Myrick Hixon Ecopark Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
391476960
IRS 990 coverage
2010–2013
Forms available
Form 990 2013
Location
La Crosse, WI, USA
Phone
6087840303
Rating
66
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Nonmonetary Support N.E.C.

Reported finances

Revenue
$527,844
Expenses
$307,774
Assets
$659,398
Liabilities
$11,745

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2013. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

16 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • SAM SAUER (PRESIDENT)

Highest reported compensation

  • JEAN CHROMEY (EXECUTIVE DI): $50,000 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2013. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

The ecopark provides an interactive, fun and physically engaging education experience for visitors of all types. It creates a higher appreciation and understanding of the natural resources and ecosystems of the area, along with showing people how a sustainable building can be built and used. Playscapes also provide opportunities for children to engage in outdoor physical activity and environmental education.

What it reported doing in 2013

Ecopark playscapes are interactive, outdoor entertainment playgrounds representing various natural environments. The ecopark will include playscapes representing farm, prairie, water, and forest environments. The ecopark provides public programming and special events to the la crosse community to achieve respect for nature and protect the environment for future generations.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 86% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - The filed numbers largely add up and most voting board members are independent. A relatively small share of available resources goes toward mission work and a relatively small share of total spending goes to programs.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 39
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 95
  • Sustainability: 75
  • Growth: 0

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 31.5%; rating input score 31
  • Program expense ratio: 53.4%; rating input score 53
  • Fundraising efficiency: $8.82 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 38; 38th 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: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • 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: 41.7%; rating input score 93; 93rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.14; rating input score 68; 68th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 75; 75th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 16.2%; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: Limited
  • Revenue growth: -18.7% per year; rating input score 0; 6th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: -18.4% per year; rating input score 0; 6th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 31.5% of revenue deployed · 53.4% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 15 of 15 board members independent · 7 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 2 filed program accomplishments · $164K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $50K · 16 people listed
  • Consistency: 28 of 28 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 6 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 4 filing years from 2010 to 2013
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • Moderate — Financial Efficiency: Mission deployment rate scored 31/100.
  • Review — Financial Efficiency: Program expense ratio scored 53/100.
  • High — Growth: Revenue growth scored 0/100.
  • Moderate — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 38/100.
  • High — Growth: Asset growth scored 0/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: Other executive compensation review process not reported.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 17/100.