; directly comparable as a nonprofit participatory children's museum offering permanent and traveling exhibits, membership programs, and field trip/educational services for families and schools.
• Children's Museum of Manhattan: New York-based children's museum with comparable hands-on exhibits, educational programming, and family memberships; OCM has even co-developed exhibits with this organization (America to Zanzibar).
• The Magic House, St. Louis Children's Museum: St. Louis-area children's museum with similar interactive exhibits and educational programming; explicitly named in OCM's data as a collaborator on the Ciao Bambini! exhibit and is a comparable mid-size nonprofit children's museum.
• Please Touch Museum: Philadelphia children's museum offering hands-on, play-based exhibits and family programming; closely comparable mid-sized nonprofit children's museum model with admissions, memberships, and educational programs.
• Boston Children's Museum: One of the oldest and largest children's museums in the U.S.; directly comparable participatory museum with exhibits, memberships, school programs, and traveling exhibit offerings.
• Children's Museum of Houston: Major U.S. children's museum with similar hands-on STEM-focused exhibits, school outreach, and family membership model; OCM's S.T.E.A.M. Cave and science programming parallels this peer.
• Chicago Children's Museum: Chicago-based participatory children's museum with exhibits, memberships, and educational programming serving a similar family and school audience.
• Madison Children's Museum: Mid-sized nonprofit children's museum with comparable hands-on exhibits and educational programming; similar scale to OCM and known for nationally-touring exhibits.
• Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose: Silicon Valley-area children's museum with interactive exhibits, school programs, and membership model directly comparable to OCM's offerings.
• Pittsburgh Children's Museum: Includes the original Children's Museum plus the Museum Lab; comparable nonprofit children's museum with hands-on exhibits, school programs, and family memberships in a mid-size U.S. market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/omahacm
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/OmahaChildrensMuseum
• Facebookfacebook.com/OmahaChildrensMuseum
• Instagraminstagram.com/omahachildrensmuseum

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Omaha Children's Museum, Inc.