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kidscommons

Strategic Plan 2025–2030

Our five-year roadmap to enhance the visitor experience, grow our educational impact, and strengthen our community.

Executive Summary

Today's youth and their families face a variety of intertwined challenges that impact the quality and accessibility of their future opportunities. These include a rising mental health crisis and economic disparities, compounded by the aftermath of the pandemic limiting educational prospects for children. Despite these obstacles, they offer an opportunity for KidsCommons to enhance our collective resilience and vitality, advocating for systemic change.

Our plan focuses on empowering children and families to become confident, lifelong learners and catalysts for change. Through collaborative efforts with community partners, we have witnessed remarkable instances of creativity, resilience, and resourcefulness, shaping a brighter future for children.

Methodology

Phase 1: Assessment

Gathering data from KidsCommons surveys and meetings with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.

Phase 2: Vision

KidsCommons staff had several round table discussions to review past strategic plans to decide what was still relevant and what had changed over the last 5 years. That, along with community surveys and ACM data, created a picture of our future organization.

Phase 3: Implementation

KidsCommons staff will further develop these objectives by identifying actionable tasks to achieve day-to-day elements of each priority.

Our Mission & Vision

Mission

KidsCommons is a fun, safe, and inviting place that nurtures exploration, collaboration, and creativity within all children and their caregivers. It is a place to learn about our community and our world.

Vision

KidsCommons endeavors to be a vibrant learning hub that enriches the life of every child through engaging and collaborative play with their caregivers.

Strategic Priorities

Our strategic plan for the next five years focuses on five key priorities. We are excited to embark on this journey and look forward to continuing to serve children and families with engaging and educational experiences.

1

Enhancing the Visitor Experience

  • Revamp and update existing exhibits to ensure they are engaging, educational, and aligned with current learning standards.
  • Introduce new interactive exhibits that cater to different age groups and learning styles.
  • Implement a visitor feedback system to gather input from families and children.
  • Provide opportunities to families in need with free or reduced admission, camp scholarships, and discounted event tickets.
2

Growing Our Educational Impact

  • Develop and implement new educational programs integrating STEAM concepts and hands-on learning experiences.
  • Collaborate with local schools and educators to offer field trips, workshops, and curriculum-aligned programs.
  • Create partnerships with community organizations to provide outreach programs and resources for underserved children and families.
3

Building Sustainability & Growth

  • Develop new revenue streams, such as corporate partnerships, sponsorships, and fundraising events.
  • Increase our membership base and develop new membership benefits to attract and retain members.
  • Invest in infrastructure upgrades to ensure our facilities are well-maintained and up-to-date.
4

Increase Community Engagement & Communication

  • Host community events, family nights, and outreach programs to engage families from diverse backgrounds.
  • Partner with local businesses and organizations to sponsor events, exhibits, and programs.
  • Collaborate with local artists and performers to bring creative and cultural experiences to the museum.
  • Develop a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy to promote the museum's programs to a broader audience.
  • Utilize social media platforms, email marketing, and community partnerships to engage with families.
5

Strengthen Organizational Capacity

  • Develop a strategic fundraising plan to increase revenue and secure long-term sustainability.
  • Recruit and retain a diverse, skilled staff team passionate about early childhood education and play-based learning.
  • Provide ongoing professional development opportunities for staff to enhance their skills and knowledge.

Overarching Lens

Our efforts within each Strategic Priority will be assessed through the overarching perspectives of Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion (DEAI). Each objective, along with its corresponding implementation and evaluation strategies, will undergo scrutiny through these lenses. The museum recognizes the essential nature of DEAI at the core of all its initiatives and is committed to integrating these principles into our operations.