2013-11-14T15:13:14-06:00 2012-12-31 SMITH & HOWARD PC 171 17TH STREET SUITE 900 ATLANTA GA 30363 990 2012-01-01 586028607 Fernbank Inc % CATHERINE NOWELL FERN 4049296344 767 Clifton Road NE Suite Atlanta GA 303071221 catherine a nowell 4048746244 2013-11-01 true MARC AZAR 4048746244 2012 2016-02-25 16:41:14Z Fernbank museum of natural history Catherine A Nowell 767 Clifton Road NE Atlanta GA 303071221 10264762 false X www.fernbankmuseum.org X 1939 GA The Museum's mission is to inspire lifelong learning of natural history through dynamic programming to encourage a greater appreciation of our planet and its people. 38 38 163 225 850941 -173913 3411805 4675222 3744629 3164374 13683 11429 1708165 1623447 8878282 9474472 98007 89280 0 0 4396309 4347964 19780 21586 595278 5525743 6051052 10039839 10509882 -1161557 -1035410 29327438 27665115 2048429 1426443 27279009 26238672 X FERNBANK MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 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. THE MUSEUM'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE LIFELONG LEARNING OF NATURAL HISTORY THROUGH IMMERSIVE PROGRAMMING AND UNMATCHED EXPERIENCES TO ENCOURAGE A GREATER APPRECIATION OF OUR PLANET AND ITS INHABITANTS. 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 14 PERMANENT EXHIBITS AND FEATURES, ANNUAL SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS AND A HOST OF 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 C false false 713990 7230795 89280 3080132 Exhibitions and Films see Schedule O for Description. 611600 954625 60910 Educational Programs see Schedule O for Description. 611600 259913 Strategic Initiatives see Schedule O for Description. 8445333 true true false false false false false true false true true false false false true true true false false false false 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 163 true true true false false false false true true false false false false X 38 38 true false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true true false GA X X CATHERINE NOWELL 4049296344 767 CLIFTON ROAD NE Atlanta GA 303071221 Melissa T Allen 1.0 X Ashish Bahl 1.0 X Jeffery B Baker 1.0 X Hartley D Blaha 1.0 X Ronald B Bobo 1.0 X Eric K Busko 1.0 X Tim Carssow 1.0 X Eric W Cash 1.0 X Allan N Crawford III 1.0 X Sherri Crawford 1.0 X Carol G Doty 1.0 X Ryan Smith Dunlap 1.0 X Arnold B Evans 1.0 X Teresa Finley 1.0 X Darrell Fitzgerald 1.0 X Rick Frazier 1.0 X Deborah Hodge Harrison 1.0 X Fay S Howell 1.0 X Wab P Kadaba 1.0 X Robin L King 1.0 X 0 0 0 Randolph J Koporc 1.0 X Ronnie R Labrato 1.0 X Cara Isdell Lee 1.0 X Kevin A Maxim 1.0 X Richard V McPhail 1.0 X Ashley Miller 1.0 X Randolph A Moore 1.0 X W Hampton Morris 1.0 X Melanie M Platt 1.0 X Drew Atkinson Putt 1.0 X Sean Richards 1.0 X Jake Ring 1.0 X Eve M Saunders 1.0 X Joseph B Schultz 1.0 X Rebecca S Shepherd 1.0 X Caryl G Smith 1.0 X William L Warren 1.0 X John B Zellars Jr 1.0 X Susan Neugent 55.0 X 416819 Aneli Nugteren 50.0 X 141192 12925 Catherine Nowell 50.0 X 140533 9878 Jennifer Grant-Warner 50.0 X 123215 10262 Dana Harvey 50.0 X 94059 12154 915818 0 45219 4 false true false imax corporation 2525 SPEAKMAN DR SHERIDAN PARK MISSISSAUGA ONTARIO CA L5K 1B1 Film Rentals 336251 american museum of natural history central park west at 79th street NEW YORK NY 100245192 exhibit rental 270000 sylvatica studios 621 north ave suite C-140 ATLANTA GA 30318 landscap architects 212455 Georgia Maintenance Solutions Inc 2841 East Mount Tabor Circle DULUTH GA 30096 Janitorial Svcs. 189790 Sysco PO BOX 490379 COLLEGE PARK GA 30349 Food Service 260273 9 1128922 689836 2856464 930380 4675222 MUSEUM ADMISSIONS 611600 2038924 2038924 IMAX ADMISSIONS 713990 1064540 1041208 23332 EDUCATIONAL INCOME 611600 60910 60910 3164374 11429 11429 0 0 0 0 0 0 145893 689836 136284 9609 9609 0 2236621 654006 1582615 755006 827609 OTHER REVENUE 900099 31223 31223 31223 9474472 3927271 850941 21038 0 89280 89280 0 0 963671 419874 543797 0 2843938 1977704 489661 376573 0 262885 192348 55803 14734 277470 178579 71645 27246 0 8766 8766 34000 34000 0 21586 21586 0 0 873187 873187 228398 40948 178268 9182 64979 64979 0 990868 987948 2920 0 0 0 0 0 1769804 1751560 17509 735 144963 144963 EXHIBITS 1144623 1144623 IMAX FILMS 408726 408726 PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES 168061 144398 1923 21740 MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT 123482 123482 91195 91195 10509882 8445333 1469271 595278 X 2504337 2310351 81513 160735 891840 450583 67818 99988 0 0 0 0 0 0 241548 260549 70520 68740 44259215 21242076 23606568 23017139 794238 228777 0 0 0 0 0 0 1069056 1068253 29327438 27665115 1583429 1376443 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 465000 50000 2048429 1426443 X 25400108 24481114 1497636 1368126 381265 389432 27279009 26238672 29327438 27665115 X -1035410 10992 -16248 329 X false true X true false X 7299659 3898467 7407752 3411805 4675222 26692905 0 0 7299659 3898467 7407752 3411805 4675222 26692905 4249240 22443665 42403 8540 10577 13086 11429 86035 0 0 26778940 23142332 0.83811 0.82847 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 1057949 X X X X false 381265 8167 389432 317930 55374 7961 0 0 0 381265 314550 0 3380 0 0 0 317930 314451 0 99 0 0 0 314550 310518 0 3933 0 0 0 314451 0.00000 1.00000 0.00000 false false 782166 782166 645956 566145 79811 39215518 18703294 20512224 3615575 1972637 1642938 23017139 0 LOC 0 LONG TERM CONTRACTS PAYABLE 50000 50000 9617220 329 22383 136284 158996 9458224 16248 16248 9474472 10657556 11390 136284 147674 10509882 10509882 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 of value for exhibition and education for students and visitors, and available 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. We will use these to develop engaging exhibits, educational programs and resources that will provide our visitors opportunities to experience authentic cultural materials, artifacts and specimens representative of the earth's history and its variety of life. Schedule D, Part V, Question 4 The overall financial objectives of the Endowment are to support the current and future operations of the Museum and to preserve and enhance the purchasing power of the Endowment. The investment objectives are to be achieved through a three-tiered investment strategy. Tiers I & II incorporate endowment growth through reinvested earnings with no principal spending. The endowment is currently in its Tier II phase. In 2012, all earnings were reinvested; no principal or earnings were expended. 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. Schedule D, Part XI, Question 2d The $136,284 is due to fundraising expenses. Schedule D, Part XI, Question 4b $16,248 of bad debt related to pledges was expensed for financial reporting perposes but not reported on form 990. Schedule D, Part XII, Question 2d The $136,284 is due to fundraising expenses. 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 have any uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2012. 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, 2009. X X X true ComNet Membership Phone Camp. false 31411 21586 9825 31411 21586 9825 AL AK AZ AR CA CT FL GA IL IN IA MA MI MN NH NJ NY NC ND OH OR PA SC SD TN UT VT VA WA WV lost oasis 240439 184407 56032 3038 11842 6664 8003 timeless 595290 505429 89861 41022 43053 5400 17262 0 835729 689836 145893 44060 54895 12064 25265 136284 9609 true Reduced Admission 14461 89280 FMV Reduced Admission Schedule I, Part I, Question 2 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 admission cost. X X X X X false true false false false false false false false Susan Neugent 212000 204819 727 417546 204819 Aneli Nugteren 141192 13424 154616 Catherine Nowell 140533 10477 151010 Schedule J, Part I, Question 4b The 457F plan was frozen in 2012. All money became vested in the plan and has been reported as other compensation in boxes 1 & 5 of the w-2 during 2012. The total amount of the distribution was $494,713 X 9 39807 Broker confirmation X computer hardware & software 34 890573 FMV false true true Schedule M, Part I, Question 32b SunTrust 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 2 Two trustees are serving as co-directors in an investment company. 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. The review was conducted by the Finance Committee. A complete copy of the Form 990 was made available on the Museum's web site and a link was provided 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 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. The minutes of the Executive Committee dated January 21, 2010 reflect the process observed in determining the compensation arrangement under signed contract through January 1, 2015. 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, and finance committee charter 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 and current Form 990 are available on-line through the Museum's web site. Part XI, Question 9 $329 is due to unrealized gains. Form 990, Part III, Question 4a Exhibitions and Films: In 2012, Fernbank Museum presented five special exhibitions, featuring Wildlife Rescue, Scoop on Poop and Genghis Khan. Additionally, the Museum hosted nearly a dozen films in its IMAX Theatre, including the new films Born To Be Wild and To The Arctic. In 2012, Fernbank presented the third annual Winter Wonderland: Celebrations & Traditions Around the World, a festive holiday exhibition which serves as a unique presentation of cross-cultural symbolism bolstered by vibrant enrichment programs on the weekends. Through these interactive exhibits and thought-provoking films, Fernbank introduces visitors to cultures around the globe and highlights important environmental issues facing the world today to encourage a deeper understanding of our planet and the human discourse. Form 990, Part III, Question 4b Educational Programs: The Museum is committed to offering the highest quality educational programming designed to complement the visitor's experience at the Museum as well as in-school learning. Programs are designed for a variety of audiences including families, children and school children. In 2012, Fernbank Museum offered nearly 750 exploratory science classes and delivered enhanced, on-site laboratory and classroom programs to roughly 15,000 of the 60,000 students who visited as part of a field trip. All Museum programs, exhibitions and films are designed to meet or exceed state and national standards, enhancing the curriculum and partnering with teachers to bring science to life through hands-on experiences. Additionally, the Museum presented two signature environmental programs, UrbanWatch Atlanta and City Scientists that serve schools, with a focus on students from underserved populations. Fernbank's UrbanWatch program connects middle and high school students with nature and biodiversity through an immersive ecology experience in Fernbank Forest and across the Museum campus. The program focuses on the importance of native plant species, biodiversity and healthy ecosystems providing Title 1 students the opportunity to actively participate in a restoration project on the Museum campus. City Scientists, an after-school program, serves 300 3rd, 4th and 5th graders attending Atlanta's Title I schools. This highly-interactive program introduces underserved students to regional ecology, geology and natural history themes, providing them with meaningful challenges in education and the enhanced foundation to perform well in science. For families and children, the Museum offers Excellent Experiments, Weekend Wonders, Live Animal Encounters, Family Exploration Days, Nature Walks and more. These programs provide visitors with new experiences every time they visit, allowing them to delve deeper into themes presented throughout the Museum at age-appropriate levels. Form 990, Part III, Question 4c Strategic Initiatives: Fernbank's strategic plan calls for the Museum to fulfill on its unique environmental legacy in its preservation and stewardship of Fernbank Forest, as well as how to leverage the entire campus in Fernbank's mission to foster a deeper connection to the natural world. In 2012, the Museum completed a Campus Master Plan and Forest Stewardship Plan to guide its efforts going forward. This initiative affirmed the unique qualities of Fernbank Forest, including that it is the largest old-growth forest in a major metropolitan area in the United States and that Fernbank is the only natural history museum in the United States to emerge from a natural area. The Campus Master Plan identified areas of opportunity for new outdoor programming that ultimately will help fulfill Fernbank's mission while also giving visitors new opportunities for exploration while visiting. Both plans will inform longer term initiatives at the Museum.