Gateway Arch Park Foundation

What it reported doing in 2024

See schedule o.in 2024, gateway arch park foundation continued its efforts in conservation, preservation, education, and community programs at gateway arch national park. Highlights include: conservation: through its co-managed volunteer program with the national park service, foundation volunteers removed more than 5,100 pounds of trash from entering the Mississippi river during three riverfront cleanups, two of which occur bi-annually. In 2024, the foundation also introduced new drop-in days of service, a new ecological monitor position that document the park's wildlife, and bioblitz events.preservation: together with nps, the foundation continued progress on the renovations of the old courthouse, which will feature all-new exhibit galleries, structural updates, new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, renovated ceilings and flooring, a new fire suppression system, an accessible elevator, and general remediation and restoration. The foundation also added new power sources to the north gateway of gateway arch national park to better support concerts and festivals in the 7.5-acre outdoor event space. Foundation volunteers also worked to digitize 15 years of cityarchriver project documentation.education: in 2024, the foundation's journey fund supported 3,046 students and educators from under-resourced schools and youth groups to receive free arch visits. Through the assistance of private grants, the foundation also supported an outdoor educational program, "paddle your park," which welcomed 232 local elementary school children. The foundation continued to ensure equitable internet access throughout the park's 91 acres and in kiener plaza with free public wi-fi and funded the 24/7 livestreams of two webcams from the top of the arch. In 2024, 6,400 users contributed more than 270,000 views to the webcams. New in fall 2024, the foundation also introduced behind-the-scenes tours for foundation members to connect them with each other and unique insights into the museum's renovations, st. Louis history, and ongoing projects and programming that membership helps support throughout the park. Trails and rails volunteers also spent 923 hours sharing the heritage of our region with passengers aboard amtrak trains that travel in the st. Louis region.community programs: the foundation's yoga programs saw more than 1,650 participants, with another 232 at a partner's fitness series in the fall. The weekend-long blues at the arch festival saw more than 15,500 attendees. 2024 also saw the return of arch bark, which welcomed more than 1,200 people and their dogs enjoying an afternoon at the national park. Winterfest saw more than 52,000 people in kiener plaza over 19 days, with 462 participants in the winterfest 5k.in 2024, the foundation's co-managed volunteer program welcomed 464 volunteers, including 23 corporate/community group days of service. Volunteers donated 6,132 hours over 1,604 shifts in areas such as museum visitor services, conservation projects, membership projects, special events, administrative projects, and more.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 77.5%; rating input score 78
• Fundraising efficiency: $3.83 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • 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: 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: 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: -39%; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 17.57; rating input score 95; 95th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 8.4%; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -22.6% per year; rating input score 0; 1st percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -15.8% per year; rating input score 0; 1st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 6.4% per year; rating input score 100; 42nd percentile among comparable filings