Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

What it reported doing in 2024

Exhibits & visitor services: b. Exhibits and visitor services: the museum has two sites: its mission canyon campus and the sea center located on stearns wharf.gate attendance at the mission canyon campus in 2024 was 109,666. In addition, 6829 children and adults attended educational programs, 1659 came for community uses and 271 came specifically for research, for a total attendance at the mission canyon campus of 118,425+. (not counting the nature adventures campers see below)gate attendance at the sea center in 2024 was over 104,000. In addition, over 1500 children and adults attended educational programs and over 3600 attended community events (festivals and beach clean up) for a total attendance at the sea center of 109,100.butterflies alive!: the museum opened its outdoor butterfly pavilion in a way that allows guests to experience an up-close interaction. Guests are able to move through a beatutiful garden while approximately 1000 live butterflies flutter freely. The exhibit features dazzling varieties of butterflies from costa rica and Florida. Visitors learn about the life cycle and behavior of these spectacular invertebrates while observing them up close.0 to 60: an underwater adventure from the equator to Alaska. A photographic exhibit by richard salas: an exhibit of underwater photography documenting 4000 miles of underwater adventure. The museum backyard and nature club house: the museum backyard and nature clubhouse is an ada accessible play area nestled in the oak woodland along mission creek. Guests can relax, explore and play along the backyard creek. Activities (mystery box, nature stories, and rocks in a box) supported by friendly naturalists engage visitors in nature play. The clubhouse is staffed with naturalists that answer questions, share activities about the natural world and what makes the santa barbara region unique. They support the popular nature exchange program, creepy crawly encounters, and allow for natural curiosity through tactile interactions.maximus gallery: the john and peggy maximus gallery, located at the mission canyon campus, is dedicated to the preservation and display of antique prints and presents two to three original exhibits a year which highlight the history and development of the sciences.two original exhibits were created by in-house curator and staff exhibit designer for the maximus gallery in 2024.splendid plumage showcased the feathery adaptations displayed by birds of australia, new guinea, asia, europe, and central america as pictured in the works of 19th-century british ornithologist and publisher john gould and others. Birds of paradise, herons, toucans and hummingbirds are among the species that have evolved an amazing diversity of forms, colors and function. The most dramatic outcome of sexual selection is the male's extravagant plumage, complex vocal arrangements and the shape-shifting dances of their mating rituals. They came alive in a gallery video put together by staff exhibit designer. Music integrated with bird calls accompanied the exhibit making it an all-around sensory experience. Remarkable animal portraits of the feline and canine families were on view when big cats and wild dogs opened in the fall. Original hand-colored lithographs by 19th-century artists and naturalists john james audubon and daniel giraud elliot. Audubon's the quadrupeds of north america, published from 1845-1848 is of immense historical significance and issued at a time when america's mammals were not well known or studied. The beautiful illustrations and the hardships audubon endured to publish them are a testament to the artist and his enduring legacy. A gallery guide was created to provide more background on audubon's "grand and last journey" to collect mammals in the field.at the sea center: guests to the sea center are able to look and learn more about sea horses, coral reef inhabitants, jellies, and similarly elegant animals. Visitors get their hands wet as they explore the wonder

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 64.3%; rating input score 64
• Program expense ratio: 42.2%; rating input score 42
• Fundraising efficiency: $3.57 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 14; 14th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.7%; rating input score 95; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• 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; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • 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: -14%; rating input score 7; 7th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 8.09; rating input score 89; 89th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.05; rating input score 83; 83rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 9.7%; rating input score 21; 21st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 2.5% per year; rating input score 100; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 4.4% per year; rating input score 100; 38th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 3.6% per year; rating input score 100; 27th percentile among comparable filings