North Iowa Cultural Center & Museum

What it reported doing in 2024

The north Iowa cultural center and museum operates, maintains, and preserves the historical surf ballroom located in clear lake, Iowa. Our museum is open to the public daily. We provide numerous programs to educate visitors and fans about the history, and continuing significance, of all genres of music with an emphasis on big band and rock and roll music. We carried out our mission through 1) the operation of a museum where we collect, archive and preserve musical artifacts for future generations so they may be able to understand and appreciate the way music has developed during the last century 2) through the employment of an education director who conducts educational programs both at the surf ballroom and throughout the area including classroom visits, school tours at the ballroom, piano and guitar lessons, summer programming and special events, and 3) we provide numerous tours, seminars, and musical programs for the public which demonstrate the music performed here and in america during the past 65+ years. 2024 program service accomplishments include the following: 1. Hosting 28 motorcoach tours 2. Hosting 26,706 museum visitors from 50 states and 21 foreign countries 3. Hosting 34 concerts and special events with an estimated attendance of 34,213 4. Music enrichment center: as the premier location in north Iowa for people to experience live music, the surf ballroom also strives to use our platform to provide individuals with ample educational and cultural opportunities as well. The music enrichment center is dedicated to providing engaging, hands on, lifelong learning opportunities to students of all ages in the greater north Iowa area. We are passionate about sharing the story of the historic surf ballroom, creating relevant curriculum to assist schools, and continually working to inspire generations though the music that lives on. Instrument petting zoo: the surf ballroom instrument petting zoo allows students to gain hands on experience with instruments of all types. String, percussion, and keyboard instruments are on display for students to gain hands-on experience with. Children learn how the instruments produce sound, where the instruments come from, and different playing techniques. Instruments from different cultures are also featured for students to play and learn about. This program strives to sparks children's interest in learning an instrument and develop a passion for music. This hands on program also allows students the opportunity to test out new instruments before committing to purchasing one, while helping students discover new instruments and which one they would most enjoy learning. Featuring instruments from different cultures showcases to students the importance of music throughout history in cultures around the world, developing an appreciate for music and history. The instrument petting zoo has also allowed the surf ballroom to develop many partnerships with local organizations such as libraries, youth centers, farmer's markets, etc. In 2024, the instrument petting zoo visited central gardens of north Iowa, the clear lake farmers market, and clear lake thursdays on main. The instrument petting zoo reached nearly 500 students in 2024. Music teachers/students: - nick johnson, sub-contracted guitar instructor, continued teaching guitar and string instrument lessons in 2024 with 10 students who receive weekly lessons. - piano teachers were sub-contracted and they taught piano lessons to 118 students weekly at the mec. - marissa humburg porvided music therapy to 15 students weekly during the summer of 2024. - bruce ray taught a weekly beginner guitar group class during the summer of 2024 with 15 students. - heidi kahl taugt taught violin lessons in 2024 with 3 students who receive weekly lessons. - matt root taught drum lessons in 2024 with 10 students who receive weekly lessons. - roger lasley taught guitar lessons in 2024 with 8 students who receive weekly lessons. - hanna furgeson taught voice lessons

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 93.1%; rating input score 93
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.9%; rating input score 93; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 71.4%; rating input score 71; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 71
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • 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: -95.6%; rating input score 1; 1st percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.85; rating input score 38; 38th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.51; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 3.7%; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 3.3% per year; rating input score 100; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 0.5% per year; rating input score 100; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 11.2% per year; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings