Better Business Bureau Report for
Magic House

Better Business Bureau Report issued December 2010
Better Business Bureau Report expires December 2011


This BBB Accredited charity meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability and is a Seal Holder. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Magic House
Address: 516 South Kirkwood Road
  St. Louis , MO 63122
Phone: 314-822-8900
314-822-8930
Web Address: www.magichouse.org
Also known as:St. Louis Children's Museum
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1975, Missouri
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: "exists to operate a not-for-profit educational and recreational museum for children."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Magic House (MH) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

Children's educational museum of visual and participatory exhibits.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, MH's program expenses were:

  
Program 4,476,517
Total Program Expenses: $4,476,517
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Elizabeth Fitzgerald , President
Compensation*:
 $163,781

Chair of the Board: Jerald Kent
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: President, Cequel III

Board Size: 35

Paid Staff Size: 122

*Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
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Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:

direct mail, invitations to fund raising events, grant proposals
Fund raising costs were 9% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $3,142,942, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
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Tax Status

               

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
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Financial

               

The following information is based on MH's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Admissions 2,436,431
Grants and contributions 1,197,619
Gift shop 841,253
Memberships 500,794
Special programs 428,858
In-kind donations 91,762
Special events (net) 59,129
Outreach 23,527
Change in value of beneficial interest in charitable remainder trust 14,998
Interest Income 1,178
Miscellaneous 663
Total Income $5,596,212


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 82%  Fund Raising: 5%  Administrative: 13%  Other Expenses: Less than 1%

Total income   $5,596,212
  Program expenses $4,476,517
  Fund raising expenses 270,535
  Administrative expenses 686,543
  Other Expenses 5,242
Total expenses   $5,438,837
Income in Excess of Expenses   157,375
Beginning net assets   14,213,514
Ending net assets   14,370,889
Total liabilities   9,039,454
Total assets   $23,410,343


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NOTE

               

The organization is involved in an expansion project and the expenses for that project are listed above as “other expenses.” 

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