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Birdscaribbean

EIN 03-0455080 · Natick, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To promote the scientific study and conservation of Caribbean birds and their habitats.

Income
$984,117
Spending
$877,981
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
2
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$60,000, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 49% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

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

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $254,446 spent. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: THE 2024 BIRDSCARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL MEETING IN SANTO DOMINGO SHOWCASED MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR REGIONAL BIRD CONSERVATION. MORE THAN 200 PARTICIPANTS FROM ACROSS THE CARIBBEAN AND BEYOND SHARED NEW RESEARCH, STRENGTHENED COLLABORATIONS, AND ADVANCED STRATEGIES TO PROTECT THREATENED SPECIES. THE MEETING FEATURED INNOVATIVE WORKSHOPS ON SEABIRD MONITORING, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND CLIMATE-RESILIENT CONSERVATION. DOZENS OF EARLY-CAREER SCIENTISTS PRESENTED THEIR WORK, GAINING MENTORSHIP AND VISIBILITY. PARTNERS LAUNCHED NEW REGIONAL INITIATIVES, INCLUDING EXPANDED DATA-SHARING NETWORKS AND COORDINATED ACTION PLANS FOR PRIORITY SPECIES AND HABITATS. OVERALL, THE GATHERING ENERGIZED THE CONSERVATION COMMUNITY AND SET THE STAGE FOR IMPACTFUL, COLLABORATIVE WORK IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
  2. $187,090 spent. CARRIBBEAN BIRDWATCH: IN 2024, BIRDSCARIBBEANS LANDBIRD MONITORING, BANDING, AND MOTUS PROGRAMS MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN STRENGTHENING KNOWLEDGE AND CONSERVATION OF CARIBBEAN BIRDS. EXPANDED STANDARDIZED MONITORING ALLOWED PARTNERS TO TRACK POPULATION TRENDS FOR KEY RESIDENT AND MIGRATORY SPECIES ACROSS MORE ISLANDS THAN EVER BEFORE. BANDING TEAMS TRAINED DOZENS OF NEW PRACTITIONERS, IMPROVING DATA QUALITY AND BUILDING LOCAL CAPACITY. THE REGIONAL MOTUS NETWORK GREW SUBSTANTIALLY, WITH NEW STATIONS IN MULTIPLE COUNTRIES ENHANCING OUR ABILITY TO FOLLOW MIGRATION ROUTES AND IDENTIFY CRITICAL STOPOVER SITES. TOGETHER, THESE PROGRAMS DELIVERED RICHER DATA, STRONGER COLLABORATIONS, AND POWERFUL TOOLS TO GUIDE CONSERVATION ACTION THROUGHOUT THE CARIBBEAN.
  3. $145,771 spent. CARIBBEAN BIRDING TRAIL: IN 2024, THE CARIBBEAN BIRDING TRAIL PROGRAM ACHIEVED MAJOR PROGRESS IN PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE NATURE TOURISM AND COMMUNITY-BASED CONSERVATION ACROSS THE REGION. NEW INTERPRETIVE MATERIALS AND UPDATED SITE PROFILES HELPED VISITORS DISCOVER KEY BIRDING HOTSPOTS WHILE HIGHLIGHTING LOCAL CULTURE AND CONSERVATION STORIES. SEVERAL NEW COMMUNITIES JOINED THE NETWORK, RECEIVING TRAINING IN BIRD IDENTIFICATION, GUIDING, AND VISITOR ENGAGEMENT. PARTNERSHIPS WITH PROTECTED AREA MANAGERS IMPROVED SIGNAGE, TRAILS, AND HABITAT STEWARDSHIP AT PRIORITY SITES. THE PROGRAM ALSO EXPANDED OUTREACH THROUGH VIRTUAL TOURS, SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS,AND COLLABORATIONS WITH REGIONAL TOURISM BOARDS. ALTOGETHER, THESE EFFORTS STRENGTHENED LOCAL ECONOMIES WHILE RAISING AWARENESS OF THE CARIBBEANS UNIQUE BIRDLIFE.
  4. $161,526 spent. Other programs

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 January 2003.

    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.