Tune in to Nature Org
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Birds Connect us with the joy and wonder of nature. By telling vivid, sound-rich stories about birds and the challenges they face, BirdNote inspires listeners to care about the natural world and take steps to protect it.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- 6.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $158,495, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 30% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
7 of 7Has a 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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)
- $769,141 spent. BirdNote inspires people to care about the natural world and take steps to protect it. BirdNotes beloved flagship 2-minute daily show, BirdNote Daily, continues to be one of the most popular public radio shows in North America (broadcast on over 360 stations) and within the top 1% of all podcasts by number of downloads. The Spanish language versions of that show, BirdNote en Espanol, continues to gain radio and podcast audiences throughout the Americas. BirdNotes longform podcast, Bring Birds Back, is among the top global nature podcasts in the world, covering the most pressing issues in bird conservation and the ways we can all help make a better world for birds and people through simple, everyday actions. BirdNotes 3-year campaign to inspire a million people to take action to help birds by 2027 showed remarkable impact in 2026. A national impact survey of 2,850 radio listeners conducted by a third party polling organization revealed that since its first broadcast, BirdNotes public radio shows have inspired between 9.25 and 12.75 million people to take action to help birds, with between 4.25 and 6.4 million of those people taking action during the previous 18 months alone. This demonstrates that BirdNotes shows are not only beloved, but that they have also been one of the most effective interventions for bird conservation of the past 20 years
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 January 2007.
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.
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.