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Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park and Eco-Center Inc

EIN 02-0774368 · Scotland Neck, NC

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SYLVAN HEIGHTS SEEKS TO ADVANCE CONSERVATION OF WATERFOWL AND WETLANDS, TO ACT AS A LOCAL RESOURCE FOR AVIAN BIOLOGY AND WETLANDS ECOLOGY, AND TO SERVE AS AN INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR AVICULTURAL TRAINING/ RESEARCH.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
7.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 36%
Employees
36
Volunteers
80
Highest pay
$65,848, director operations & development

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $1.6 million spent. VISITOR SERVICES ENCOMPASSES A MILE LONG TRAIL THAT DISPLAYS OVER 2000 BIRDS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, MOST IN CONTINENTALLY THEMED AVIARIES. THE TRAIL ALSO HAS FOUR OBSERVATION AREAS IN THE PARKS WETLANDS. THE AREAS OF THE TRAIL WITH BIRDS HAVE SIGNAGE ABOUT THE VARIOUS BIRDS IN A PARTICULAR AREA, INCLUDING IDENTIFYING WHICH BIRDS ARE ENDANGERED OR CRITICALLY ENDANGERED. THE WETLANDS AREAS HAVE SIGNAGE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WETLANDS, AS WELL AS INFORMATION ABOUT BIRDS AND OTHER ANIMALS FOUND IN WETLANDS. THIS ALSO INCLUDES A GIFT SHOP THAT SELLS EDUCATIONAL ITEMS AND MEMBERSHIPS TO THE PARK.
  2. $86,242 spent. THROUGH ON AND OFF-SITE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE FORMAL AND INFORMAL TEACHING, THE ORGANIZATION EDUCATES PARTICIPANTS ABOUT BIRD BIOLOGY, WETLAND ECOLOGY, AND OTHER RELATED FIELDS OF STUDY. SYLVAN HEIGHTS HOSTS APPROXIMATELY 7,000 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS EACH YEAR, WITH MANY OTHER PARTICIPANTS REACHED THROUGH VARIOUS OUTREACH PROGRAMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2007.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.