Town of Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation
The purpose of the children's discovery museum foundation is to support the mission and vision of the children's discovery museum to raise and expend funds for the benefit of the museum, and to advocate on behald of the museum in the community at large.
Town of Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation at a glance
In short: Town of Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation gave $3.0M across 3 grants in 2026 (avg $988K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $2,963,072
- Grants made (2026)
- 3
- Average grant
- $987,691
- Median grant
- $171,142
- Total assets
- $1,864,599
- -54.0% vs 2025
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2026; updated September 2026.
Who Town of Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Childrens Discovery Museum ($3.0M across 3 grants).
Grant Size Distribution
3 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 1 grant of 3 (33%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2026 it made 3 grants totaling $3.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Childrens Discovery Museum Normal, IL | Exhibits | $2,741,930 |
| Childrens Discovery Museum Normal, IL | Education Programs | $171,142 |
| Childrens Discovery Museum Normal, IL | Operating Expenses | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $1,864,599 | $1,060,623 | $3,002,625 | $2,963,072 | 3 | $2,140 |
| 2025 | $4,057,145 | $1,392,969 | $963,122 | — | — | $1,865 |
| 2024 | $4,108,716 | $4,048,025 | $1,131,555 | — | — | $6,677 |
| 2023 | $626,663 | $273,429 | $486,397 | — | — | $2,103 |
| 2022 | $645,087 | $222,439 | $226,683 | — | — | $5,195 |
| 2021 | $649,827 | $226,403 | $561,688 | — | — | $9,456 |
| 2020 | $984,512 | $457,563 | $119,468 | — | — | $3,499 |
About Town of Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Town of Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Normal, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2026. As of 2026, the organization holds $1.9M in total assets. In 2026, it awarded 3 grants totaling $3.0M. Net investment income was $2K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Town of Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation is led by Paul Scharnett, Chair since 2025 (on filings since 2020); none of the 16 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Paul Scharnett
Chair
Vice Chairperson → Chairperson, 2024
Chairperson → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Elise Albers
Vice Chair
Trustee → Vice Chairperson, 2024
Vice Chairperson → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mitch Stebel
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Patrick Bane
Board Member
Trustee → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Rob Widmer
Board Member
Chairperson → Past President, 2024
Past President → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Terry Ogunleye
Board Member
Trustee → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
John K. Kim
Board Member
Trustee → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Lauren Lurkins
Board Member
Trustee → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Molly Allen
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Brittany Wade
Board Member
Trustee → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Heather Thompson
Board Member
Trustee → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Meghan Goldfarb
Board Member
Trustee → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Meghan Meyer
Board Member
Trustee → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Amanda Wettersten
Board Member
On filings since 2025
No compensation reported
Josh Rougeau
Board Member
On filings since 2025
No compensation reported
Melissa Alcorn
Board Member
On filings since 2025
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Beth Whisman (2025) — Executive Di
- Former: Sarah Sturgill (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Tim Fallon (2024) — Trustee
- Former: Theresa Prosser (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Tim Bassett (2022–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Brittnay Wade (2022) — Trustee
- Former: Ben Harmon (2020–2021) — Chairperson
- Former: Mark Jontry (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Marlene Dietz (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Samuel Gray (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Tracie Henry (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Carla Barnes (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Gina Mandros (2020) — Chairperson
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Town of Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation
How much does Town of Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation give each year?
Town of Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation gave $3.0M across 3 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990.
What is Town of Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation's typical grant size?
Town of Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $171,142, and its average grant was $987,691, across 3 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990.
Where does Town of Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation give grants?
Town of Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Normal, IL (3 grants).
Does Town of Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 33% of Town of Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation's 2026 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 3) were for general or operating support, per its 2026 IRS Form 990.
How large is Town of Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation?
Town of Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation reported $1.9M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.1M.
What is Town of Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation?
Town of Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Normal, IL. It holds $1.9M in total assets as of 2026.
What is Town of Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation's EIN?
Town of Normal Children's Discovery Museum Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 37-1288369. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2026.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 26, 2026)
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