SAN ANTONIO CHILDRENS MUSEUM
San Antonio's Museum for Kids
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Children in the United States are facing a STEM crisis on a local and national scale. While the necessity for jobs in STEM fields is increasing, very few students are being adequately prepared in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Studies have shown that teachers report spending 60 minutes or less per week on science in elementary grades, while 16% of teachers in this study reported spending no time at all on science. With San Antonio students consistently underperforming in STEM-related subjects, their future success and our community economic development efforts will be impacted.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Strengthening Schools & Families
Proven to strengthen relationships among teachers, caregivers and students, Strengthening Schools and Families is a series of educator professional development and family learning engagements at both The DoSeum and schools. During the 2019-2020 school year, almost 700 children and their families were served through the Strengthening Schools and Families program before service interruption due to COVID-19.
Field Experiences
The DoSeum seeks to provide joyful hands-on learning experiences to kids on-site at The DoSeum, in ways that promote problem solving and critical thinking. During our Field Experiences, children are taken on a guided exploration of our exhibits and interact in a formal investigation in a classroom space; this investigatory time is based on themed topics that correlate with State standards in the subject area. In 2019, we served 14,014 students through Field Experiences. This program serves as a model of exceptional inquiry-based learning experiences.
Camps
Camps teach and reinforce Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) content in order to combat the learning loss that occurs during school breaks. In 2019, nearly 900 campers participated in our on-site programs, with over 40 campers attending through our DoSeum for All scholarship program.
STEM Afterschool
STEM Afterschool sessions run for 10 weeks per semester at each of our Title I partner schools. During these times, students engage in hands-on STEM activities designed to encourage inquiry and design thinking. Each year we serve over 100 students in our STEM Afterschool program.
STEM Teacher Cohort
Now in its fifth cycle, the STEM Teacher Cohort strengthens teachers’ knowledge and skillsets in delivering a nationally-recognized curriculum- Engineering is Elementary, developed by the Museum of Science, Boston- while building a community of practice to support continued growth and fuel student learning. The program includes monthly educator workshops, a two-week summer practicum at The DoSeum, multiple classroom visits from DoSeum staff to support instruction and all necessary supplies and materials.
Where we work
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of free participants on field trips
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Field Experiences
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
In 2020, Field Experiences underwent a service level interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It remains to be seen when discounts for Field Experiences will resume.
Number of paid participants on field trips
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Field Experiences
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Field Experiences were put on hold in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed again in 2022.
Maximum number of participants allowed on field trips
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Field Experiences
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Each group is divided in to smaller sizes on site, and focus on interactive STEM play. There were no field trips in 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Total number of fields trips
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Field Experiences
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Field Experiences underwent a service level interruption in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed again in 2022.
Total number of paid admissions
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Children and youth, Family relationships
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
With 68,000 sq ft of space for children to explore, The DoSeum is proud to serve San Antonio's early learners, and continuously look for ways to improve our guest experience as we grow.
Total number of free admissions
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Families
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Free Family Nights are available once a month to the public.
Number of SNAP, WIC, and/or Pandemic-EBT families served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people, Children and youth, Adults, Families, Caregivers
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Families served through SNAP, WIC, and/or Pandemic-EBT nutrition program are eligible for $3-each general admissions pricing through the nationwide program Museums for All.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Studies indicate that integrating STEM in the early years is crucial to fostering a passion for science in children (Nurturing STEM Skills in Young Learners, PreK-3, 2014). Even so, research suggests this exposure often needs to occur outside of the formal education environment. This is where The DoSeum comes in, as we aim to serve as a premier educational resource by developing innovative thinkers capable of meeting the challenges of the 21st century.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The DoSeum is proud to address this community need for literacy in STEM subjects through thoughtfully designed, STEM- focused programming. We provide a valuable informal learning space for children to gain critically important knowledge (and passion!) that will stay with the students through school and into the workforce. At the heart of our mission is a focus on underserved populations and our expanded programming was developed to ensure all children and families in our community have the ability to experience The DoSeum.
Our Primary Strategies include:
Out-of-School Time - The DoSeum offers quality Out-of-School Time programming that includes: Camps, Field Experiences, Free Family Nights, Museums for All discount on general admission tickets for low-income families, and Public Programs such as Beyond Limits (programming providing sensory friendly accommodations).
Outreach - We engage children and their caregivers and educators in thoughtful, often intensive programming that takes place both at The DoSeum and at off-site locations (20 school campuses and 14 community partners). Examples include: STEM Afterschool programs, Strengthening Schools and Families, and Summer Outreach. In 2022, nearly 4,000 kids benefited from our outreach programs and we estimate serving 10,000 children in 2023.
Educator Professional Development - We provide STEM-focused professional development opportunities to educators from across San Antonio, with a focus on those working in Title I schools. All professional educators in Texas must earn CPE hours to maintain their teaching certificate. For educators looking for a hands-on workshop experience, our open-enrollment professional development series offers a full day session guiding educators through STEM-based concepts, allowing them to develop their own activities to incorporate into their classrooms. For educators seeking a digital or flexible professional development experience, The DoSeum offers self-paced versions of our courses. In 2023, The DoSeum will continue to offer courses both in person and online in Maker-Centered Learning, STEM & Literacy, STEAM & Inquiry, and Dyslexia. In 2021, The DoSeum successfully partnered with other informal learning centers to launch Museo Institute, a cohort learning experience for area educators. Upon successful completion of the program, educators receive up to 85 CPE credit hours, research-based curriculum resources from leading institutions, and new methods for teaching STEM/STEAM in each educator’s school campus. In 2022, Museo Institute welcomed 40 educators in its second cohort and awarded over 1,900 CPE hours combined across participating institutions, with 360 CPE hours from The DoSeum alone. Between all our professional development partnerships and programs, The DoSeum supplied over 200 educators with 1,116 CPE hours in 2022, ultimately extending our reach to nearly 7,000 children.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Founded in 1995, the San Antonio Children's Museum was created to provide a hands-on, educational space for children, ages 0-11, and their caregivers. Now in its eighth year as The DoSeum, the organization has transformed into one of the top children’s museums in the nation (USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards, 2022), serving as an integral and complementary learning resource for families and educators. In 2022, The DoSeum welcomed nearly 400,000 learners, making us one of the most visited attractions in San Antonio (San Antonio Visitors Alliance, 2022). With 68,000 square feet of engaging Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-based exhibits and a staff of STEM Experience Engineers, The DoSeum inspires active learning through inquiry and play for children—building important 21st century skills like innovation, creativity and critical thinking. Caregivers receive tools and support to extend learning beyond The DoSeum walls, powerfully impacting their role as their children’s first teachers, while educators acquire strategies in teaching STEM/STEAM and build confidence in themselves and their students in these critical areas.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
As the only museum in San Antonio solely focused on children 0-11 years old, The DoSeum's innovative strategy to engage children in STEM discovery and learning makes it a celebrated model. Supported by more than 70 staff members and 1,000 volunteers annually, The DoSeum is inspired by the power of play and each experience is fueled by hands-on learning. When children and their caregivers purchase a general admissions ticket, they receive much more than an afternoon at the museum. The DoSeum Experience is designed to create connection moments for families through STEM, the arts, and literacy through hundreds of interactive exhibits in eight permanent galleries housed across our 68,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor learning spaces. In 2022, The DoSeum welcomed 384,443 guests via general admissions, with 17% of those guests receiving an 80% discount on admissions tickets through our daily discount program (Museums for All) for low-income families served through SNAP, WIC, and Pandemic-EBT, and an additional 11,793 guests receiving complimentary admission via our monthly Free Family Nights. While GoSeum serves children and their caregivers from across San Antonio, most programming is targeted in some of our most distressed zip codes, including 78207, 78208, and 78211. Newly relaunched in July 2022, GoSeum served nearly 4,000 children this year and we anticipate serving close to 10,000 children in 2023.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection, It is difficult to identify actionable feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
SAN ANTONIO CHILDRENS MUSEUM
Board of directorsas of 01/31/2023
Mr. Jeff Brouillard
Wells Fargo
Term: 2018 - 2023
Megan Rooney
H-E-B
Kim Lewis
Community Volunteer
Tinsley Smith
Zachry Group
Carla Brozovich
Community Volunteer
Jeff Brouillard
Wells Fargo
Angelica Palm
The Bank of San Antonio
Chris Cho
NuStar Energy
Anna Ziegler
Rackspace
David Akright
CAPTRUST
Mayerland Harris
H-E-B
Dawn Walker
Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld LLP
Cory Kuchinsky
CPS
Daniel Menelly
The DoSeum
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 12/02/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.