Children's Museum of Fond du Lac

What Children's Museum of Fond du Lac does

Children's Museum of Fond du Lac (CMFDL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit children's museum operating from a single facility at 75 W. Scott Street in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Founded in 2002 (per firmographic data) and operating continuously for over 20 years, the museum serves 50,000+ visitors annually through 15,000 sq. ft. of indoor exhibit space plus 10,000+ sq. ft. of fenced outdoor play space (WinnePlayGo), connected via the 0.5-mile Path 2 Play to the public Lakeside Park Playground. The exhibit portfolio spans 20+ interactive areas including Lite Zilla (Alliant Energy-sponsored 12'x6' giant Lite Brite), Mind & Motion (EyeClick interactive projection technology), Fire Station 75, Healthworks, Farmtastic (built with the Agri-Business Council), WinnePlayGo (BCI Burke/SSM Health STEM outdoor exhibit), Transportation Station, the Everbright light wall, Blast Off, and a dedicated STEAM Lab (Gnewuch Family Foundation-funded). CMFDL delivers 200+ structured learning programs including 8-week early-learning sessions (Art for ages 3-5, Music & Movement for ages 18 months-5, school readiness), weekly Summer Programming (Le Cordon Kids cooking class sponsored by Society Insurance, Story Time, Science In Action, Friday Fun Factory, Garden Club), and the Solid Foundations Initiative targeting the prenatal-to-18-month cohort through Baby Networking events and First Time Parent memberships.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue stack. Earned revenue comes from unit-priced admission ($10 adults/children, $8 seniors, under-1 free), a multi-tier subscription membership program (Family $150, Multi-Museum $170, Grandparent $100, Grandparent Plus $125, Explorer $110, Non-Profit Partner $250, Care Agency $325, Museums for All $40+, Military Access $112.50, First Time Parent and DHS-CLTS $0), birthday-party packages ($225/$325/$500), private event rentals ($50/hour or $300 for 2-hour after-hours full museum), and pre-registered classes with 30% member discounts. Contributed revenue derives from a deep corporate/foundation sponsor base (40+ named sponsors including Korb Family, Gnewuch, Efroymson, BCI Burke, CD Smith, JF Ahern, Michels, Mercury Marine, SSM Health, Alliant Energy, Holiday Automotive, Society Insurance), an annual Young at Heart fundraiser, planned giving, and Blackbaud-powered online donations. Distribution is exclusively direct-to-consumer via on-site welcome desk, website (Blackbaud-hosted), phone (920-929-0707), and the ACM reciprocal network (multi-museum and Grandparent Plus memberships grant 50% off at ~200 ACM museums). Marketing is community-led and largely non-paid, leveraging Facebook/Instagram/YouTube, an SMS Text Club, email newsletter, SPROUT Partners referrals, Field Trip programs, and free community events like Healthy Little Lifestyles.

The organization is governed by a 13+ member Board of Directors with deep regional corporate ties (Mercury Marine, Mayville Engineering, National Exchange Bank, BCI Burke, CD Smith, Commonwealth Companies, SSM Health) and is led by Executive Director/CEO Andrea Welsch with a small 10-15 person staff team. CMFDL is an active member of the Association of Children's Museums and holds dual-museum reciprocal membership (made possible by the Efroymson Family Fund) with Sheboygan's Above & Beyond Children's Museum. Annual participating Blue Star Museum designation provides free admission to military families through Labor Day.

Name

Children's Museum of Fond du Lac

Legal name

Children's Museum of Fond du Lac

Website

https://cmfdl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Children's Museum of Fond du Lac is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 15,000 sq. ft. indoor and 10,000+ sq. ft. outdoor interactive museum in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, serving 50,000+ annual visitors through 20+ exhibits and 200+ learning programs targeting children, caregivers, and regional families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Museum Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAJADAE

Children’s Museums

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Museums, Galleries & Cultural Institutions

Keywords

• Children's museum exhibits
• Interactive learning programs
• Early childhood education
• Museum memberships
• Birthday party hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Fond Du Lac

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, Others

Revenue model

1. General Admission: Per-visit admission fees for adults ($10), children ($10), seniors ($8), with infants under 1 free and members free. Rates effective February 1, 2026. Library passes available for free admission. Blue Star Museum program offers free admission to active/reserve military families through Labor Day.
2. Annual Memberships: Multiple membership tiers providing unlimited free admission for a year: Family ($150/year), Multi-Museum ($170/year — includes reciprocal access to ~200 ACM network museums), Grandparent ($100/year or Grandparent Plus $125/year), Explorer ($110/year), Non-Profit Partner ($250/year), Care Agency ($325/year), Military Access ($112.50/year). New 2026 feature: annual auto-renewal gets 13 months for the cost of 12. Membership includes free admission to both CMFDL and Sheboygan's Above & Beyond Children's Museum for family-level memberships (Efroymson Family Fund).
3. Museums for All / Financial Assistance: Discounted memberships for families receiving public assistance (WIC, Quest, BadgerCare, Section 8, SSI, MA) at $40+. DHS Foster Families (rates vary) and DHS-CLTS ($0) memberships available. Free First Time Parent membership ($0) for parents with children 18 months and under, issued up to 25 per event. Supports the museum's mission of removing financial barriers.
4. Birthday Party Bookings: Private party reservations with tiered pricing: up to 25 individuals $225, up to 40 individuals $325, up to 80 individuals $500. Includes 2-hour private gathering space and museum access. Members receive $25 discount. Additional fees for Sunday/evening bookings ($150), extra half-hours ($50/half hour), and cleaning if needed ($25). Each child receives a CMFDL cup filled with goodies (value $15). Adult:child ratio of 1:5 required.
5. Private Event Rentals: Hourly rental of museum spaces including the Gnewuch Family FLEX Auditorium ($50/hour), Classrooms ($50/hour), or full museum before/after regular hours ($300 for 2 hours). Optional add-ons: Sunday fee ($150/2 hours), AV setup ($25), Kitchen use ($30), additional staff ($30/hour). Deposit of $50 required.
6. Early Learning Classes: Pre-registered educational classes including Art classes (ages 3-5, Tuesdays), Music & Movement (ages 18 months-5 years, Wednesdays and Fridays), and school readiness programs (ages 3-5, Thursdays). 8-week sessions beginning September 22nd. Members receive 30% discount on class fees.
7. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations via credit card (Blackbaud), check, Venmo, stock, mutual funds, bonds, and QCDs from IRAs. Program & event sponsorships at $500+, Solid Foundations Initiative gifts at $2,500+. Young at Heart annual fundraising event. Memorial and honorarium gifts. Planned giving/legacy giving program. Gift certificates available in any denomination from $5 and up.
8. Gift Certificates: Gift certificates purchasable in any denomination from $5 and up, redeemable for memberships, programs, classes, events, and birthday parties. Available online, in-museum, or by phone. Online purchases subject to 3% credit card processing fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Children's Museum of Fond du Lac (CMFDL) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) children's museum operating 15,000 sq. feet of indoor space plus 10,000+ sq. feet of fenced outdoor space in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The museum delivers hands-on, play-based exhibits across more than 20 thematic areas (Lite Zilla, Mind & Motion, Farmtastic, Fire Station 75, Healthworks, WinnePlayGo), more than 200 learning programs, early learning classes, field trips, summer programming, birthday party hosting, and private event rentals for families with young children.

Product overview

The Children's Museum of Fond du Lac operates as a physical children's museum with over 20 interactive exhibit spaces and more than 200 learning programs. The core product is museum admission and access to exhibits (Lite Zilla, Mind & Motion, Fire Station 75, Healthworks, Farmtastic, WinnePlayGo outdoor area, and others). Supporting products include various membership tiers (Family, Multi-Museum, Grandparent, Explorer, Non-Profit Partner, Care Agency, First Time Parent, Museums for All), birthday party packages, private event reservations, field trip programs, early learning classes, summer programming, gift certificates, and accessibility resources. The museum also runs the Solid Foundations Initiative, an outreach program for family support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Museum Exhibits
• Family Membership
• Multi-Museum Membership
• Grandparent Membership
• Explorer Membership
• Museums for All Membership
• Non-Profit Partner Membership
• Care Agency Membership
• First Time Parent Membership
• Birthday Party Packages
• Private Event Rentals
• Field Trip Programs
• Early Learning Classes
• Summer Programming
• Gift Certificates

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50,000 visitors annually (onsite and at community events)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Association of Children's Museums (ACM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMFDL is a member of the Association of Children's Museums (childrensmuseums.org), the primary professional organization for children's museums. Membership provides access to the ACM reciprocal network (~200 museums) and cross-promotional opportunities. Family-level memberships include FREE admission to Sheboygan's Above & Beyond Children's Museum via the Efroymson Family Fund.
• Sophia Transformative Leadership PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSophia Transformative Leadership Partners provided caring and professional guidance in developing CMFDL's core values. The partnership helped shape the museum's progressive and fun environment that supports development, engages all people, fosters respect and trust, encourages open communication, embraces strengths, inspires lifelong learning, celebrates childhood, and promotes play.
• SPROUT PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPROUT Partners collaborate with CMFDL to publish a Community Resource Guide connecting visitors, members, and local families to helpful community organizations. The partnership supports CMFDL's outreach mission and extends the museum's reach beyond its physical walls into the broader Fond du Lac community. The guide is published on the Fond du Lac County website.
• Alliant Energy FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliant Energy Foundation is the sponsor of Lite Zilla, a 12-foot by 6-foot Giant Lite Brite exhibit where children create colorful designs using pegs. The sponsorship supports this exhibit's development and maintenance as a signature interactive experience.
• EyeClick (Mind & Motion exhibit)coreTechnology or IntegrationEyeClick provides interactive wall/floor projection technology for The Mind & Motion exhibit, creating a dynamic, immersive experience with projected games and environments. The technology transforms the museum space and can be enjoyed on either the wall or floor, promoting gross motor skills and collaborative play.
• SSM HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSM Health sponsors multiple exhibits and programs: Brain Matters (healthy choices and brain/body connection), WinnePlayGo (outdoor STEM play equipment with BEE Kind space), Transportation Station (Oakmark-sponsored), and Garden Club (gardening program). SSM Health also provides Health Advisors (Dr. Mary Schultz and Dr. Kristine Taivalmaa) on CMFDL's board of directors.
• Holiday AutomotivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHoliday Automotive sponsors the Holiday Automotive Tech Center, an immersive car and service shop experience where children become mechanics testing parts, filling oil, and changing tires. The exhibit includes real shop imagery and role-play scenarios for ordering, scheduling, work, and payment.
• BCI BurkecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCI Burke co-sponsors the WinnePlayGo outdoor exhibit (with SSM Health) featuring STEM play equipment and the BEE Kind play space. BCI Burke also sponsored The Great Toddler Reef and contributed to Path 2 Play pathway development connecting CMFDL to Lakeside Park Playground. Scott Liebelt from BCI Burke serves on the board.
• CD Smith ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCD Smith Construction is a contributing sponsor of The Mind & Motion exhibit and the Great Wall Construction exhibit. Andy Smedberg from CD Smith Construction serves as Facilities Advisor and Condo Rep on CMFDL's board of directors.
• Fond du Lac County Health DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Healthy Little Lifestyles event (September 10, 2026), which provides 2 hours of FREE play including mini Early Learning Class sessions, healthy snacks, giveaways, and Path2Play Bubble Walk activities with area healthcare providers. Partnership connects families to community health resources.
• Froedtert & Medical College of WisconsinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare provider partner in Healthy Little Lifestyles community health event (September 10, 2026) alongside Fond du Lac County Health Department, SSM Health, ThedaCare, and Aurora Health Care.
• ThedaCareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare provider partner in Healthy Little Lifestyles community health event (September 10, 2026) alongside Fond du Lac County Health Department, SSM Health, and Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin.
• Aurora Health CareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare provider partner in Healthy Little Lifestyles community health event (September 10, 2026) alongside Fond du Lac County Health Department, SSM Health, and Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin.
• Fondy Food PantrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Little Corner Market exhibit within Healthworks was created in collaboration with the Fond du Lac Food Pantry. Children do imaginative food shopping, learning about balanced meals while sorting food by color, shape, size, and type. The partnership connects food security awareness with play-based learning.
• Envision Greater Fond du Lac (Agri-Business Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarmtastic exhibit was designed and developed in partnership with the Agri-Business Council of Envision Greater Fond du Lac. The exhibit showcases Wisconsin's agricultural impact through Annabelle the milking cow, a silo slide, electric milking machine, and more. Contributing partners include Compeer Financial, Culvers, Milk Source, Calumet Dairy Group LLC, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Hoard's Dairyman, and Lakeview IBA LLC.
• City of Fond du LaccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Fond du Lac partnered on the 0.5-mile paved Path 2 Play connecting CMFDL to Lakeside Park Playground. The city is also listed as a partner in the Play BIG community event supporting Fond du Lac families and children.
• JF AherncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJF Ahern is a contributing sponsor of The Mind & Motion exhibit and the Great Wall Construction exhibit (along with Michels Corporation and CD Smith Construction).
• National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) / Blue Star FamiliescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEA partners with Blue Star Families to operate the Blue Star Museums program, which provides FREE admission or 25% off family membership to active and reserve military personnel through Labor Day. CMFDL participates annually as a designated Blue Star Museum.
• Play BIG Event PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity event partners for the Play BIG event include: C.D. Smith Construction, 99.5 WPKR Oshkosh (radio station), Fond du Lac Police Department, City of Fond du Lac Fire Rescue, LYCON INC., Sam's Well Drilling, Fond du Lac Blue Line Family Ice Center, Whealon Towing & Service Inc, Wonder Play Cafe, Cowlicks-Fond du Lac, Fondy Face Painters, Kriete Truck Center - Fond du Lac, John R. Giese Enterprises, Hey Mr. Balloon Man Art. These partners collaborated to create a community event enriching the lives of children and families.
• Sheboygan's Above & Beyond Children's MuseumcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDual-museum membership partnership (enabled by Efroymson Family Fund) provides FREE admission to both CMFDL and Sheboygan's Above & Beyond Children's Museum for all family-level CMFDL memberships at no additional cost. This creates a regional multi-museum destination for families.
• Blue Star Museum Program PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Star Museum program is administered by the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Blue Star Families. Through Labor Day, CMFDL honors active and reserve military and their families with FREE admission for up to 5 individuals or 25% off a family membership. The program is promoted through arts.gov/blue-star-museums-map.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Madison Children's Museum: Madison, Wisconsin children's museum offering interactive exhibits, educational programs, and membership tiers. Comparable nonprofit children's museum serving another Wisconsin community with overlapping membership, field trip, and outreach programs.
• Children's Museum of Eau Claire: Eau Claire, Wisconsin children's museum focused on interactive exhibits and STEAM-based learning for young children. Closely comparable regional Wisconsin children's museum with similar size and programming focus.
• Above & Beyond Children's Museum: Sheboygan, Wisconsin-based children's museum that has an explicit dual-museum membership partnership with CMFDL (enabled by the Efroymson Family Fund). Operates with the same nonprofit, hands-on exhibits, and membership-driven model serving a neighboring Wisconsin community.
• Children's Museum of La Crosse: La Crosse, Wisconsin children's museum providing hands-on exhibits and play-based learning experiences. Direct regional peer operating the same nonprofit model in another Wisconsin community of comparable size.
• DuPage Children's Museum: Naperville, Illinois-based children's museum offering hands-on exhibits and educational programming. Comparable nonprofit children's museum in the broader Midwest with overlapping membership and outreach programs.
• The Building for Kids Children's Museum: Appleton, Wisconsin children's museum offering interactive exhibits and educational programming. Closely comparable regional Wisconsin children's museum operating under a similar nonprofit, hands-on, family-membership model targeting the Fox Valley area.
• Children's Museum of Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based children's museum with hands-on exhibits, maker-focused programming, and a comparable nonprofit membership model. A well-established regional children's museum serving as a strong size and model benchmark for CMFDL.
• Betty Brinn Children's Museum: Milwaukee-based children's museum offering hands-on educational exhibits and programs for young children and families. Similar nonprofit model and visitor profile, serving a larger Wisconsin urban market about an hour from Fond du Lac.

Broad incumbents

• Children's Museum of Indianapolis: The largest children's museum in the world, based in Indianapolis. While it operates at vastly greater scale and scope, it shares the same nonprofit, hands-on exhibit, and membership-driven business model and participates in the same ACM reciprocal network.
• Discovery World: Milwaukee-based science and technology museum on the lakefront. While broader in scope (science/technology focus rather than early-childhood play), it overlaps with CMFDL's STEAM Lab programming and serves a similar Wisconsin family audience within the same regional catchment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CMFDL
• Facebookfacebook.com/cmfdl
• Instagraminstagram.com/cmfdl

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 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 Children's Museum of Fond du Lac