Annual Report Who benefits from Madison Children’s Museum? A whole lot of people!

218,975 7,961 guests celebrated in the 5,299 guests visited the museum during one of museum— nearly a 5% 56 museum rentals, increase over last year including weddings, parties, and business guests attended gatherings 203 birthday parties in the museum (the average 35,987 age of a birthday kid is 4.6 years, so that’s nearly visits were made to the 1,000 candles) museum through our free or reduced-price Access for Everyone programs 7,920 2,986 grown-ups came to our community members 8 Adult Swim events participated in 21 outreach events we conducted in the 11,742 Greater Madison area 2,055

schoolchildren, chaperones, 6,454 babies became members First-Time and other participants families enjoyed museum through our 286 visits Parent Membership played during memberships— an from schools and other increase of 9% over last program groups year

1 Sensory-Friendly Museum Time As part of a broader initiative to welcome children and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and/or other sensory challenges, the museum began offering free admission Sensory Friendly Museum Time. Over the past year, we welcomed approxi- mately 500 guests to eight such events.

With the help of a coalition of over 30 stakeholders, we created sensory-friendly experiences, provided staff training, increased resources and tools, and gathered feedback from attendees. We learned that many families used our Sensory-Friendly Museum Times to try new activities and exhibits. This allowed them to come back during general admission hours with a greater level of predictability and comfort in their overall museum experience.

We continue to make improvements and look for more ways to make the museum accessible and welcoming to all.

Zip, Zap, Zoom In the spring of 2018, we transformed one of our ordinary stairwells into an extraordinary journey through language and sound. In Zip, Zap, Zoom, kids scale a five-story, spiral climbing sculpture amidst the whimsical sounds and visions of onomatopoeia words. Two local artists created the nature-inspired metalwork to encourage exploration.

Zip, Zap, Zoom is one of eight public stairwell installations in the museum and other community spaces around Madison, created as part of our Design to Move initiative. The goal is to foster healthy behavior through interactive art and design. Zip, Zap, Zoom, and its sister stairway in the museum, Stair Trek: Core to Cosmos, make taking the stairs the most fun and engaging way to travel through the museum, while encouraging healthy movement along the way.

Design to Move was made possible by a generous grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin, UnityPoint Health – Meriter, the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation, and Old National Bank Foundation.

To welcome these newest, youngest members we added new events and expanded existing programs for babies and their parents:

• Early Explorers Playgroup provides a weekly time for parents to let little ones play and practice social skills. Attendees come from diverse backgrounds and neighborhoods, and many strong friendships have been forged among adults.

2,000 Happy Babies • Experts at Play invites pediatric-focused healthcare practitioners to join our playgroups and answer and Counting! parents’ health questions in an informal atmosphere.

Scientists, teachers, and pediatricians agree: the first • Drop-in programs, including Baby Doll Bath Time, years of a child’s life are critical for brain development, Magnetic Mayhem, Mess Monsters, and Wiggle critical thinking, and learning skills. Madison Children’s and Jump explore compassion, build motor skills, Museum is a nurturing place for babies, offering safe and support the exploratory practices that spaces rich in texture, color, and shape, staffed by babies naturally utilize. experts in child development, who design programs • Our annual Baby’s First Halloween event was to support both babies and caregivers—yet new expanded to accommodate the influx of First-Time parents are often unfamiliar with the opportunities Parent Member families. the museum provides. • Baby Party and Baby Date Night, our newest after- In 2017 we launched a groundbreaking initiative to hours events, allow parents to play in the museum encourage new parents to visit the museum early and with their babies and let loose with other parents. often. The First-Time Parent Membership program provides a free membership for a baby and two adults. From birth to eighteen months old, the family benefits It’s been really great coming to the from unlimited, free visits to the museum. museum on a regular basis, meeting lots Several community partners joined us to share our of parents, and seeing how the museum is vision and provide critical support, especially for a great intersection of not only this part of multi-lingual advertising and childhood health expertise: Madison, but Madison as a whole.

—Keith, First-Time Parent Member and father of Clea 3 The First-Time Parent Membership program is succeed- ing beyond our hopes and expectations. Within days I’m so thankful that I have been able to of launching, we surpassed our goal of enrolling 500 have this membership to try out the families—and more than 2,000 families joined in the first year. Enrollment is just one measure of success; children’s museum. I would never have frequent attendance by many of these new families done it until Toujah was older, so having this resulted in nearly 9,500 visits. Parents in the program program really got me out of the house, got see the value, often choosing to renew as paying mem- me downtown with my son—interacting with bers when their babies age out of the free membership people, learning more things that he never program. Enrollment of new families continues to be strong, as parents tell their newly expecting friends would have the chance to do at home. and providers such as pediatric dentists, hospitals, —Carolyn, First-Time Parent Member and mother of Toujah and community centers refer new families.

The success of the program is getting national atten- ing numbers of children—as babies and as they grow tion. Madison Children’s Museum is widely recognized into using even more of what the museum offers. as one of the top children’s museums in the United Continued support is critical, as the positive outcomes States, and this program has added to our reputation are clear. We are committed to securing additional as a groundbreaker of innovative programs for early funds to keep this program available, and we hope childhood. Children’s museums around the country are you will join us to make this valuable investment in closely watching our results and preparing to launch the future. their own versions. Museum staff have freely shared information to enthusiastic audiences at conferences, including the Association of Children’s Museums, the Association of Science and Technology Centers, and the Wisconsin Alliance of Children’s Museums.

As we look ahead, the benefits of sustaining this program are evident—both for individual children and for our community. In the short term, new parents feel supported and Madison becomes a more attractive place for young adults, who continue to grow the local birthrate. And in the long term, these children will build on the foundational skills they gain at the museum to grow up into contributing citizens.

With success comes challenges. The museum’s staff and our physical spaces are pressed to welcome the increas-

4 UnityPoint Health – Meriter Cummings Christensen Family M.R. Metzger Family Foundation Our Sylvia Vaccaro Foundation M&M Office Interiors, Inc. Zendesk Neighbor Foundation Dental Health Associates of Madison Madigan Family Foundation and Supporters Dentistry for Madison Griff & Mary Beth Madigan $5,000–9,999 Majorie Devereaux & David W. Hall Thomas & Audrey Martorana Anonymous Diesel Forward Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP Gifts received Jim & Sue Bakke Jane Doughty & David Wood Middleton Tourism Commission July 1, 2017– June 30, 2018 Rich & Sue Clack Dunlop Associates, Inc. Sally & Mike Miley Community Foundation of North Central Eisenberg Law Offices, S.C. Regina Millner & Nathan Brand $250,000– 499,999 Wisconsin Dale & Debbie Evans Momentum Insurance American Girl’s Fund for Children Culver’s VIP Foundation EVCO Plastics Stephen Morton Madison Community Foundation CUNA Mutual Group Foundation Event Essentials Sherrie & Jerome Mullins Daniel and Julie Hartung Charitable EXL Service Pam Murphy & Randy Grobe $100,000–249,999 Foundation Inc. Festival Foods Neider & Boucher, S.C. Anonymous Dean Clinic First Business Bank Amy & Jerry Nickles Institute of Museum and Library Services Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund First Choice Dental Old National Bank W. Jerome Frautschi & Pleasant Rowland Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn Park Bank $25,000–49,999 Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C. Future Foam Pamela Ploetz & John Henderson Group Health Cooperative of South JP Morgan Chase & Co. Central Wisconsin Gallagher Tent & Awning Seth Pollak & Jenny Saffran Darcy Kind & Marc Vitale Irving and Dorothy Levy Family Katharine Gansner QBE North America Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation Foundation Great Midwest Bank The QTI Group Sub-Zero & Wolf Appliance Company Marvin Levy Gristle Catering Marian & David Quade Technology Education Foundation Peggy & Tom Pyle and The Pyle GrowingGreat Paul Reckwerdt & Ellen Rosner Foundation The Suby Group Mary & Carl Gulbrandsen Reynolds Transfer and Storage, Inc. Walter A. and Dorothy J. Frautschi Don & Kathy Hartung Jeri & Mark Reynolds $10,000–24,999 Charitable Unitrust Curt & Dawn Hastings Carol & Dean Schroeder Diane K. Ballweg Wisconsin Arts Board Hausmann-Johnson Insurance Fred & Debbie Schwartz BMO Harris Bank Wisconsin Early Autism Project Jay & Tonya Hazen Selinger & Brunette, LLC Eliot G. Butler Carroll Heideman Joyce Siefering Dan & Patti Rashke (TASC) Family $1,000–4,999 Foundation 6AM Marketing, Inc. Tim & Jana Heinrich John R. Sims Jan & William DeAtley and DeAtley Achieving Collaborative Treatment Hooper Corporation and General Sprinkman Real Estate Heating and Air Conditioning Family Foundation The Alexander Company State Bank of Cross Plains Ideal Builders Inc. Endres Manufacturing Company Alliant Energy Corporation Al Steinhauer Foundation Isthmus Partners, LLC Fernando & Carla Alvarado Steinhauer Charitable Trust Dan & Natalie Erdman Jerome H. and Joan H. Kuypers Family American Family Insurance SVA Certified Public Accountants, S.C. The Evjue Foundation, Inc., the Fund American Girl TASC charitable arm of The Capital Times John J. Frautschi Family Foundation American Transmission Company Tota Vita Financial Advisors Richard Goldberg & Lisa Munro Johnson Bank Anne & Richard Arnesen Carol & John Toussaint J.H. Findorff & Son Inc. JP Cullen Axley Attorneys Town Bank of Madison Madison Gas & Electric Foundation, Inc. The Keller Family Charitable Trust Béla Fleck Productions, Inc. Trachte Family Foundation Madison Rotary Foundation Kelly Financial Bell Laboratories Triangle Community Foundation National Guardian Life Insurance Scott & Gigi Kelly Bob & Kari Breunig Triumph Wealth Management, LLC Company Ron & Deborah Krantz Buttonwood Partners, Inc. United Way of Dane County Purple Moon Foundation Frederick & Kathleen Kruger The Chicago Community Trust University Research Park Robert M. & Anne W. Bolz Charitable Katie Ryan Kurtz & Compton Kurtz Lead Unitrust Children’s Dental Center of Urban Land Interests Lisa Lange & Jeffrey Johnson SSM Health Madison, S.C. US Bank Ilene & Mark Laufman The Great Dane Pub & Brewing Francesca & Martin Colver Vanguard Charitable Cherie & Steve Levy and The Levy Company, Inc. Courtney & Guy Comer Vogel Bros. Building Co. Giving Fund 5 Cresa Madison Walkner Condon Financial Advisors Karen & Alan Crossley American Girl/Mattel Thank you Webcrafters-Frautschi Foundation Fred & Anita Dahlinger Sharon M. Anderson West Bend Mutual Insurance Company Nancy & Pete Daly Richard Askey for providing Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation Dane County Environmental Council Bishops Bay Country Club Wisconsin Bank and Trust Timothy & Victoria Enright Blue Plate Catering critical Woodman’s Food Market Theresa Feiner & Michael Metzger Capital Fitness WPS Health Solutions Gwendolyn Fuhrmann Chalmers Jewelers support for Jane & Michael Ferris City of Madison Fire Department $500–999 Annie & Gary Garten City Winery Madison Ellyn & Jeffrey Alexander GE Foundation Colectivo Coffee Asia2you Micheal & Krissy Herman Dawes Rigging & Crane Rental, Inc. Children’s John & Marian Bolz Eric & Karen Horler Dinosaur Shirt Club Dane Arts Beth & Tony Kille Dog Haus University DRS Asphalt Paving Kenneth & Leslie Kudsk Jane Doughty Museum. Adrienne & Jon Ehrhardt Charles & Dolly Ledin Leslie Fields Eve & Marc Galanter Dani Luckett & Graeme Martin Fred Astaire Dance Studios of Madison Larry Hands & Karen Kendrick-Hands Art Luetke Free Spirit Designs by Maday Kevin Hayden & Linda Wankerl Harold & Christy Mayer Google Madison Herb Kohl Philanthropies Dan & Pam Millmann Lisa Gundlach Diana & Paul Karls Bridget Muldowney & Mike Wolfgram Harvest Restaurant Valerie & Andreas Kazamias Heather Northrop & Dryden Geronimi Heritage Tavern Phillip & Melissa Kesling Catherine & Daniel O’Brien HotelRED Thomas & Domenica Kuech Overture Center for the Arts Isthmus Partners, LLC LaLaRoe Inc. Pam & Andy Policano Valerie Kazamias Sandra & Allan Levin Rita Prajapati Madison Mallards Mark & Elizabeth MacKenzie Matt & Katie Premo Janet Mangin Nicholson, Gansner & Otis, S.C. Ron & Cathy Rotter Maple Bluff Country Club Brian & Loan Rathgeber Geoffrey Sandler and Celebrations Meicher CPAs Melissa Roe Kagerbauer Entertainment Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP Tim & Lori Stadelman Kim & David Schaefer Middleton Fire Department Fran & Brad Taylor Gretchen Schwarze & Joshua Mezrich Nutzy Mutz & Crazy Catz The Roman Candle Jay & Katie Sekelsky Pepsi-Cola of Madison Kristen Thomas Eric Siegal & Jeanne Howard Kristi Rhodes Thomas S. Kemp Foundation David & Cheryl Slezewski Henry Riter Jennifer & Bill Zorr Robert & Jessica Stauffacher Spectrum Brands Holdings Anna & Peter Stebbins The Bruce Company $250–499 Haley Stephan The Madison Club Richard & Alice Appen Sarah Stewart & Andrew Fleming The Madison Concourse Hotel Sam Austin David & Rebecca Stockwell and Governor’s Club Shauna Baranczyk The Edgewater The Roman Candle Jennifer Barriga Rebecca Thousand & Eric Anderson Kristen Thomas Susan & Ellis Bauman Kurtis Welton & Susan Tucker vomFASS State Street Dave & Terri Beck-Engel Sarah & Brian Winterle Wines for Humanity Phil & Kit Blake Wisconsin Athletics Candace & Phill Bloedow In-Kind Gifts over $250 Wollersheim Winery Doyle & Barb Butkiewicz Ale Asylum Woodman’s Food Market, Inc. Sarah Bradley & Max Coller Barry Alvarez Our apologies if we missed Laurits & Bea Christensen American Family Insurance acknowledging your gift. Please let us know so we can correct our records. Financial Overview & Leadership Operating Income: $2,670,100 8% July 1, 2017–June 30, 2018 21% Investment/ Admissions Endowment $554,700 Distribution Financial Strength $215,000 16% The museum has four endowment funds through Membership Madison Community Foundation (including the $417,400 Fund for the Future and the Pleasant Rowland Great 27% Performance Fund). Their combined fair value was Contributions 3% $5,130,602, with resulting distributions of $214,582. $714,300 Educational Programming The museum also holds a Restricted Facility 5% $86,000 Reserve Fund with an account balance of $258,301. Fundraising Events $145,200 7% Facility Rentals/Parties 13% $186,600 FY2017–18 Board of Directors American Girl Benefit Sale $350,900 Officers: Jane Doughty Chair: José J. Madera Adrienne Ehrhardt Vice Chair: Lisa Lange Joan Ershler Operating Expenses: $2,965,900 Immediate Past Chair: Penelope Gialamas Peggy Pyle Paul Higginbotham 21% Treasurer: Dave Stockwell 28% Darcy Kind Visitor Services Administration Secretary: Cristina Choi Gloria Ladson-Billings $610,700 $841,900 Officers-at-Large: Tom Martorana Tim Heinrich, Leslie Watkins Seth Pollak 21% Members: Matt Premo Exhibits TJ Blitz Katie Ryan Kurtz $625,900 Ben Brunette John R. Sims Kaleem Caire Stephen Zanoni Loan Dang Rathgeber 9% Fundraising 21% $260,600 Education Madison Children’s Museum Staff $626,800 Leadership Team Deb Gilpin Melanie Patterson 100 N. Hamilton Street Brenda Baker Luke Schultz Madison, WI 53703 Kia Karlen Jonathan Zarov MadisonChildrensMuseum.org Dani Luckett (608) 256-6445