Shared Science

What it reported doing in 2024

Shared Science was established as a nonprofit in 2009 for the educational and charitable purpose of creating and delivering STEM learning opportunities to school-aged children (K-12). We intervene on a local level, focusing on the Long Beach metro area and 65,500 LBUSD students. During our 16th year as an organization, FY2024-2025, our in-school and after-school programs were delivered at 42 area sites. Our newest sites included: Garfield, Lincoln, Madison, Oropeza, Willard, Birney, Days Long Beach, and Girl Scouts. We served over 3,078 participants, of which 1,511 were girls (20% increase over last FY), and we were able to provide 1,180 scholarships.The earlier students are introduced to the language of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, in a fun and creative environment, the more likely their comfort with these topics as they become more complex. Our programs are designed to encourage students to continue a lifelong pursuit that utilizes their STEM education. We keep session fees low and offer scholarships so that our programs are accessible. As a nonprofit, we bring together funding and equipment resources, identify gifted engineers and instructors, tailor the best curriculum available, and then bundle it all together to benefit and captivate the imaginations of young students. Our mission is to build on childrens science, technology, engineering, and mathematics learning experiences through constructive, creative, and playful programs, while fostering learning communities.Shared Science provided in-school STEM lab program for students at two sites: Patrick Henry Elementary, Emerson Parkside Academy, and Robotics STEM lab at Newcomb Academy Shared Science provided after-school STEM enrichment to six schools in Lawndale Elementary School DistrictContinued collaborations with Boys and Girls Clubs of Long Beach, Salvation Army, LBUSD WRAP, Young Horizons, Days Long BeachDeveloped all new hands-on curriculum activities for in-school K-5 STEM edIncreased outreach and visibility by adding social media followers across Facebook, Instagram, Blue Sky, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TickTokDelivered Robo-Tech Festival Showcase 2025 at Smith Elementary and hands-on Tech Girls Workshop 2025 at Salvation Army Red ShieldParticipated in community-wide fund and friend-raising campaign, Long Beach Gives for the 7th yearPROGRAMS WE OFFERED: EARLY ENGINEERING students (K-5) build and test LEGO simple machine models, focusing on how work is accomplished. CREATIVE COMPUTING students (2-8) learn computer programming concepts while building simple games and animations. MAKE-It FUN! students (1-5) learn basic circuitry design, maker tinkering, and how to add their own creative flair to their builds. EARLY ROBOTICS students (2-5) use the LEGO WeDo, KUBO, Sphero Indi, and Ozobot platforms and an iPad interface to learn drag and drop coding. RAD-ROBOTICS students (4-8) use the LEGO EV3 Mindstorms robotics platforms. ELEMENTARY ROBOTICS PROGRAM site students (4-5) learn/prep alongside their teachers to compete in an annual robotics showcase event. FIRST LEGO LEAGUE EXPLORER TEAM members (1-3) participate in an annual robotics showcase event. FIRST LEGO LEAGUE CHALLENGE TEAM members (4-8) compete in an annual regional robotics competition. FIRST ROBOTICS COMPETITION TEAM members (9-12) build a human-sized robot to compete in an annual regional robotics competition. GOVERNANCE: Shared Science believes that ALL students should have access to learning opportunities that help them explore their interest in engineering, science, technology, mathematics, and the arts. Towards that vision, we have an active, working board that bolsters our part-time staff. In our current formation, each board member brings unique skills and connections to our organization, helping with instruction, raising funds, participating in STEM ed advocacy, as well as introducing potential new collaborative partners, and strategic planning. Some board members are working teacher

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 80.1%; rating input score 80
• Program expense ratio: 96.1%; rating input score 96
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th 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: 0%; rating input score 0; 7th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 0 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Fail
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 16.7%; rating input score 70; 70th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.14; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 3.6%; rating input score 34; 34th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: Limited
• Revenue growth: 13.8% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 13.2% per year; rating input score 100; 74th percentile among comparable filings