2025-11-17T20:16:42-06:00 2024-12-31 SMITH & HOWARD ADVISORY LLC 271 17TH STREET NW SUITE 2100 ATLANTA GA 30363 990 2024-01-01 586028607 Fernbank Inc % CATHERINE A NOWELL FERN 4049296344 767 Clifton Road NE Atlanta GA 303071221 Catherine Nowell EVP & CFO 4049296344 2025-11-15 true true NICOLE V DAVIS P01580853 4048746244 2025-11-15 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Catherine A Nowell 767 Clifton Road NE Atlanta GA 303071221 22463526 false X www.fernbankmuseum.org X 1939 GA ignite a passion for science, nature and human culture through exploration and discovery. 37 37 186 394 1065118 0 6020024 9866796 4829983 4735317 446790 1495257 2142943 2513127 13439740 18610497 122952 124480 0 0 5617824 5826565 12500 157270 969083 9057931 9107783 14811207 15216098 -1371467 3394399 44053651 46819968 2346966 2160863 41706685 44659105 X FERNBANK MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY INSPIRES A LIFELONG LEARNING OF NATURAL HISTORY THROUGH IMMERSIVE PROGRAMMING AND UNMATCHED EXPERIENCES TO ENCOURAGE A GREATER APPRECIATION OF OUR PLANET AND ITS INHABITANTS. FERNBANK IS DEDICATED TO STIMULATING AN INTEREST IN SCIENCE, THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN CULTURE; RECONNECTING PEOPLE TO NATURE; AND RESTORING A SENSE OF WONDER IN THE NATURAL WORLD. FERNBANK VIEWS NATURAL HISTORY AS A STARTLINGLY CONTEMPORARY SUBJECT MATTER, ENCOMPASSING TWO OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ISSUES OF OUR TIME--THE DIVERSITY OF OUR ENVIRONMENT AND THE DIVERSITY OF HUMAN CULTURE. FERNBANK PRESENTS THE CONCEPTS OF PHYSICAL, EARTH, LIFE AND SOCIAL SCIENCES IN AN INTERACTIVE AND ENGAGING ENVIRONMENT THROUGH A VARIETY OF PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS, SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS, GIANT SCREEN FILMS AND SIGNATURE PROGRAMS. AS AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, FERNBANK SUPPORTS A VISITOR'S INTRINSIC DESIRE TO LEARN. OUR GOAL IS TO BUILD A MORE-INFORMED CITIZENRY, SCIENTIFICALLY AND CULTURALLY, THAT PLA false false 8896171 124480 5959782 Exhibits and large-screen films: Fernbank Museum offers a variety of interdisciplinary exhibits and documentary films that expose visitors to science, nature and human culture. Fernbank presented blockbuster special exhibits including: Armored Animals, A Mirror Maze: Numbers in Nature, and; and popular seasonal exhibits including Forest Forms and Winter Wonderland: Celebrations & Traditions from Around the World and Spiders: From Fear to Fascination. Fernbank's Giant Screen Theater continued to provide state-of-the-art 4K digital projection. Films shown included Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia, The Arctic: Our Last Great Wilderness, Cities of the Future, Flight of the Butterflies, Fungi, Into America's Wild, Jane Goodall: Reasons of Hope, Superhuman Body: World of Medical Marvels, and T. Rex. Exhibits and films are key attendance drivers, create brand awareness, and strengthen both the mission and business model. Last year, they helped attract 419,000 visitors to Fernbank, a 3% increase over prior year and demonstrating a continued demand for the Fernbank experience. 1043056 Fernbank is committed to offering the highest-quality educational programming that complements a visit, supports in-school learning and reaches new audiences. Programs are designed for a variety of guests at all stages of life, including adults, families, and school children. Fernbank presented a broad array of family enrichment programs, including the popular Family Discovery Days; seasonal camps; and STEAM-Powered Communities, an educational initiative that includes a robust portfolio of school programs including K-12 Exploratory Science Classes, CORE (Connecting, Observing, Researching Ecosystems) ecology programs, Science Explorers at Agape, and Fernbank on the GO! community outreach. In addition, Fernbank presented evening programs including Fernbank After Dark, a monthly adult science night; Fernbank, But Later to provide after hour access for all ages; and WildWoods: AGLOW, a multi-sensory nighttime experience. All exhibits, films and school programs exceed Georgia Standards of Excellence, enhance classroom learning and bring science to life through dynamic and stimulating experiences. 621917 256302 Strategic Initiatives: Guided by a 5-year strategic plan, Fernbank is advancing new education and strategic initiatives that showcase the latest global science and our dynamic planet. 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 us; 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. In fulfillment of the strategic plan goals, Fernbank launched THRIVE: The Nature of Change, a $25 Million capital campaign to build a new anchor exhibit, 'Changing Earth,' new immersive galleries; and a second passenger elevator. Fernbank raised nearly $28 million toward the campaign goal and has moved to the project implementation phase. Successful completion will improve the guest experience, attract new audiences, and reinforce our commitment to people of all abilities, identities, and backgrounds. 10561144 true true false false false false false true false true true false false false true true true false false false true false false true true false false false true true false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false true 19 0 true 186 true true true false false false false true true false false false false false false X 37 37 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true true false GA X CATHERINE A NOWELL 4049296344 767 CLIFTON ROAD NE Atlanta GA 303071221 X Jennifer Grant-Warner President & CEO 50.0 0.0 X 383370 0 18378 Catherine Nowell EVP & CFO 50.0 0.0 X 226574 0 22065 Dana Harvey VP & CTO 50.0 0.0 X 137885 0 22576 Leslie Marlowe VP & Chief Advancement Officer 50.0 0.0 X 137096 0 15183 Bobbi Hohmann VP of Programming & Collection 50.0 0.0 X 108602 0 15909 Brandi Berry VP of Marketing 50.0 0.0 X 109564 0 14776 Jennifer Yard VP Sales & Events 50.0 0.0 X 111625 0 12419 Justin Antoine VP of Finance & Security 50.0 0.0 X 107491 0 13430 Mark S Berry Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Philipp Biechteler Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Laura J Brown Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Liz Broadway Brown Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Farah Cook Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Chris Courts Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Kate Denny Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Audra Dial Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Ryan S Dunlap Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Jennifer Ellis Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Teresa M Finley Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Neale Fisher Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Louis Gump Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Amisha Kotte Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Ellen Langford Hayes Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Laurie Hood Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Dana Hudson Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Crawford Jones Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Andrea M Kauffman Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 John Nastopoulos Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Cherie O'Reilly Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Rakhee Parikh Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Ashley Peterson Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Sean Richards Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Aaron Ribner Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Jerome Roberts Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Natasha Swann Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Erin T Weis Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 C Christian Wooten Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 S Zachry Young Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Kerry Hogan BOARD MEMBER 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Walker Inman BOARD MEMBER 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Michelle Jackson BOARD MEMBER 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Chantel Lanier BOARD MEMBER 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Kevin Peak BOARD MEMBER 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Cederic Young Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 Andrew Gore Board Member 1.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 1322207 0 134736 8 false true false GEORGIA MAINTENANCE SOLUTIONS INC 5195 BUFORD HIGHWAY NORCROSS GA 30071 JANITORIAL SERVICES 247450 Outfront Media PO Box 33074 NEWARK NJ 071880074 marketing services 150949 Rootstock Philanthropy LLC 1 Farwell Avenue Box 276 CUMBERLAND ME 04021 FUNDRAISING SERVICES 157270 Tip Top Staffing LLC 6176 Queens Rd DOUGLASVILLE GA 30135 staffing services 151589 Little Ray's Reptile Zoo US LLC Space J224 PO Box 9570 Destiny US SYRACUSE NY 13204 exhibition rental 132500 8 1731949 519424 7615423 360301 9866796 MUSEUM ADMISSIONS 611600 3987778 3987778 IMAX ADMISSIONS 713990 558847 558847 EDUCATIONAL INCOME 611600 188692 188692 4735317 649637 649637 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3632276 2681367 105289 950909 -105289 845620 845620 77400 519424 179514 -102114 -102114 0 0 0 3432744 886859 2545885 1480767 1065118 OTHER REVENUE 900099 69356 69356 69356 18610497 6216084 1065118 1462499 0 124480 124480 0 0 966706 281850 491421 193435 0 4027710 2665427 955467 406816 81782 53006 19443 9333 391945 271669 88108 32168 358422 230565 89653 38204 0 0 59500 59500 0 157270 157270 35864 35864 0 1162477 1148634 13843 619856 87415 521562 10879 274552 274552 250715 250715 1193984 1193984 0 0 0 0 0 3630745 3630745 310112 310112 EXHIBITION PROGRAMMING 930603 930603 PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES 446294 404532 1667 40095 FILM PROGRAMMING 72353 72353 MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT 67040 67040 53688 53688 15216098 10561144 3685871 969083 X 10291421 11892668 2467932 1958065 2095938 4359244 112958 126126 0 0 0 0 0 0 295474 332286 266812 160298 68565662 49128750 20500808 19436912 6925171 7459184 0 0 0 0 0 0 1097137 1095185 44053651 46819968 2252681 2151863 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 94285 9000 2346966 2160863 X 28140617 25902245 13566068 18756858 41706685 44659103 44053651 46819966 3394399 -351550 -90431 X false true X true false X 7362271 8095163 7176308 6020024 9866796 38520562 0 0 7362271 8095163 7176308 6020024 9866796 38520562 3301815 35218747 139091 142960 160353 490953 649637 1582994 0 0 40103556 27765775 0.87819 0.88188 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 1091649 X X X X false 7485403 828904 384013 35864 7894430 6773186 859910 115460 32233 7485403 8082846 2000 -1081393 196985 33282 6773186 7297236 30000 937653 146174 35869 8082846 6695947 5000 810864 184828 29747 7297236 1.00000 false false 2421005 2421005 645956 654956 0 58438070 45303691 13134380 7060629 3179101 3881527 19436912 0 LONG-TERM CONTRACTS PAYABLE 9000 9000 X 18415804 -351550 192721 -158829 18574633 35864 35864 18610497 15463386 283152 283152 15180234 35864 35864 15216098 Schedule D, Part III, Question 4 Fernbank Museum was created to encourage and advance the study and understanding of natural history by disseminating knowledge of the Earth and life upon it. We seek to develop a comprehensive collection for exhibition and education for students and visitors of all ages, as well as for research by curators and visiting scholars.As a natural history museum, we will collect and maintain a repository of biological, anthropological, geological and paleontological specimens that will be used to develop engaging exhibits, educational programs and resources to provide our visitors with opportunities to learn more about the earth and its inhabitants, both past and present. Schedule D, Part V, Question 4 The overall financial objectives of the endowment are to support the current and future operations of the Museum particularly with respect to Fernbank Forest and to preserve and enhance the purchasing power of the endowment. The endowment's investment policy is structured to achieve returns in excess of the rate of inflation to preserve the purchasing power of the temporarily restricted assets as well as emphasize growth of principal while avoiding excessive risk. The endowment's spending policy allows for distributions up to 4.5% of a trailing three-year average of the market value of the temporarily restricted endowment fund for specified organizational purposes. Schedule D, Part XI, Question 2d $179,515 fundraising expenses $ 13,206 other audit vs tax differences ---------- $192,721 Total Adjustments Schedule D, Part XII, Question 2d $179,515 fundraising expenses $ 13,206 other audit vs tax differences $ 90,431 bad debt expense ---------- $283,152 Total Adjustments Schedule D, Part X, Question 2 Fernbank, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization which is exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, no provision for income taxes is reflected in the accompanying financial statements. The Organization annually evaluates all federal and state income tax positions. This process includes an analysis of whether these income tax positions the Organization takes meet the definition of an uncertain tax position under the Income Taxes Topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Codification. The Organization does not believe it has any uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2024. In the normal course of business, the Organization is subject to examination by the federal and state taxing authorities. In general, the Organization is no longer subject to tax examinations for tax years ending before December 31, 2021. Schedule D, Part III, Question 1a In accordance with GAAP, donated collections are recorded at commercial market value, determined by independent appraisal. Purchased collection items are recorded at cost. Collections are not depreciated. --- The value of collections donated by individuals prior to the current method of recording donated collections, including the gem stone collection and other works of art, are not recorded. However, the Organization's gem stone collection is extensive and has substantial value based upon appraisals of the items at the time of their donation. East Asia and the Pacific 0 0 Program Services EXHIBITS 33617 Europe (Including Iceland and Greenland) 0 0 Program Services exhibits 1960 North America 0 0 Program Services exhibits 74441 0 0 0 0 110018 110018 false false false false false false true ROOTSTOCK PHILANTHROPY LLC 1 Farwell Avenue Box 276 CUMBERLAND ME 04021 PLANNING false 6110181 157270 5952911 6110181 157270 5952911 TIMELESS 596824 519424 77400 66834 79951 14690 18040 0 596824 519424 77400 66834 79951 14690 18040 179515 -102115 true Reduced Admission 10424 124480 FMV Reduced Admission Schedule I, Part I, Question 2 Grants are awarded by the Museum to subsidize Museum admissions for Title 1 students. Supporting documentation is obtained from each school evidencing the percentage of Title 1 students attending. The grant is based on the verified percentage. Schedule I, Part III, Line 1 (F) The grants reflect the free admission provided to families in need and Title 1 students. For example, when a Title 1 school visits the museum and the associated school is considered to have 80% Title 1 Students, then the school is given an 80% grant of the total museum admission cost. X X X X X X false false false false false false false true false Jennifer Grant-Warner President & CEO 309620 73750 9900 9374 402644 Catherine Nowell EVP & CFO 194112 32462 6666 16295 249535 Dana Harvey VP & CTO 118587 19298 4261 19210 161356 Leslie Marlowe VP & Chief Advancement Officer 113983 23113 3946 12128 153170 Part I, Line 7: DISCRETIONARY BONUSES ARE AWARDED BASED ON PERFORMANCE. X 11 360301 FMV false true true Schedule M, Part I, Question 32b Truist Securities receives any stock gifts and sells them immediately upon receipt. Schedule M, Number of Contributions The Number of Contributions is determined by the number of contributions received not the number of items received. 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, indicate any potential conflicts of interest, and return 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.