Bayorg

What it reported doing in 2024

Program #2: educationbay.org provides a variety of education programs from school groups, youth groups, families, scout troops, and visitors of all ages. Education programs are on the aquarium of the bay premises, at schools, at the sea lion center located at pier 39, and at the ecocenter at heron's head park. Through the many k-12 programs offered at these different locations, bay.org offers free education programs for more than 20,000 students, teachers, and chaperones annually. These education programs are offered at schools within the nine bay area counties (san francisco, san mateo, santa clara, alameda, contra costa, marin, sonoma, napa, and solano). These classes and tours are inquiry-based, hands-on, and immersive learning experiences that are age-appropriate and linked with next generation science standards (ngss) for kindergarten through 12th grade. The number of participants taking part in the bay.org free education programs has increased each year since 2001. Additionally, bay.org offers teacher workshops and events encouraging teachers to engage their students further about the san francisco bay before and after their education program. Bay.org's education department also offers evening and weekend sleepover programs for youth and scout groups. For scout groups, the sleepover activities help fulfill badge requirements. The sea lion center, located directly above pier 39's k-dock and home of the world-famous sea lions, offers free interpretive and k-12 classroom programs and exhibits. These programs and exhibits focus on the California sea lions, their history at pier 39, as well as what everyone can do to help these charismatic mammals survive in their threatened habitat. As part of the bay.org free education programs described above at the sea lion center, students and teachers can participate in a variety of age-appropriate hour-long classroom programs. Additionally, the center is open to the public visit for free from 10 am - 5 pm during the summer season, and 10 am - 4 pm at all other times of the year. Visitors at the sea lion center can view exhibits, touch sea lion pelts and learn from a naturalist who provides presentations hourly during summer months. Naturalist are also stationed at k-dock with an interpretive cart of artifacts and binoculars to answer guest questions. Bay.org partnered with a bay model visitor center, an education center administered by the u.s. Army corps of engineers, to form the bay model alliance. Through this alliance, bay.org offers enhanced education programs about the san francisco bay and the sacramento-san joaquin river delta system. The ecocenter of heron's head park became a new division of bay.org in march 2014. The ecocenter is an incredible space for environmental education, public outreach, and connecting people with the beauty of san francisco's wild landscapes. It represents san francisco's best example of sustainable solutions to adverse human impacts on the environment. It is a model for green building, sustainable resource center, environmental justice, and experiential learning. The ecocenter is free to visit and open to the general public 4 days per week, wednesday through saturday. Programming includes college internships in collaboration with city college of san francisco, as well as weekly science saturday programs in collaboration with the san francisco department of recreation and parks. It also provides free tours and educational programs in school, youth and adult groups.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 97.6%; rating input score 98
• Program expense ratio: 82.2%; rating input score 82
• Fundraising efficiency: $4.27 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 14; 14th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• 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: 4 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 44
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -15.2%; rating input score 9; 9th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.38; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 2.93; rating input score 1; 1st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 9.7%; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -1.4% per year; rating input score 0; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -1.4% per year; rating input score 0; 8th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -8.3% per year; rating input score 0; 2nd percentile among comparable filings