Gale Force Education

What it reported doing in 2024

Gale force education mission is to foster opportunities for students, educators and the public to explore a future powered by renewable energy through materials development, training and student-centered events.2024 is the 20th anniversary of kidwind programming, as such we planned a few events to mark this occasion.jan - march 2024 started planning the 2024 recharge academy - the recharge academy is a once-a-year teacher training event where up to 50 teachers learn about renewable energy and the opportunities it provides. Recharge was located at the university of Alaska fairbanks this year in partnership with renewable energy Alaska project. Continued planning the 2024 kidwind worlds in minneapolis, mn. Kidwind worlds is an international clean energy competition where over 600 students participate from all across the us, mexico and taiwan. Added david andrade as a new board member. Executed over 40 regional kidwind challenges around the us. Executed 17 educator workshops across the us in addition to two virtual training sessions continued work on the offshore wind curricula funded by njeda. Began planning and constructing an entirely new website. Contracted with central creativity to stand up a kitting and shipping operation in laurel, ms. Launched the first wind energy art challenge funded by the department of energy. Launched the 2024 simulation challenge in partnership with white box learning. Awarded a 2 year 250k battery grant from doe to work on training and materials around batteries and storage. Explored merging with another non-profit in the clean energy space - repowering schools april - june 2024 supported our partners in many states as they executed in person or regional kidwind challenge events. Planned and executed the 2024 kidwind worlds in Minnesota at the acp annual conference https://vimeo.com/1035343333? Fl=pl&fe=sh. Over 90 teams and 500 students participated. Held a 20th anniversary party for kidwind at leonardo's basement with many sponsors, volunteers and staff attending. Planned and executed the 2024 recharge academy in fairbanks, ak. Over 150 educators applied and 40 were selected to attend. Featured on this american land pbs show - https://weta.org/watch/shows/american-land/robert-bullard-environmental-justice-kidwind-lighthawk-cafe-romain-zzxbix had a large presence at nsta annual conference in denver held a large kidwind challenge at the offshore wind convention at ipf in new orleans. July -sept 2024 started planning for the 2025 kidwind challenge season. Planned for a second year of the wind energy art challenge. Continued work on the njeda offshore wind energy curricula. Fully revamped wind and solar rule books and the solar challenge plans and dynamics. Launched a kidwind fellows program for college students to support schools all over the us. Launched a spark sessions monthly webinar series launched tinker times monthly webinar series hired a new operations director attended & presented at the aises conference in san antonio launched new website with full new back end 50k investment launched new shop and kitting operations 100k investmentoct - december 2024 started work on the doe battery grant building a cohort of teachers to write lessons continued work on the 2025 kidwind simulation challenge. Continued planning on 2025 online and virtual kidwind challenges. Held 3 kidwind spark sessions attended & presented at the ffa annual conference in indianapolis, in held a kidwind challenge at ieee conference in nashville, tn first ever partnership with ieee. Massive kw challenge in taiwan planning on large partnership to bring kidwind challenges to many asian countries through partners at vernier international. Launched a new kidwind wind energy cohort in partnership with uno in new orleans voted to approve a letter of intent to explore a formal merger with repowering schools

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 99.2%; rating input score 99
• Program expense ratio: 83.9%; rating input score 84
• Fundraising efficiency: $22.14 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.3%; rating input score 92; 16th 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: 3 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 38
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Fail
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -18.2%; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.04; rating input score 2; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 1.49; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 5.8%; rating input score 51; 51st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 45.1% per year; rating input score 100; 95th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 35.3% per year; rating input score 100; 94th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 6.3% per year; rating input score 100; 45th percentile among comparable filings