Mattatuck Historical Society

What it reported doing in 2024

It is my great pleasure to highlight the achievements of the mattatuck museum curatorial department this past year. Things continue to be busy as we present strong exhibitions, develop our collections in accordance with our collecting plan, and engage with the community. The mattatuck continues to present a robust and engaging exhibition schedule that tells important stories while reflecting the diversity of our community. We mounted 11 unique exhibitions in our changing galleries this fiscal year. Half of these shows were internally organized, which allows us to tailor them to present local artists, engage with relevant topics, and respond to the community. The remainder were loan shows organized with the assistance of art bridges foundation and brought artists of international renown to the mattatuck walls. On exhibit curated internally but featuring works on loan through the art bridges partner loan network, modern women: Georgia o'keeffe & kay sage, received a Connecticut league of museums 2025 award of merit. In addition to the large-scale exhibitions we organize for changing gallery spaces, this past year the department presented three smaller installations in the history and upson galleries. The museum continues to increase our holdings in significant ways. Working with the collections committee and the board of directors, we continue strategically to add to our art, history, and archives collections, with significant attention to recognizing and representing contributions by underrecognized creators. During the past year we added 135 new art and history pieces through gifts and acquisitions, filling gaps in the collection and increasing its depth and diversity. Many of the new acquisitions have been on view through rotations in the collection galleries and showcased in our changing exhibitions.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 77.1%; rating input score 77
• Fundraising efficiency: $5.6 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• 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: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • 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: 2.2%; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 9.19; rating input score 90; 90th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.13; rating input score 54; 54th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 5.4%; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6.3% per year; rating input score 100; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 7.2% per year; rating input score 100; 55th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 4.1% per year; rating input score 100; 29th percentile among comparable filings