Maine Space Grant Consortium

What it reported doing in 2024

The Maine Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) is an affiliate-based 501(c)(3) corporation and a member of the National Network of Consortia in all 50 states plus Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. The Network is funded by NASA's National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program which was established by Congress in 1988 to contribute to the nation's science and engineering enterprise.Our affiliates are undergraduate and graduate institutions, not-for-profit research laboratories, state agencies, technology-based businesses, and science and education organizations, all of whom help further NASA's goals while benefiting Maine in many different areas of science and technology. (Program Service Accomplishments Continued) Below are our goals and objectives, and overall results.Our overarching goal is to support the expansion and diversification of Maine's space exploration research and education capacity along the K-graduate continuum by increasing statewide involvement in space research, technology development, education and training programs that align with NASA's priorities and contribute to Maine's competitive advantage in a new space economy as envisioned by the Maine Spaceport Complex.Goal #1: Expand and diversify Maine's space exploration research capacity that align with the priorities of the Mission Directorates and the Maine Spaceport Complex's Topic Areas.Objectives for Goal #1:1. Invest in innovative team-based solutions and approaches that address Mission Directorates priorities and have the potential to be foundational R&D and educational anchors for the Complex.2. Engage undergraduate and graduate students in the research teams that align both with the priorities of NASA Mission Directorates and the Complex's Topic Areas.Goal #2: Broaden exposure of undergraduate students to aerospace career pathways that align with the priorities of the Mission Directorates and the Maine Spaceport Complex's Topic Areas.Objectives for Goal #2:1. Engage undergraduate students in research experiences that align both with the priorities of NASA Mission Directorates and the Complex's Topic Areas.2. Support awards to enhance or develop curriculum/coursework focused on space exploration and space technology.3. Establish a state network of students with interest in aerospace S&T.Goal #3: Broaden exposure of K-12 students in formal and informal settings to STEM career pathways that align with the priorities of the Mission Directorates and the Maine Spaceport Complex's Topic Areas.Objectives for Goal #3:1. Train K-12 teachers on how to infuse NASA missions in classroom curriculum2. Immerse K-12 students in curricula with hands-on learning experiences based on NASA missions.Goal #4: Increase public awareness and understanding of STEM through connections to NASA.Objectives for Goal #4:1. Increase awareness of K-12 students of the achievements, benefits and opportunities in the exploration and use of space.Below are our overall consolidated target metrics with the actual results following.Target number researchers/faculty impacted or participated: 48. Results: 81Target number K-12 teachers impacted or participated: 70. Results: 717Target number Graduate students impacted or participated: 14. Results: 31Target number of Undergraduate students impacted/participated: 288. Results: 462Target number of K-12 students impacted or participated: 1,158. Results: 6,949Target number of workshops conducted: 1. Results: 2Target number of research awards made: 3. Results: 5Target number of follow-on proposals submitted: 3. Results: 17Target number of follow-on proposals awarded: 3. Results: 6Target number of NASA Collaborations: 3. Results: 5Target number of high-altitude balloon launches: 17. Results: 14Target number of CubeSat Launches: 1. Results: 2Target number of new/revised curricula or courses: 5. Results: 10Target number of student teams supported in NASA or National competitions: 2. Results: 25 directly supported and an additional 75 teams indirectl

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 91.6%; rating input score 92
• Program expense ratio: 91.7%; rating input score 92
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

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: 92.6%; rating input score 93; 40th 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: 6 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 0.1%; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.23; rating input score 11; 11th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.95; rating input score 6; 6th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 11%; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6.9% per year; rating input score 100; 51st percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 3.1% per year; rating input score 100; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2.4% per year; rating input score 100; 27th percentile among comparable filings