Thanksgiving Point

What it reported doing in 2024

Thanksgiving point institute is a 110-acre museum, garden and farm complex founded as a gift to Utah and the surrounding communities. Our mission is to ignite curiosity and build confidence in children from all backgrounds through hands-on stem programs and experiences. As a joyful gathering place for families-across the renowned ashton gardens, museums, events, and festivals-we cultivate wonder, strengthen connections, and inspire a lifelong love of learning. Last year, we experienced 2.5 million guest visits. Most guests came to visit one of our museums or garden events and tens of thousands came as part of our educational and cultural events. Each week we conduct over 180 stem discovery programs with over 100,000 kids participating in those programs throughout the year. For example, the tulip festival held in ashton gardens is a favorite of the community and the festival provides tremendous education opportunities for guests. A large percentage of the 300,000 tulip bulbs are planted by volunteers. In total, volunteers worked over 3,000 hours to help make the tulip festival a success. Last year, 904 volunteers gave 19,763 hours to various community-oriented efforts at thanksgiving point. Much of the supporting revenue of thanksgiving point is generated through our five primary venues: ashton gardens, museum of ancient life, the museum of natural curiosity, the butterfly biosphere, and farm country. Within each of these venues we employ aspiring educators who facilitate learning and guide guests in the exploration of natural world science. We also utilize experienced volunteers who are skilled at helping guests discover the wonders of stem. Integral to the thanksgiving point mission are the interactive learning experiences organized to aid children in their learning of science. Last year, over 22,992 3rd and 8th grade students were part of free science and engineering programs offered by thanksgiving point. Thanksgiving point hosted approximately 45,217 students through field trips and visited 13,282 as part of our outreach classes. Last year, 257 k-12 public school teachers received free teacher professional development on-site and online through thanksgiving point institute. In addition, over 1,444 home school students attended homeschool days at thanksgiving point. In summer months, thanksgiving point hosts approximately 75 summer camps. These camps welcome children of all ages and backgrounds and are focused on a variety of learning experiences from discovering dinosaurs to creating unique art to experimenting with stem. Essential to our mission is providing access to all kids and their families. Any child whose parents are on wic or snap benefits come to our museums and centers for free, and their parents are charged a discounted rate. In total 219,421 of these guests received free or discounted rates. Thanksgiving point also partners with a variety of community organizations. One example is the south franklin community center based in provo, Utah. This center serves children attending title i schools. Approximately 83% of the students here are economically disadvantaged and 63% come from under- represented groups. Thanksgiving point provides venue tickets throughout the year to south franklin to aid in their learning and life.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 36.4%; rating input score 36
• Program expense ratio: 86.3%; rating input score 86
• Fundraising efficiency: $58.23 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 77; 77th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.4%; rating input score 94; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: No; rating input score 0

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 80%; rating input score 80; 28th 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: 62.1%; rating input score 97; 97th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 4.45; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.07; rating input score 86; 86th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4.8%; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6.5% per year; rating input score 100; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 10% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 9% per year; rating input score 100; 65th percentile among comparable filings