Sierra Nevada Childrens Museum

“The executive director reviews and signs the tax return. The board receives a pdf of the tax return in the board packet.”

“The board signs the conflict of interest forms yearly.”

“Compensation is reviewed and approved annually by the board of directors during the budget process. The board considers local executive director wages when establishing the budget.”

“Policy developed and administered by the board.”

“No other documents available to the public.”

“The organization launched a capital campaign as part of a substantial planned building and program expansion project. As a result, significant pledges were recognized during the fiscal year ended june 30, 2023 in line with applicable accrual accounting standards. Payments for such pledges in the subsequent year increased cash balances, thus the ability to expend funds on critical expansion costs which ultimately yielded a net loss position for the fiscal year ended june 30, 2024. Management anticipates this volatile pattern of fluctuations to cease at the conclusion of the capital campaign.”

“1. Installed a new immersive, interactive Winnie-the-Pooh exhibit focusing on navigating emotions for both young kids and caregivers. And, as always, the exhibit provides engaging opportunities for kids to develop skills such as literacy, cognitive thinking, problem solving, fine and gross motor skills; laying the foundation needed for success in school and life. This new exhibit also includes an Endangered Species of the Month component. Families learn fascinating and informative facts as well as actionable steps that can be taken to help protect these vital species. 2. Completed the Cambio Initiative, a National Science Foundation-funded project aimed at making museums more inclusive of Latinx communities in STEM. This transformative experience expanded how we listen to our community, improved staff development, and reaffirmed our STEAM identity. As a result, we strengthened our commitment to diversity and welcomed two Latino leaders to our museum's board. We were honored to serve as guest speakers to share our journey at this year's ACM conference in Madison, WI. This experience has shaped us, ensuring we remain a welcoming, culturally responsive space for all. 3. This year, we made significant strides in our commitment to inclusivity by attending a community support group for parents of children with special needs. This invaluable experience has equipped us with insights on how to better serve these families. We also had the pleasure of hosting a group session at KidZone Museum, where families were invited to participate and socialize together. This event fostered a sense of community and support, allowing us to deepen our understanding and strengthen our connection with families in need, ensuring our museum remains a welcoming space for everyone. 4. One of our most exciting achievements has been the integration of Sierra Community House's Family Room program into our museum. This remarkable initiative, tailored for young children who have yet to start school, helps prepare them for their educational journey in the most engaging and joyful way possible. Through music, dance, imaginative play, and hands-on activities, children build vital social and cognitive skills while having fun in a supportive environment. Family Room fosters a love of learning, strengthens community ties, and ensures every child has the tools to thrive-making it a perfect fit for our museum's mission to inspire learning through creative play and discovery. 5. Hosted two successful community events: Tree Frog Treks and Family Farm Festival. Both featured live animals and were an introduction to caring for and sustaining our planet for all its plants and animals. Both events had over 863 attendees, and we provided a special hour just for those families with children with special needs. 6. Continued work on our Capital Campaign to build a larger, permanent museum. We have raised almost $4.8 million for this $11 million dollar project. We are actively working with our design build team and have submitted plans to the Town of Truckee. The project is currently going through the CEQA process - the California Environmental Quality Act - and we are planning on breaking ground in spring 2025. 7. Issued 98 scholarships to underserved children and provided 161 outreach activities at KidZone and offsite through partnerships with social service and health organizations including: STEPP Center, Kings Beach and Truckee Head Start, Kings Beach and Truckee State Preschools, Kings Beach and Truckee Libraries, Sierra Community House, Healthy Babies, Truckee Reads, Nevada County Public Health Dept, TTUSD, Fox Cultural, Nevada County Child Welfare Services, Placer County Public Health Department of Health and Human Services, Nevada and Placer WIC.”

“-789,958 prior period adjustment related to timing of revenue recognition.”