Fernbank Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
586028607
IRS 990 coverage
2010–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-T 2024
Location
Atlanta, GA, USA
Phone
4049296344
Rating
79
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Natural History, Natural Science Museums

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$18,610,497
Expenses
$15,216,098
Assets
$46,819,968
Liabilities
$2,160,863

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

Leadership & pay

45 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • Jennifer Grant-Warner (President & CEO)

Highest reported compensation

  • Jennifer Grant-Warner (President & CEO): $401,748 total reported compensation
  • Catherine Nowell (EVP & CFO): $248,639 total reported compensation
  • Dana Harvey (VP & CTO): $160,461 total reported compensation

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

Overview

Mission

Fernbank museum of natural history inspires a lifelong learning of natural history through immersive programming and unmatched experiences to encourage a greater appreciation of our planet and its inhabitants. Fernbank is dedicated to stimulating an interest in science, the environment and human culture; reconnecting people to nature; and restoring a sense of wonder in the natural world. Fernbank views natural history as a startlingly contemporary subject matter, encompassing two of the most significant issues of our time--the diversity of our environment and the diversity of human culture. Fernbank presents the concepts of physical, earth, life and social sciences in an interactive and engaging environment through a variety of permanent exhibitions, special exhibitions, giant screen films and signature programs. As an educational institution, fernbank supports a visitor's intrinsic desire to learn. Our goal is to build a more-informed citizenry, scientifically and culturally, that pla

What it reported doing in 2024

Strategic Initiatives: Guided by a 5-year strategic plan, Fernbank is advancing new education and strategic initiatives that showcase the latest global science and our dynamic planet. The strategic plan embraced a new mission to ignite a passion for science, nature and human culture through exploration and discovery; introduced these core values-Science and the natural world inspire us; Curiosity drives us; Inclusivity strengthens us; Community empowers us; Resourcefulness advances us; and Integrity grounds us; and, established these stated goals and strategies-Be known as the place for science, nature and culture; Modernize our experiences to serve the needs and expectations of our community; Expand and diversify our reach to reflect the vibrancy and multi-cultural heritage of our shared community; and Strengthen our financial base so Fernbank thrives for future generations. In fulfillment of the strategic plan goals, Fernbank launched THRIVE: The Nature of Change, a $25 Million capital campaign to build a new anchor exhibit, 'Changing Earth,' new immersive galleries; and a second passenger elevator. Fernbank raised nearly $28 million toward the campaign goal and has moved to the project implementation phase. Successful completion will improve the guest experience, attract new audiences, and reinforce our commitment to people of all abilities, identities, and backgrounds.

Operating model

Revenue model
Mixed. Its operating money came from several sources; no one source provided a clear majority.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 99% 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

SUPPORTED - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. The filing reports few safeguards for money sent abroad and fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 67
  • Transparency & Controls: 80
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 72
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 70.7%; rating input score 71
  • Program expense ratio: 69.4%; rating input score 69
  • Fundraising efficiency: $10.18 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 39; 39th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 6 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Compensation committee: Pass
    • Independent consultant: Pass
    • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
    • Written employment contract: Pass
    • Compensation survey or study: Pass
    • Board or committee approval: Pass
  • Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
  • 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: 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: 18.2%; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.08; rating input score 75; 75th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.05; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 9.6%; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 1.1% per year; rating input score 100; 15th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 1.7% per year; rating input score 100; 16th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 3.1% per year; rating input score 100; 24th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 70.7% of revenue deployed · 69.4% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 37 of 37 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 3 filed program accomplishments · $10.6M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $402K · 45 people listed · 6 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Highest-paid contractors: 5 contractors listed · $840K reported
  • Consistency: 38 of 38 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 9 filed schedules · includes major donors, foreign activity, grants, and executive pay
  • Filing history: 14 filing years from 2010 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 10 filed money-flow records
  • 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.

  • High — Transparency & Controls: Foreign activity oversight scored 0/100.
  • Moderate — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 39/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 22/100.