Why Marbles?
Marbles Kids Museum, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, sparks imagination, discovery and learning through play.
At Marbles, play matters. In a fast-paced world that prioritizes rigid structure and packed schedules, Marbles provides a safe and supportive environment where children have the freedom to experience exploratory, hands-on play.
At Marbles, we know that play is how children learn best. Play experiences at Marbles bring the community together, transform children’s lives and strengthen families. Your donation to Marbles propels us forward by supporting...
- PLAY FOR ALL. Museum admission fees cover less than 30% of the actual cost of providing a visit to Marbles. Donations also support Marbles access programs, bringing purposeful play to more than 50,000 vulnerable children and families each year.
- PLAY EVERY DAY. Open 7 days a week to serve our growing community, Marbles works around the clock to deliver award-winning exhibits and programs that spark joy in learning.
Why Play?
“Collaboration, negotiation, conflict resolution, self-advocacy, decision-making, a sense of agency, creativity, leadership, and increased physical activity are just some of the skills and benefits children gain through play...”
--(The Power of Play, The American Academy of Pediatrics)
Research increasingly proves that play is essential, with some pediatricians even writing a "prescription for play" for their youngest patients. Play builds a foundation for academic success, physical development and emotional well-being. Play helps families bond and strengthens relationships between children and parents, caregivers and peers.
No other organization in North Carolina is better known for developing child-led, unstructured, imaginative play than Marbles Kids Museum; and we prioritize welcoming families from all walks of life. From building innovative structures in IdeaWorks and exploring fresh vegetables in Sun Sprouts, to role-playing as a fire fighter in Around Town and solving playful brainteasers in STEMosphere, Marbles is an ideal setting for learning, growing and connecting.
Read more about the benefits of play...
- Prescription for Play, Los Angeles Times
- To Play is to Learn, World Economic Forum
- Roots of STEM Success, The Center for Childhood Creativity at the Bay Area Discovery Museum
- The Power of Play, The American Academy of Pediatrics
- 5 Proven Benefits of Play, NPR
Challenge Details
Marbles Kids Museum has been challenged by the A.J. Fletcher Foundation to raise $50,000 from individual donors to grow our capacity to serve ALL kids through play! Here's how you can help:
Join a Giving Circle by making a gift of $250+ OR move up a Giving Circle level before December 31, 2018
Become a Marbles PlayMaker with a monthly gift of $21 or more (click here to sign on)
Encourage friends and family to join the challenge by sharing on social media using #marblesgivingcirclechallenge and @marblesraleigh
Questions? Contact the Marbles Development Team at DevelopmentTeam@MarblesKidsMuseum.org or 919.857.1064.
A Special Thanks to our Partner
The mission of the A.J. Fletcher Foundation is to support nonprofits in their endeavors to enrich the lives and well-being of people in North Carolina. We are grateful to the A.J. Fletcher Foundation for serving as a collaborative and supportive partner in playful learning for young children. The Marbles Giving Circle Challenge represents The A.J. Fletcher Foundation's commitment to Marbles, and also their confidence that our generous community values Marbles too and will invest in our future.
Marbles Kids Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization under Federal Tax ID 58-1647538.
Double your gift for PLAY...Make a donation today!
Become a Marbles Giving Circle donor by December 31 and DOUBLE YOUR GIFT. If we raise $50,000 in new OR increased donations of $250+, the A.J. Fletcher Foundation will award us an additional $50,000!
That’s a potential $100,000 investment in enriching play... but, we need your help to make it happen. Make your donation today to double the gift of PLAY.
Marbles Giving Circle donations keep Marbles moving forward. Your gift supports access to play for all children and fuels ongoing exhibits and programs at Marbles.
Click HERE for Giving Circle levels and benefits.