Livingston's Way Inc

What it reported doing in 2023

The future wavemakers stem challenge and scholars program: during the fiscal year ended 11/30/2024, livingston's way launched its inaugural future wavemakers stem challenge. The future wavemakers stem challenge and scholars program is a premier stem conservation program for Florida students ages 4-18, designed to spark creativity, problem-solving, and leadership in education and entrepreneurship. The challenge invited student-produced videos highlighting innovative wildlife and ocean conservation projects and innovations conceptualized by their students. Students researched key topics ranging from water quality, endangered species, plastic pollution and more. They interviewed expert scientists, marine biologists, teachers, and more to learn about these topics. The students then came up with solutions and inventions for these issues. Through our website: futurewavemakers.org program participants uploaded their videos. In 2023 and 2024, future wavemakers stem challenge engaged 98 schools across Florida spanning from jacksonville to orlando to tampa to miami to the Florida keys and palm beach county, drawing hundreds of video submissions from students passionate about ocean, wildlife, and stem. The program reached more than 250,000 people through our website, online platforms, and media coverage, amplifying awareness of environmental education and youth-driven solutions. More than 2,075 volunteer hours were donated to this program from community leaders and volunteers of the organization. The top 100 students were invited to learn from national geographic's explorer-at-large, dr. Sylvia earle, scientist, carlee jackson, and author, dr. Wallace j. Nichols at the cox science center and aquarium through our kids programming. These top students were invited to attend this program for them and a parent or guardian for free. The challenge also culminated in a live pitch program with the top (16) sixteen students who were selected by a judging panel to present their conservation ideas before an esteemed panel of judges. These judges included dr. Sylvia earle, a global ocean icon; carlee jackson, a renowned shark scientist and author; dr. Wallace j. Nichols, the late marine biologist and author of blue mind; jack lighton, ceo of 4ocean and a leading expert in sea turtle conservation; and gabrielle raymond mcgee, the author and founder of the future wavemakers. Their participation underscored the competition's significance, providing students with an unparalleled opportunity to showcase their work to some of the most respected leaders in conservation. Finalist's proposals showcased both ingenuity and real world impact. Eoghan m. (a senior at fau high school) presented his idea for an underwater adaptable rov to further explore the ocean floor; joanna d (eleventh grader from dreyfoos school of the arts) presented a vacuum to clean up algae bloom issues; saxon s (a senior at plantation high school) created a sustainable retail business; isaac n. (9 years old, home-schooled from jupiter) presented on the importance of mangroves. His communications were so strong he has gone on to secure his own tv show about inspiring kids to protect nature. Nicole h. (sixth grader at switzerland point middle school from jacksonville, fl) has gone on to mentor kids around the world with disabilities about stem education. Nicole has since earned international awards for her stem leadership. One student in particular, availa j. (a second grader at diamond view elementary school in greenacres, fl) organized a sustainable fashion show with nearly 800 of her peers at her elementary school. Her leadership has created a transformation at her school. Emiliana f. (third grader at new horizons elementary school in wellington) has gone on to write a children's book about protecting sea turtles and she has created her own school road show to teach other kids. Each of the top (16) sixteen finalists in the future wavemakers challenge was awarded an educational grant rangi

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 99.7%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 77.1%; rating input score 77
• Fundraising efficiency: $19.6 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 57; 57th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 98.5%; rating input score 98; 59th 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; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 4 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 57
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -28.9%; rating input score 11; 11th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 7.25; rating input score 86; 86th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 59; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 81.5% per year; rating input score 100; 98th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -77.2% per year; rating input score 0; 1st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 0.8% per year; rating input score 100; 29th percentile among comparable filings