American Geophysical Union

What it reported doing in 2024

Meetings: agu has a diverse meeting portfolio that offers meetings of various sizes and formats. Most meeting participants present a poster and/or a talk on their latest scientific findings contributing to advancing earth and space science. Individuals must pay a registration fee to participate. The abstract submissions covering their presentations are published as part of the scientific program for each meeting and are available via agu's website.the agu annual meeting is recognized as the leading meeting in the earth and space sciences community with programming focused on inter- and multiple disciplinary sciences and policy and societal issues. It is the largest meeting in this field attracting more than 31,000 participants at the december 2024 meeting. The agu annual meeting in Washington dc saw a record number of journalists registered to cover the convening. Major worldwide media outlets were in attendance generating hundreds of stories across all platforms on earth and space advancements. The ocean sciences meeting in new orleans drew a diverse range of regional and national reporters resulting in a record number of press conferences and roundtable sessions. Positive coverage was also created with press activities at the abscicon meeting in providence, Rhode Island, and the waterscicon meeting in st. Paul, Minnesota. In addition, the triennial earth and space summit in april in dallas, Texas created a major social media moment with special live coverage of the solar eclipse from the path of totality with expert analysis from astronomers.the chapman conferences and affiliated meetings are small topical conferences that focus on current and emerging science issues. One chapman conference was held in 2024 with 200 attendees. The triennial earth sun summit (tess) was held in april 2024 in dallas, Texas attracting over 400 attendees. Tess occurs every three years to promote greater interaction and unity within the heliophysics community, and also astrophysics and planetary physics. Waterscicon was held in june 2024 in st. Paul, Minnesota with over 650 attendees. Waterscicon advances hydrology and related global convergent science issues and helps address and expose local and regional issues worldwide.the ocean sciences meeting is the flagship conference for the ocean sciences and larger ocean-connected community. Osm convenes more than 5,000 participants every two years in february. The 2024 meeting had over 5,800 attendees in new orleans, Louisiana. The meeting generates press and media stories about ocean science in prominent sources through distribution on the television, newsprint and through other electronic outlets.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 99.3%; rating input score 99
• Program expense ratio: 88.4%; rating input score 88
• Fundraising efficiency: $2.37 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 7; 7th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: 1 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 12
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Fail
  • Conducts field audits: Fail
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Fail
  • Conducts site visits: Fail
  • Requires grant agreements: Fail
  • May require repayment: Fail
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 54th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -3.4%; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.34; rating input score 68; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.36; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 11.4%; rating input score 2; 2nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.8% per year; rating input score 100; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 4% per year; rating input score 100; 32nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 4.7% per year; rating input score 100; 34th percentile among comparable filings