Explora Science Center & Children's Museum of Albuquerque Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Explora is an innovative museum and learning center that provides hands-on engagement in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (steam) for people of all ages. Explora's work is organized around a cradle through career steam learning strategic focus, which was co-developed with the community to engage, educate, and employ students in steam-improving educational outcomes, driving economic development, and increasing family and community prosperity across New Mexico. Within this strategic framework, explora plays several roles. As a service provider, explora engaged pre-12th students through steam classroom programs, provided professional development to educators, employed low-income high school students as interns, and facilitated experiential learning for over 321,000 youth and adults. Additionally, explora plays the role of backbone organization for stem-nm, a cross-sector learning ecosystem working to expand equity in and access to stem education and employment. Explora is the home and fiscal sponsor of the informal learning leadership collaborative. In the role of convener and collaborator, explora led several collective impact projects, like stem charging stations for young children and families, which builds awareness around early childhood stem learning, and math facess (families and communities empowering student success). Explora worked on a number of other initiatives with partners, including New Mexico autism society, nm state libraries' tribal libraries program, partnership for community action, and more.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 58.2%; rating input score 58
• Program expense ratio: 77.3%; rating input score 77
• Fundraising efficiency: $42.49 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 73; 73rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd 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; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • 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: 29.4%; rating input score 88; 88th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.71; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.07; rating input score 79; 79th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4.5%; rating input score 55; 55th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 7.5% per year; rating input score 100; 58th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 9.5% per year; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 14% per year; rating input score 100; 78th percentile among comparable filings