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North American Butterfly Association Inc

EIN 13-3689481 · Morristown, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceWeak41 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE PUBLIC ENJOYMENT, EDUCATION, AND CONSERVATION OF BUTTERFLIES IN NORTH AMERICA.

Income
$839,089
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
-31 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
0
Highest pay
$150,000, executive dir.

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

Financial health

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 42% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    6 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 October 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. $1.2 million spent. THE NATIONAL BUTTERFLY CENTER, LOCATED IN TEXAS, IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TO PROMOTE EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION OF BUTTERFLIES AND THEIR HABITATS.
  2. $25,900 spent. THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN CERTIFICATION PROGRAM ENCOURAGES THE PUBLIC TO PLANT CERTAIN FOOD AND NECTAR SOURCES TO INCREASE THE POPULATION OF BUTTERFLIES. IF REQUIREMENTS ARE MET, ONE'S GARDEN CAN BE DESGNATED A BUTTERFLY GARDEN AND HABITAT BY THE ORGANIZATION.
  3. $12,444 spent. THE BUTTERFLY COUNT PROGRAM GIVES THE PUBLIC THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT AND PARTICIPATE IN GATHERING DATA ON THE AMOUNTS AND VARIOUS KINDS OF NORTH AMERICAN BUTTERFLIES. DATA FROM THE COUNTS IS AVAILABLE TO SCIENTISTS TO STUDY POPULATION TRENDS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN BUTTERFLIES.
  4. TO EDUCATE MEMBERS ABOUT REGIONAL BUTTERFLIES AND THEIR HABITATS TO ENABLE THEM TO POSITIVELY IMPACT CONSERVATION OF BUTTERFLIES IN THEIR HOME ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS ACHEIVED THROUGH MEMBER MEETINGS THAT INCLUDE PRESENTATIONS, WORKSHOPS, AND FIELD TRIPS LED BY EXPERTS TO FIND, IDENTIFY, AND RECORD BUTTERFLIES OF SPECIFIC LOCALITIES.EXPENSES $132,844 GRANTS $0 REVENUE $0THE BUTTERFLY GARDENING PROGRAM PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC VIA BROCHURES AND THE ORGANIZATION WEBSITE ABOUT CREATING BUTTERFLY HABITATS BY SELECTING ANDD GROWING APPROPRIATE PLANTS FOR NECTAR TO HELP POPULATE BUTTERFLIES IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 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 October 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 August 2015.

    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.