Abbe Museum

What it reported doing in 2023

Operation of a contemporary museum primarily located in the heart of downtown Bar Harbor, Maine focusing on the understanding and appreciation of the State of Maine's Native American heritage, culture, history, and archaeology. The Museum's collections, exhibitions, and programs focus on Native American traditions in Maine and explore the broader Native American experience, past and present. The history and cultures of Maine's Native American people, the Wabanaki, are showcased through changing exhibitions, special events, collection management and educational workshops for children and adults. Visitors find dynamic and stimulating exhibitions and activities interspersed with spaces for quiet reflection. In addition, the Abbe operates its historic trailside museum in Acadia National Park that is currently under renovation and expected to reopen in 2027 or 2028.Admissions: The Museum had over 10,600 visits at the Downtown location. Visitors come from most of the USA plus many foreign countries.Curatorial Services: The Museum serves as one of the only two federally recognized repositories of archaeological artifacts in the State of Maine. In addition, the Museum houses an extensive collection of historic and contemporary Native American artwork and material culture which, in part, forms the basis for public exhibitions that highlight further learning about Wabanaki cultures.Education: The Museum provides educational programs to schools throughout Maine on site and virtually. School programs address topics of Tribal self governance, traditional relationships to the environment, archaeology, culture differences, trade economies, and stereotyping. The Museum provides educational workshops and demonstrations for adults and children, and is an essential resource for helping teachers integrate Wabanaki Studies into their learning.Memberships: The Museum offers several levels of membership. Each level offers certain benefits. Some of the benefits are unlimited free admission, invitations to events, and newsletters.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 64.4%; rating input score 64
• Program expense ratio: 71.4%; rating input score 71
• Fundraising efficiency: $9.81 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 38; 38th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 62
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 18.4%; rating input score 75; 75th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 4.01; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.09; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 10.7%; rating input score 34; 34th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 1.7% per year; rating input score 100; 27th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 5% per year; rating input score 100; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 0.1% per year; rating input score 100; 19th percentile among comparable filings