| Part VI, Section A, Question 11b |
As stated in the Finance & Audit Committee Charter adopted on August 3, 2006, the Form 990 is reviewed by the Finance & Audit Committee, a sub- committee of the Board of Trustees prior to filing with the IRS. A complete copy of the Form 990 was made available to each Board Trustee. |
| Part VI, Section B, Question 12c |
A full copy of the Conflict of Interest Statement is provided to each Trustee at the first board meeting of the year. Each Trustee is required to sign an acknowledgement of receipt, indicates any potential conflicts of interest, and returns it to the Museum. A control list is maintained to ensure all acknowledgements are returned. The Museum recognizes a conflict of interest as occurring when an interested person defined as any trustee, principal officer or member of a committee with board-delegated powers has a direct or indirect financial interest or compensation arrangement through business, investment or family. Compensation includes direct and indirect remuneration as well as gifts or favors that are substantial in nature. All potential conflicts are reviewed by a committee of the board to determine whether the transaction or arrangement is in the Museum's best interest and for its own benefit and whether the transaction is fair and reasonable to the Museum and shall make its decision as to whether to enter into the transaction or arrangement in conformity with such determination. If the board committee determines a conflict of interest does exist, it shall take appropriate disciplinary and corrective action. |
| Part VI, Section B, Question 15a |
Compensation for the President/CEO is determined by the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees. Compensation and benefit information is gathered from human resource consultants pertaining to both museums of comparable size and nature and other regional cultural institutions. The information is reviewed by the Executive Committee and a compensation package is developed and approved. |
| PART VI, SECTION B, QUESTION 15B |
All other officers' compensation is determined in a similar process as to that of the President/CEO; however, the process is performed by Human Resources Staff and all other officers are not under contract. |
| Part VI, Section C, Question 19 |
The Museum's governing documents including Fernbank's Charter and Articles of Incorporation, its mission statement and strategic plan, ethics policy, collections policy, privacy policy, gift policy, investment policy, endowment policy, conflict of interest policy, whistle blower policy, document retention policy and finance committee charter and current Form 990 are available upon request through the finance Department at 767 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, Georgia, 30307 for a nominal fee. The Museum's audited financial statements are available on-line through the Museum's web site. |
| Form 990, Part III, Question 4a |
Exhibits and giant screen movies: Fernbank Museum offers a diversity of programming, including a variety of exhibitions and films. In 2019, Fernbank presented blockbuster special exhibitions: Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs, MonsterFish, and Traveling the Silk Road; and, popular seasonal exhibitions like Games in the Gallery (spring), Big Bugs (summer), Woodland Spirits (Fall) and the perennial favorite, Winter Wonderland: Celebrations & Traditions from Around the World (winter). Fernbanks Giant Screen Theater continued to provide state-of-the-art 4K digital projection with both 3D and 2D capabilities, providing a truly immersive experience. Films shown utilizing the enhanced 3D capability included Flying Monsters 3D; Great Bear Rainforest 3D, SuperPower Dogs 3D, Apollo 11 2D; Volcanoes 3D and Pandas 3D. |
| Form 990, Part III, Question 4b |
Educational Programs: Fernbank is committed to offering the highest-quality educational programming designed to complement a visit, support in-school learning and reach new audiences. Programs are designed for a variety of guests at all stages of life, including adults, families, and school children. In 2019, Fernbank welcomed more 60,000 students on a field trip and offered more than 500 highly specialized exploratory programs to more than 14,000 students from economically and culturally marginalized communities. All museum programs, exhibits and films are designed to meet or exceed Georgia Standards of Excellence, enhancing the classroom experience and bringing science to life through hands-on experiences. One of Fernbanks most innovative on-site programs is Urban Watch Atlanta, a 4-hour hands-on environmental science program for middle and high school students that provides a guided ecological hike, hands-on activities and access to Fernbank Forest, a 65-acre old-growth forest. During implementation of this program, Fernbanks educators served 310 students. Fernbank also reached 1,265 underserved preschool and pre-K students through the PNC Grow Up Great program that provides integrated art and science programming, including customized field trip opportunities, in-classroom experiences and science resource kits for families and teachers. Fernbank offered a collection of family enrichment experiences including Excellent Experiments, Tadpole Tales, live animal encounters, Family Discovery Days, guided Forest walks and more for 40,000 children and families. These programs provided visitors with new experiences with each visit, allowing them to delve deeper into themes presented throughout the museum at age-appropriate levels. Additionally, Fernbank continued its monthly adult science night, Fernbank After Dark, reaching 12,600 young adult visitors. This series offers the unique opportunity to experience the Museum after-hours and participate in a variety of hands-on science activities led by Fernbank educators during an adults-only environment. |
| Form 990, Part III, Question 4c |
Strategic Initiatives: In 2016, Fernbank became a unified campus with the addition of WildWoods, a 10-acre woodland and immersive path into a restored and healthy Fernbank Forest. Guided by a new 5-year strategic plan, adopted in 2019, Fernbank is advancing new education and strategic initiatives that will address STEAM literacy and the significance of biodiversity to our shared global home. The strategic plan embraced a new mission to ignite a passion for science, nature and human culture through exploration and discovery; introduced these core values-Science and the natural world inspire us; Curiosity drives us; Inclusivity strengthens us; Community empowers; Resourcefulness advances us; and Integrity grounds us; and, established these stated goals and strategies-be known as the place for science, nature and culture; Modernize our experiences to serve the needs and expectations of our community; Expand and diversify our reach to reflect the vibrancy and multi-cultural heritage of our shared community; and strengthen our financial base so Fernbank thrives for future generations. |
| FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 8 |
-4,300 write-off of prior year pledges |
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.