The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs South Dakota Inc
We Dig Big!
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
We live in rural South Dakota and have a difficult time finding donors to help us advance our education programs and research. We have no corporate presence in Hot Springs, and are limited in the number of foundations that fund Ice Age Research.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Ice Age Explorers Program
The Ice Age Explorers Program is an exciting hands-on learning experience for adults and consists of four one-week dig sessions where volunteers from around the world come to work in The Mammoth Site's bonebed, learning how to excavate, bone preparation, and screen picking for micro-fossils (Room and Board are included for an additional fee).
Children and Family Summer Programs
Ran from June 1 - August 15, these educational and fun summer programs allow children and parents to work in a mock bonebed environment using the tools that our paleontologists use on a daily basis.
Our Junior Paleontological Dig Experience is for ages 4 - 12 and is an hour-long program.
Our Family Dig Experience is for Ages 5 to Adult, this fun family activity is an hour and a half which allows families to dig in bonebed sediment and learn how to make a plaster cast they get to take home.
Tours of a Working Paleo Dig Site
Take a self-guided tour around an indoor working paleontological dig site (QR Codes around the dig site and a phone app). The Mammoth Site is open year-round and allows you the opportunity to see the largest concentration of mammoth remains anywhere in the world.
Exhibit Hall
Exhibit Hall featuring Ice Age animals, natural history, and human artifacts from an early man—many hands-on activities including a stream table and Augmented Reality sandbox.
Where we work
External reviews
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
To remain as the world’s leading research and educational institution as it relates to the study of Mammoths. By studying the past and how the mammoths and other Pleistocene fauna became extinct we can help prevent the extinction of living elephants, as well as other endangered species. To establish new partnerships with educational institutions and museums throughout the United States allowing for more high quality educational programs for visitors to these museums and students. Increase our endowment to allow us to receive 20% to 25% of our general operating expenses from our Endowment, our current goal is to have an endowment balance of $10,000,000. Finally, we are looking to build a Field Station for college students to visit and do research in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Continue to establish new relationships with new donors and build upon the partnerships currently in place with individual donors, foundations, family foundations and corporations to increase annual giving to The Mammoth Site in order to grow the endowment, create new educational programs and increase The Mammoth Site’s visibility throughout the world. Establish a partnership with East Tennessee State University to grow our research programs as well as have a sister school committed to paleontology in the eastern part of the United States. This partnership will help The Mammoth Site expand its outreach to the collegiate level.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The Mammoth Site is at the forefront of Pleistocene research as it relates to the Columbian and woolly mammoths. We are an in-situ active paleontological dig site which allows visitors and scientists to see the remains of our discoveries in their final resting place. The only time a fossil is removed from our bonebed is when it is in jeopardy of being damaged or hindering another fossil found within the bonebed. After removal from the bonebed the remains are taken downstairs to our state of the art laboratory where it is preserved and taken care of for hands-on research by staff, visiting scientists and college interns that come to study at The Mammoth Site. Everything is under strict climate control and watched closely by professional preparators.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
In 2015 The Mammoth Site opened up its new Learning Center for Science and Culture. This new Learning Center includes 2 53-Seat state of the art theaters which is utilized for our visitors watching a new high-definition 10 minute film about our amazing discovery. The theaters are also utilized for scientific and educational programs which are free to Mammoth Site members and a nominal fee to non-members. These educational programs and have been presented by some of the leading paleontologists in the United States and Dr. Yuan Wang of China.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs South Dakota Inc
Board of directorsas of 10/06/2022
Mr. John Pence
John Pence
Anna Merrill
Robert Preuss
Jane Farrell
Rich Gross
Mike Leite
Heidi McBride
Randy Schur
Amy Spears
Trish Ladner
Caleb Arceneaux
Rick DenHerder
Christopher Jass
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data