Buffalo Audubon Society Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BUFFALO AUDUBON SOCIETY LEADS AND INSPIRES WESTERN NEW YORKERS TO CONNECT WITH AND PROTECT THE NATURAL WORLD THROUGH BIRD-FOCUSED ACTIVITIES, ADVOCACY AND HABITAT RESTORATION.
- Income
- $879,023
- Spending
- $787,534
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 2.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 56%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $85,600, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 51% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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 (1)
- $582,643 spent. AT BUFFALO AUDUBON NATURE CENTER, WE ARE COMMITTED TO INSPIRING CURIOSITY, FOSTERING CONNECTIONS WITH NATURE, AND EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS TO BECOME ACTIVE STEWARDS OF OUR BIRDS, WILDLIFE, AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. DEDICATED TO FOSTERING A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR NATURE THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES. OUR OFFERINGS ENCOMPASS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS TAILORED FOR ALL AGE GROUPS, FROM ELEMENTARY TO HIGH SCHOOL, AIMED AT INSTILLING A LOVE FOR THE NATURAL WORLD AND PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. WE ALSO PROVIDE CONSERVATION & PRESERVATION SERVICES, ACTIVELY WORKING TO PROTECT AND RESTORE HABITATS CRUCIAL FOR LOCAL WILDLIFE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTING SPECIALIZED HABITATS SUCH AS ISLANDS. OUR NATURE TOURS AND BIRDING TOURS OFFER IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES IN THE BEAUTY OF THE OUTDOORS, ALLOWING VISITORS TO EXPLORE DIVERSE ECOSYSTEMS AND OBSERVE A WIDE VARIETY OF BIRD SPECIES. PRESERVATION SEMINARS, LECTURES, AND WORKSHOPS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTINUED LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT WITH EXPERTS IN THE FIELD, WHILE OUR LIBRARY FACILITIES OFFER RESOURCES TO SUPPORT RESEARCH AND LEARNING. MEMBERS AND VISITORS ALSO ENJOY OUR NATURAL HISTORY EXHIBITS THAT SHOWCASE THE REGION'S RICH BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AND CONSERVATION INITIATIVES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. ADDITIONALLY, OUR SUMMER CAMPS PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND OUTDOOR ADVENTURES. AT THE SAME TIME, ADULT NATURE EDUCATION PROGRAMS CATER TO LIFELONG LEARNERS SEEKING TO DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURAL WORLD. THE NATURE CENTER MAINTAINS OVER 8 MILES OF NATURE TRAILS THAT SERVE AS AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE FOR INDIVIDUALS LOOKING TO LEARN ABOUT BIRDS AND NATURE WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY PROMOTING EXERCISE, HEALTH, AND OUTDOOR ENJOYMENT. HERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS IN WHICH SUCH A NATURE CENTER FULFILLS THESE GOALS: 1.EDUCATIONAL SIGNAGE AND INTERPRETIVE MATERIALS: THE TRAILS ARE LINED WITH INFORMATIVE AND INTERPRETIVE MATERIALS HIGHLIGHTING LOCAL BIRD SPECIES, PLANT LIFE, AND ECOSYSTEMS. THIS GIVES VISITORS A SELF-GUIDED EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE, FOSTERING A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION FOR NATURE. 2.GUIDED BIRDING TOURS: THE NATURE CENTER ORGANIZES GUIDED BIRDING TOURS ALONG THE TRAILS, LED BY KNOWLEDGEABLE NATURALISTS. THESE TOURS ALLOW PARTICIPANTS TO LEARN ABOUT BIRD SPECIES, BEHAVIORS, AND HABITATS, ENHANCING THEIR BIRDWATCHING SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE. 3.NATURE INTERPRETATION PROGRAMS: THE TRAILS CAN BE INTEGRATED INTO A SCHOOL'S SCIENCE OR NATURE INTERPRETATION PROGRAMS, WHERE STUDENTS AND ADULTS ARE GUIDED THROUGH VARIOUS POINTS OF INTEREST, SHOWCASING THE DIVERSE FLORA AND FAUNA. THESE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES HELP IN CONNECTING THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE WITH REAL-WORLD OBSERVATIONS. 4.FITNESS AND EXERCISE OPPORTUNITIES: THE EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF TRAILS PROVIDES AN IDEAL ENVIRONMENT FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. HIKING, WALKING, JOGGING, AND BIRDWATCHING CONTRIBUTE TO CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH AND WELL- BEING. NATURE TRAIL WALKING HAS ALSO BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS, REDUCING STRESS AND PROMOTING MINDFULNESS. 5.OUTDOOR RECREATION AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES: FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS CAN ENGAGE IN MORE THAN 1000 ACRES OF NATURAL HABITAT, WHICH PROVIDES RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS PICNICS, NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY, AND WILDLIFE OBSERVATION ALONG THE TRAILS. THESE ACTIVITIES PROMOTE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR QUALITY TIME SPENT IN NATURE. 6.ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS PROGRAMS: THE CENTER AND TRAILS SERVE AS PLATFORMS FOR OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS PROGRAMS, WHERE VISITORS ARE EDUCATED ABOUT CONSERVATION EFFORTS, HABITAT PRESERVATION, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY. THESE PROGRAMS INSPIRE A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS NATURE. 7.EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS: THE NATURE CENTER ORGANIZES SEVERAL ANNUAL EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS ALONG THE TRAILS, COVERING TOPICS LIKE BIRD IDENTIFICATION, PLANT LIFE, AND NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY. THESE INTERACTIVE SESSIONS ENHANCE LEARNING AND MAKE THE EXPERIENCE MORE ENJOYABLE. 8.COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: THE ENTIRE NATURE CENTER AND ITS' MANY TRAILS ATTRACT A DIVERSE RANGE OF INDIVIDUALS, FOSTERING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AMONG NATURE ENTHUSIASTS. THIS SHARED INTEREST CAN LEAD TO COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP. IN SUMMARY, BUFFALO AUDUBON'S NATURE CENTER, WITH ITS BEAUTIFUL NATURE CENTER, OBSERVATORY, AND AN EXTENSIVE SYSTEM OF WELL-GROOMED TRAILS, PLAYS A MULTIFACETED ROLE BY OFFERING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES, PROMOTING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, SUPPORTING HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH AND APPRECIATE THE NATURAL WORLD. AT BUFFALO AUDUBON NATURE CENTER, WE ARE COMMITTED TO INSPIRING CURIOSITY, FOSTERING CONNECTIONS WITH NATURE, AND EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS TO BECOME ACTIVE STEWARDS OF OUR BIRDS, WILDLIFE, AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. DEDICATED TO FOSTERING A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR NATURE THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES. OUR OFFERINGS ENCOMPASS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS TAILORED FOR ALL AGE GROUPS, FROM ELEMENTARY TO HIGH SCHOOL, AIMED AT INSTILLING A LOVE FOR THE NATURAL WORLD AND PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. WE ALSO PROVIDE CONSERVATION & PRESERVATION SERVICES, ACTIVELY WORKING TO PROTECT AND RESTORE HABITATS CRUCIAL FOR LOCAL WILDLIFE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTING SPECIALIZED HABITATS SUCH AS ISLANDS. OUR NATURE TOURS AND BIRDING TOURS OFFER IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES IN THE BEAUTY OF THE OUTDOORS, ALLOWING VISITORS TO EXPLORE DIVERSE ECOSYSTEMS AND OBSERVE A WIDE VARIETY OF BIRD SPECIES. PRESERVATION SEMINARS, LECTURES, AND WORKSHOPS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTINUED LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT WITH EXPERTS IN THE FIELD, WHILE OUR LIBRARY FACILITIES OFFER RESOURCES TO SUPPORT RESEARCH AND LEARNING. MEMBERS AND VISITORS ALSO ENJOY OUR NATURAL HISTORY EXHIBITS THAT SHOWCASE THE REGION'S RICH BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AND CONSERVATION IN
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 October 13, 2026.
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 November 6, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending April 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1971.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 2026.
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