Ssp International Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Summer science program - since its inception in 1959, the summer science program has empowered high school students with rigorous stem experiences that ignite curiosity and inspire discovery. Participants engage in hands-on research projects in fields such as astrophysics, biochemistry, bacterial genomics, and synthetic chemistry guided by expert faculty and researchers. These specialists in their fields mentor students, helping them build confidence, hone their critical thinking skills, and push the boundaries of their scientific knowledge. Each program consists of 12 to 36 participants and 8 faculty members who form a diverse community of learning. The faculty includes an academic director, an associate academic director (both phd scientist-educators), a site director, and four teaching assistants and mentors. Everyone works together, immersed in the culture and values of science. For five weeks, they live and learn together on a college campus fostering analytical skills, teamwork, resilience, and creativity in a vibrant, immersive environment. Participants spend many hours each day in the classroom learning the theories and techniques underlying their research, and in the labs and observatories collecting the data they will analyze. The summer science program is intense and challenging material is presented at a pace faster than college courses. The schedule is jam-packed but every participant receives a high level of personal attention from the faculty, so no one is left behind. In summer 2024, we had 368 participants enrolled across 12 programs run at 8 universities in 7 states. For fy 2024, sspi increased our commitment to all participants by subsidizing 30% of the program's cost for everyone who attended. Additionally, over 40% of program fees were waived through our financial aid programs.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 71.2%; rating input score 71
• Program expense ratio: 52.1%; rating input score 52
• Fundraising efficiency: $0.85 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • 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; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 78
  • 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: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -11.4%; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 189.56; rating input score 100; 100th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 79; 79th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 65.7%; rating input score 1; 1st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 19% per year; rating input score 100; 81st percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 24.6% per year; rating input score 100; 89th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 28.1% per year; rating input score 100; 89th percentile among comparable filings