2020 Annual Report
July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
Founded in 1905
Connecting people with nature and science to inspire stewardship of the natural world
Directors' Message
Dear Friends of the Museum,
We are proud to share our 2020 Annual Report, covering July 2019 through June 2020, and hope you enjoy these photos from before the pandemic. This year has been one of changes, challenges, and tremendous learning. With a new Executive Director in September, this year was an opportunity to revisit and redefine our values. By mid-year we saw increasing visitation, sponsorship, and participation, setting us up for a record year and affirming that our community shared our values.
Of course, this year has been unlike any other. As the challenges posed by COVID-19 mounted, our guiding principles of prioritizing long-term viability, serving emerging community needs, and supporting staff, helped to map a path forward. Our strong financial practices kept our team whole, our staff worked to adapt, and our community came together in many ways, enabling us to continue to provide programs that serve Santa Cruz County, carrying our 115-year legacy onward.
J.M. Brown, President, Board of Directors
Felicia B. Van Stolk, Executive Director
Science Education
Museum educators worked with local teachers to enhance science education and environmental literacy as part of the Santa Cruz County Office of Education’s Science Initiative and Teacher Leadership Institute, resulting in refined Museum programs and robust science lesson sequences.
"We have an education blueprint that recognizes that our school system cannot achieve [environmental literacy] on its own solely in the classroom. We must partner with community-based environmental educators to bring their unique expertise and inspiring programs to every student, and Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History has been one of those key partners."
~ Amity Sandage, Environmental Literacy Coordinator, Santa Cruz County Office of Education, SCMNH 2020 Laura Hecox Naturalist Award recipient
4516: K-12 students and their parents served by Museum nature-based school programs.
172: hours youth spent outdoors through Museum school programs.
304: students attending field trips with scholarships for transportation and program fees.
9: standards-aligned science lessons shared through the County Office of Education's Distance Learning dashboard to support students through the end of the disrupted school year.
Exhibits
The staff refreshed the Museum galleries, working with community partners to include new stories and enhance permanent and temporary exhibits.
In Our Galleries and Online
Temporary exhibits welcomed new audiences and engaged visitors with dynamic hands-on investigation stations.
By state order, the Museum closed two weeks before the opening of The Art of Nature, our annual exhibit of science illustration. The artwork was instead displayed in a virtual exhibit with accompanying online programs reaching over 2,000 people by June.
Community & Outreach
Free Events
Monthly First Friday events and seasonal open houses were enriched by partner organizations and hands-on learning, with themes such as natural disasters, herpetology, and A Trip to the Moon.
Mobile Museum
The Museum connected with 1,204 people through 23 outreach events across the county.
Connecting With Youth
The Museum partnered with community centers to provide after school enrichment activities, reaching 262 students.
Collections
Increased public engagement with Museum collections is a priority, guiding focus on areas of interest such as herpetology, Fungus Fair memorabilia, and Loma Prieta earthquake artifacts.
Future Museum Professionals
Student interns received 130 hours of collections management training, with a focus on inventory and digitization working with the Museum's malacology collections.
Digitization and Review
Over 250 of hours of digitization and critical review of the museum’s ethnographic records resulted in updated descriptions of over 300 objects correcting for outdated terminology.
Access and Care
Over 1,700 catalog records were individually transcribed, fundamentally improving access to and care of collections specimens and objects.
By the Numbers
2030 hours served by volunteers.
31596 people engaged through programs, visits, and virtually.
414 museum members.
14 live programs online.
62 "Museum at Your Side" virtual resources.
25 nature-connection videos, reaching 2073.
Financial Health
Revenue
- 48.6% Individuals & Sponsors
- 28.3% Restricted Contributions
- 11.7% Earned Income
- 6.1% Foundations
- 5.4% Other expenses, including facility rentals and fees
Expenses
- 38.3% Education & Community Engagement
- 26.5% Management & General Administration
- 18.6% Exhibits & Collections
- 14.6% Visitor Services
- 2% Fundraising & Membership
- Operational expenses totaled $807881
- Revenue from individual donations increased by 3.8%
- Increased investment in Exhibits and Collections by 68%
Board of Directors
- J.M. Brown, President
- Gage Dayton, Vice President
- Susan Pearce, Secretary
- Laura Smith, Treasurer
- Steve Davenport
- Terry Eckhardt
- Rebecca Hernandez
- Rick Jones
- Donna Meyers (no longer with the museum at the time of printing; we are grateful for her contribution)
- Juliana Rebagliati
- Alison Russell (confirmed to the Board to begin service in the next fiscal year)
Staff
- Kathleen Aston
- Liz Broughton
- Marisa Gomez
- Sally Iverson (no longer with the museum at the time of printing; we are grateful for her contribution)
- Natalie Johnston (no longer with the museum at the time of printing; we are grateful for her contribution)
- Spencer Klinefelter
- Max Landon
- Elise Scheuermann
- Ellen Stone
- Christopher Soriano
- Felicia Van Stolk
- Mary A. Verutti
- Angela Ward
- Isabelle West
Volunteers, Docents and Interns
- Marcus Anderson
- Dana Bagshaw
- Jordan Bakhtegan
- Lily Balloffet
- Tara Bambrick
- Glenn Bartz
- Jeb Bishop
- Matt Boddy
- Josefina Bovee
- Eileen Broughton
- J.M. Brown
- Toni Campbell
- Kathleen Church
- Steve Davenport
- Gage Dayton
- Terry Eckhardt
- Graham Edwards
- Zane Escoto
- Michael Esgro
- Kayla Marie Figard
- Polette Garrido
- Rebecca Hernandez
- Kris Houser
- Kathy Huntley
- Em Ilstrup
- Brian Johnson
- Caitlin Jones
- Rick Jones
- Alírio Karina
- Ken Kellman
- Gergory Kolar
- Gloria Lee
- Nancy Lenz
- Alice Levine
- Dorothy Lieber
- Donna Meyers
- Aggie Morrow
- Michaeline Musick
- Sylvia Patience
- Odessa Pearce
- Susan Pearce
- Carol Penrose
- Jeff Perez
- Lise Peterson
- Julia Philipp
- Gavin Piccione
- Miles Potter
- Alexandra Race
- Juliana Rebagliati
- Molly Ressler
- Penny Rich
- Chanel Robles
- Shane Rojo
- Jim Rolens
- Steve Rosich
- Nina Scherer
- Emily Scott
- Natalie Silva
- Magali Siri
- Laura Smith
- Ellen Stone
- Kaoru Takahashi
- Wayne Thompson
- Maria Velazquez
- Remy Vincent
- Laura Wells-Lucas
Our Community of Supporters, July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020
Lightkeeper Society Planned Giving Program
- Glenn C. Joy and Kathleen Willott
- Robert Stephens
$5000+
- Anonymous 1
- Anonymous 2
- Anonymous 3
- Anonymous 4
- Applewood Fund at the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County
- Bob and Carol Simpkins
- David & Lucile Packard Foundation
- Donna Meyers and Roberta Hunter
- Eckhardt Chandler Fund
- Monterey Peninsula Foundation
- Penny Rich and Bill Hill
- Rick Jones
- The Robert Stephens Non-endowed Donor-Advised Fund at Community Foundation Santa Cruz County
- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Silicon Valley Community Foundation
$1000 – $4999
- Anonymous 5
- Arizona State University
- Armitage Wines Corp
- Carolyn Hyatt
- Cynthia and Bill Mathews
- Donald Bear and Lori Helman
- Dorothy and Norm Lien
- Dr. Elizabeth Quinn
- D.C. Glenn Joy and Kathleen Willott
- Harry and Mary Blanchard
- Juliana Rebagliati and John Ancic
- Laura Smith and Rowland Morin
- Linda and William Bailey
- Lise Peterson and Donald Peattie
- Louise Jared
- Margaret Donohoe
- Nancy Lenz
- Peter and Susan Canepa
- Susan Nemitz and Michael Abbott
- Terry and Cathleen Eckhardt
- William and Laurie Davis
$500 – $999
- Anonymous 6
- Barbara and Larry Palla
- Barbara Canfield
- Bill Doyle
- Elizabeth Barba
- Frank and Jill Perry
- Gage Dayton
- Geo H. Wilson, Inc.
- Hilary Benton and David Williams
- J.M. Brown and Brian Arao
- Jane Orbuch and Bryan Cockel
- Jeffie Feakins
- Joanne Curby
- Joe and Sara Mikles
- Josh Fodor and Jana Weir
- Julia and Steve Davenport
- Lexi White and Jeb Bishop
- Lillian Nelson
- Linda Plager
- Michael and Shelly Woolf
- Pfotenhauer Wilshusen Family
- Rainbow Mitchell-Fox
- Richard Van Stolk and Rain Bongolan
- Robin Agarwal
- Rowland and Patricia Rebele
- Susan and Colin Pearce
- Susan Bertken Slinger
- Todd and Corinne Wipke
$250 – $499
- Ariel Hunter
- Bambi and Stan Bovee
- Bill Holl
- Bob Correa and Denny Carroll
- Bruce and Shannon McFarland
- Candace Waage and Alan Hiromura
- Carrie Pomeroy and Andy Fisher
- Ceil Cirillo and Irwin Kaplan
- Cypress Ag Consulting
- Diane and Donald Cooley
- Diane Craddock and Dave Hogye
- Discretion Brewing
- Donald Bowman
- Dorothy Ruby
- Elizabeth and Marco Romanini
- Elizabeth Clifton and David Doolin
- Erik's DeliCafe
- Gabrielle Stocker
- Galen Howard Hilgard
- Gerry Mandel
- Glenn Nelson and Julia Fuerst
- Gloria Lee
- Greg and Sue Mendell
- Harper Street Ink Fund
- Ingrid Parker and Greg Gilbert
- Jay and Jennifer Johnson
- Jerry and Robynn Walters
- Joe and Marcella Hall
- Joni and Drew Janecki
- Kristen and Baldo Marinovic
- Laura Uddenberg and Sean Byrne
- Lisa and Tim Robinson
- Marjorie Davis
- Marlene Mirassou and Steve Houlihan
- Marty Ackerman
- Mary Ellen Irons
- Mary Wells
- Nancy Lewis and Mike Morton
- Nancy Woolf
- Pacific Edge Climbing Gym
- Paul Koch
- Phillip Broughton
- San Lorenzo Valley Water District
- Sara and John Blakeslee
- Sara Smith
- Sarah and Chris Woolf
- Sol Katzman and Lisa Hochstein
- Stephen Green and Masako Ogihara
- Stuart and Lisa Woolf
- Sue Wilson
- Susan Maresco
- Traci Bliss
- William and Patricia Mazzera
$100 – $249
- Anonymous 7
- Anonymous 8
- Adam Violante and Camille Schwartz
- Alfaro Family Vineyards
- Alice Levine and Richard Harroun
- Amey Mathews and Matthew Mustapick
- Amy Katzenstein and David Harrington
- Andrea London
- Andrew and Steven Goldenkranz
- Ann Rogers
- Anna Seliskar
- Audrey Trautwein and John Thomas
- Bob Hayden
- Bobbie Mayer
- Brigid and Bill Simpkins
- Bruce and Breta Holgers
- Bruce and Heidi Donald
- Bryan and Hilde Largay
- Carol Fuller
- Carole Stanfield and John Kocal
- Christina Floyd
- Curtis and Casey Stith
- Dania Moss
- Ellen Yeoman
- Evgenia and Gary Mirfield
- Evy Cambridge
- Frans Lanting and Chris Eckstrom
- Fred and Nancy Fischer
- Gabriela Tinoco and Michael McGee
- Gary Griggs and Deepika Shrestha Ross
- Gwen Wilson and Patrick Williams
- James and Catharine Gill
- Janet Schwind
- Janis O'Driscoll
- Jim Rolens and Debra Spencer
- Joan and Mark Griffiths
- Joan Courneen
- Joan Howe and Michael Howe
- Joan Zimmerman
- John and Merill Hambright
- John Guthrie
- John Hillstrom and Kathleen Halat
- Karen and Jeff Hill
- Kathleen Benz Olsen and Johnny Simmons
- Kay and Gerry Bowden
- Kay Cumming
- Kent and Marie Imai
- Laura and Tim Knapp
- Laurel Fox and Donald Potts
- Laurie King
- Lawrence and Julie Haff
- LeAnn Copriviza
- Leigh and Rod Langley
- Linda Jordan
- Lisa and Rafael Ortiz
- Lisa and Tom Coleman
- Lori and Gregory Kintz
- Lynne and Gary Greene
- Margaret A. Leonard and Clare Sheils
- Margaret Gordon
- Margaret Kliegel
- Margaret Perham and Richard Griffith
- Mari and Ryan Brandt
- Mari Tustin
- Mariana Alwell
- Mark Firestone and Kate Turpin
- Mark Silberstein
- Martha Seaver and Scott Walecka
- Mary Lou Stewart
- Maryellen Boyle
- Matt Farrell
- May and Michael Clark
- Melissa Thompson
- Michele Ignoffo and Joseph Culver
- Mike Maroney and Antonie Del Bonta
- Mike Wallis
- Monterey Bay Birding Festival
- Myriam and Mike Cohen
- Nancy and Robert Ley
- Neal Coonerty
- New Bohemian Brewing Co
- Nicholson Vineyards
- Orsolya and Harry Salzberg
- Pattie Blade
- Paula Mellard
- Peter and Deborah Stern
- Phyllis Rosenblum
- Raf and Ruth Strudley
- Richard Gurnee
- Richard Orser and Elizabeth Orser-Cataldi
- Robin Drury
- Rodney Atchison
- Rosemary Anderson
- Ruth Antolini
- Sally and Brian Legakis
- Sara Kane and John Roberts
- Shannon McDonald
- Sheila Camacho
- Sondra and Terrence Cohelan
- Stefani and Randolph Skrovan
- Sue Myers
- Susie and Terry Klinefelter
- Sybille and Kent Miller
- Teresa and Jim Luther
- Thomas and Georgia Schuttish
- Tina and Paul Coghlan
- Toby and Michael Alexander
- Tracey and Joe Brookshier
- Venus Spirits
- Vern Katz and Deborah Dotters
- William and Patricia Murchison
- Woutje Swets
With Special Thanks to
- The City of Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz County Office of Education
- San Diego County Office of Education
- Amber Hogge of Busy Bee Services
Includes in-kind sponsors. Please contact us about any unintended mistakes or omissions: development@santacruzmuseum.org
"Despite a difficult year the Museum continues to thrive and most importantly serve our community - for teachers,students, families and those who needed to be lifted up and learn a wonderful fact about nature. Thisis what the Museum doesso well and we are so proud to be supporters now and into the future." ~ Donna Meyers and Birdie Hunter
Conclusion
Your contribution supports science education and environmental stewardship in our community.
- Join or renew as a museum member.
- Visit often and see special exhibits on science and art, Santa Cruz native animals and plants, and local geology.
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or sign up for our online newsletter.
- Become a volunteer.
- Tell three friends about the museum.
- Donate to our annual appeal.
- Become a business partner.
- Plan a legacy gift to the museum and ensure generations to come will benefit from our science education programs.
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
1305 East Cliff Drive • Santa Cruz, CA 95062 • (831) 420-6115 • santacruzmuseum.org • Tax ID 94-2427733