Ecology Learning Center

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
831966135
IRS 990 coverage
2020–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-T 2024, Form 990-N 2018
Location
Unity, ME, USA
Phone
2079483520
Rating
83
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$1,675,076
Expenses
$1,672,244
Assets
$1,764,708
Liabilities
$372,125

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

8 people listed

Highest reported compensation

  • Leza Packard (Exec. Director / Head of S): $70,900 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

The mission of the ecology learning center is to deeply root students in Maine's ecological & cultural landscapes, foster authentic real-world learning through mentorship & craft, and cultivate compassionate and resilient leaders prepared to engage in the challenges of today & tomorrow.

What it reported doing in 2024

In academic year 2023-2024 (FY24), Ecology Learning Center provided education to approximately 107 students grades 9-12.In Biology, students assessed three local bodies of water: Sandy Stream, Bacon Brook, and Unity Pond. In History, students researched and conducted a formal debate over the controversial Central Maine Power corridor. Officials from the town of Unity were interviewed as part of a Civics unit. Community engagement, such as cleaning headstones in local cemeteries and maintaining a local mountain biking trail, added depth and character development to the place-based curriculum. Students seeking additional challenges enjoyed dual enrollment at the University of Maine, where college courses are available to them as part of their high school education.Students explored the local landscape and coast through Adventure days - mountain biking, hiking, cross country skiing, sea kayaking and sailing on a schooner. A partnership with Maine Local Living School offered 10th grade students an off-grid overnight experience in Maine's western foothills. All students participated in an annual 5K Maple Run featuring hydration sweetened with student-made syrup. The Ecology Learning Center ranked third in the statewide Teens to Trails Life Happens Outside Challenge, where schools competed to log the highest number of hours spent outside by students.In addition to place-based curriculum and connecting with the ecological landscape, students explored cultural landscapes through art. In May, an arts celebration showcased live folk music, a gallery of students' paintings and drawings, and a display of handcrafted objects from woodworking courses. Students performed at the Unity Block Party in September and Yuletide Celebration in December.

Operating model

Revenue model
Grant-funded. 91% of the money available for current operations came from government grants.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Some filing-based governance responses are negative or unanswered and expenses are high relative to revenue.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 80
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 84
  • Sustainability: 40
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 77.5%; rating input score 78
  • Program expense ratio: 77.1%; rating input score 77
  • Fundraising efficiency: $697.99 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 97; 97th 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: NotApplicable
    • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 0.2%; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.06; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.21; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 4.2%; rating input score 55; 55th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 18.1% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 18% per year; rating input score 100; 83rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 26.6% per year; rating input score 100; 88th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 77.5% of revenue deployed · 77.1% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 7 of 7 board members independent · 5 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $1.3M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $71K · 8 people listed
  • Consistency: 30 of 30 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 5 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 5 filing years from 2020 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
  • Related organizations: Filed and resolved organization relationships.
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: 3 of 8 not reported.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 36/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 44/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 31/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 55/100.