ANNUAL REPORT | FY 2025-2026

Letter from the President and CEO, Allison Comer

Dear Friends & Supporters

Where do I begin? What a phenomenal year it has been at Muse Knoxville!

This past year has been a year of tremendous growth, celebration, and possibility, and none of it would have been possible without the incredible community that surrounds us. Every single child who walked through our doors, every East Tennessee teacher who welcomed us into their classroom, every volunteer who shared their time, every donor who invested in our mission, and every staff member who showed up each day with passion and purpose helped make this year truly extraordinary.

Together, we welcomed 132,560 children, caregivers, and educators from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Armed Forces communities, and 11 countries for the second consecutive year. We expanded our educational impact across East Tennessee by working in 21 different counties, and as always, we created joyful opportunities for children and families to learn, explore, and discover through the power of play. And my favorite moments from this past year include celebrating major milestones that once felt like faraway, distant dreams – taking huge steps towards bringing a new Muse to life right here in Chilhowee Park. There were moments this year when I found myself feeling absolutely awestruck of how far this organization has come, and it is truly incredible that so many people have believed in what Muse can be and have worked together to make it possible.

As exciting as this year has been, what energizes us most is what we are working towards! We have entered a transformational new chapter that will allow us to serve hundreds of thousands more children, reach more communities, and create even greater opportunities for discovery, belonging, and scientific wonder. While our future holds very ambitious goals and important work, it also holds promise – the promise to become the community STEAM learning hub that we know we can be.

So, thank you! Thank you for believing in Muse, for championing the power of play and learning, and for helping us build something that future generations will be proud of. It is one of the greatest honors of my life to do this work alongside you.

Thanks for helping us spark something extraordinary,

Allison Comer
President & CEO, Muse Knoxville