Francis Malcolm Science Center Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
825256576
IRS 990-EZ coverage
2020–2024
Forms available
Form 990-EZ 2024, Form 990-N 2019
Location
Easton, ME, USA
Phone
2074885451
Rating
85
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Science and Technology Museums

Reported finances

Revenue
$88,380
Expenses
$56,872
Assets
$176,002

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

Leadership & pay

10 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • JAMES ORSER (PRESIDENT)

People named in this filing

  • JAMES ORSER (PRESIDENT)
  • JILL SHAW (TREASURER)
  • PHIL CHRISTENSEN (VICE PRESIDE)

Selected names, not a complete roster or a statement of current roles. Open leadership details for the complete filed list.

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

Overview

Mission

The mission of the francis malcolm science center is to provide a unique environment for learning experiences in science, nature and astronomy. Public, private, home and pre-school students, as well as student and adult groups with disabilities, may enjoy programs in our planetarium theater, as well as both indoor and outdoor settings for classes on science and nature. Public programs are offered to the community at large throughout the year, encouraging family participation in science and space exploration.

What it reported doing in 2024

The francis m malcolm science center (the "center") is the only center of its kind north of bangor, Maine. The center carries on a long tradition, started by the francis m malcolm institute in 1983, of being a home to the northern-most planetarium theater in the united states. Approximately 6,000 visitors of all ages attend programs and events each year. While the general public enjoys activities such as snowshoe hikes, wreath making and learning how to make apple cider, the heart of the center's work is its outreach to aroostook county students and their teachers. Adult handicapped groups are also frequent visitors. In addition to the planetarium theater, the center offers a natural history museum and a 140+ acre outdoor nature classroom. The outdoor classroom offers an immersion into life and environmental science experiences, reinforcing its content with a unique "hands-on" discovery approach learning style.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 80% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
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.

The verdict

STRONG - The filed numbers largely add up and a large share of available resources goes toward mission work. Revenue has declined or grown slowly and reported officer compensation is a large share of total spending, which may reflect staffing concentration.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 78
  • Transparency & Controls: 100
  • Sustainability: 69
  • Growth: 60

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 64.3%; rating input score 64
  • Program expense ratio: 100%; rating input score 100

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 35.7%; rating input score 85; 85th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.09; rating input score 75; 75th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: Limited
  • Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 15.9% per year; rating input score 100; 79th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: -19.3% per year; rating input score 0; 15th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 4.2% per year; rating input score 100; 55th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 64.3% of revenue deployed · 100% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: Filed governance answers
  • Accomplishments: 1 filed program accomplishment · $57K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 10 people listed
  • Consistency: 6 of 6 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 3 filed schedules
  • Filing history: 5 filing years from 2020 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: Resolved incoming and outgoing counterparties from filed money flows.
  • 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 — Growth: Revenue growth scored 0/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 56/100.