Sacramento Children's Museum

Reviewed by the Sacramento Region Community Foundation

$1,322 raised by 11 donors

100% complete

$0 Goal

Sacramento Children’s Museum (SCM) is the first children’s museum in the greater Sacramento area and the only children’s museum in the California capital region. Additionally, SCM is the only area museum whose focus is children’s development from birth onward. Our museum space, opened in August 2011, is built around hands-on exploratory play to support important school readiness concepts like socialization, motor skills, emotional language and communication development, and cognition.

Our exhibits and programming include STEM-based activities, pretend-play areas, art and creative pursuits, and a dedicated area for infant and toddler development. Children build foundational skills, explore new concepts, meet friends, learn about cultures other than their own, and begin to build an empathy and understanding for the world around them. In recent years, we added Sensory Friendly Play and a mobile museum (Van GO!) for classroom visits. In 2021, SCM became the first museum in the region to participate in Museums for All - a national program offering free or reduced admission for families receiving food assistance. Over the past twelve years, SCM has served hundreds of thousands of children in the Sacramento area. SCM is proud to provide a safe space for learning, exploration, and creativity for the youngest residents of our region. 

Mission

The mission of Sacramento Children's Museums is to spark a passion for life-long learning. We fulfill our mission by providing a place where children are encouraged to think for themselves, expand their problem-solving abilities through creative exploration, and exercise both their bodies and their minds.

Needs

Unrestricted funding helps us bring the museum to life! Whether the need is exhibit updates, supplies for a science activity, or new books for Baby Bloomers, unrestricted funding lets us flexibly respond to our visitors’ needs.

Program funding allows us to design and implement exciting educational opportunities for our visitors. This includes everything from Yoga Play to Cultural Connections to pop up science activities and even special events. All of SCM’s programming is designed to spark the curiosity of children and to encourage further exploration.

Program support expands museum accessibility and inclusion. This includes sensory friendly, free and discounted admission days, and bringing the museum experience to classrooms and outreach events. SCM is a proud participant in Museums for All - a national program offering free or reduced admission to families receiving food assistance. Program funding ensures that our accessibility and inclusion initiatives are not only sustainable but can thrive and expand.

SCM is looking to expand our Board of Directors. An ideal board member should be passionate about our mission to spark a passion for life-long learning and not afraid to have fun!

Equity Statement

Sacramento Children’s Museum (SCM) welcomes all children and their adults to visit the museum. We invite everyone to learn, create, and explore together.

At SCM, we are committed to:

-Listening and responding to the needs of the children in our community.

-Providing a safe space for all children.

-Offering accessible exhibits, play spaces, programming, and events.

-Celebrating the diversity of families, especially in our region.

-Exploring cultures and traditions that may be unfamiliar.

-Taking steps towards a more equitable admissions process.

-Acknowledging the land where our museum sits to recognize and honor Indigenous peoples.

-Conducting an inclusive and bias-free hiring process that recognizes diversity and embraces a wide range of qualities and perspectives that candidates bring to the organization.

-Utilizing pronoun best practices.

-Establishing guidelines for tracking diversity of board, staff, and visitors and defining diversity set metrics.

-Learning and growing with our community.

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Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Sacramento Children's Museum

other names

SCM

Year Established

2005

Tax id (EIN)

20-2673935

Mission Category

Arts, Culture & Humanities

Operating Budget

$500,001-$1 million

Organization Need

Funding: Unrestricted, Funding: Program, Board Members

Demographics Served

General population

Local Counties Served

El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Yolo

Equity Statement

Equity Statement

Address

2701 Prospect Park Dr Suite 120
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670

Service areas

Sacramento County, CA, US

Rancho Cordova, CA, US

Phone

916-730-5079

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