Fernbank Inc.

“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 on the Museum's web site and a link was provided to each Board Trustee.”

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“Exhibits and giant screen movies: Fernbank Museum offers a diversity of programming, including a variety of exhibitions and films. In 2018, Fernbank presented four special exhibitions, The Secret World Inside You, FOOD: Our Global Kitchen, Fernbank Forest: Designed by Nature and Natures Superheroes. Continuing to offer annual favorites, Fernbank presented its ninth annual Winter Wonderland: Celebrations & Traditions from Around the World, a festive holiday exhibit which serves as a unique presentation of cultural celebrations and traditions. Fernbank also offered 18 family-oriented Discovery Days that offered hands-on activities, demonstrations, STEM experiences and cultural programming connected to our exhibits, movies, nature and more. In 2018, 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 Earth Flight 3D, Museum Alive 3D, Flight of the Butterflies 3D, Great Barrier Reef 3D, Incredible Predators 3D, and Oceans Our Blue Planet 3D. Other film programming included Backyard Wilderness, The Search for Life in Space and Tiny Giants. In 2018, through these interactive exhibits, thought-provoking movies and hands-on experiences, Fernbank continued to introduce visitors to cultures around the globe, create STEM-rich learning experiences and highlight important environmental issues facing the world today to encourage a deeper understanding of our planet and its inhabitants.”

“Educational Programs: Fernbank is committed to offering the highest-quality educational programming designed to complement the museum experience as well as through in-school learning. Programs are designed for a variety of audiences at all stages of life, including adults, families, and school children. In 2018, Fernbank offered more than 500 exploratory science classes and delivered enhanced, on-site laboratory and classroom programs to roughly 12,500 of the 50,000 kindergarten through 12th grade students who visited as part of a field trip. All museum programs, exhibits and films are designed to meet or exceed Next Generation Standards, enhancing the classroom experience and bringing science to life through hands-on experiences. Additionally, Fernbank continued its monthly adult science night, Fernbank After Dark reaching a young adult audience of 14,800 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. 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 restoration work in the 65-acre old-growth Fernbank Forest. During implementation of this program, Fernbanks educators served 700 students in 2018 alone. Fernbank also reached 749 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. For families and children, the Museum offered Excellent Experiments, Tadpole Tales, live animal encounters, family Discovery Days, guided Forest walks and more. 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.”

“Strategic Initiatives: Fernbanks strategic plan called for the Museum to fulfill its unique environmental legacy in its preservation and stewardship of Fernbank Forest--the largest old-growth Piedmont forest in a major metropolitan area--by leveraging the entire campus to foster a deeper connection to the natural world. In 2016, the Museum debuted WildWoods, a 10-acre outdoor nature experience featuring paths, elevated walkway, tree pods, exhibitions and an education pavilion that serve as the museums new interpretive entrance into Fernbank Forest. During 2018, Forest Rangers and facilitators engaged visitors along the 1.7 miles of hiking trails and introduced them to the natural wonders of Fernbank Forest and the delicate balance of its eco systems. Fernbank personnel, volunteers and specialists continued to improve the health of the forest by continuing to remove non-native invasive plant species, allowing for regrowth of the natural seed bank and restoration of the Forest.”