Houston Audubon Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To advance the conservation of birds and their habitats in the Greater Houston Gulf Coast region by acquiring and maintaining critical habitat as bird sanctuaries, providing education programs and nature experiences, and advocating policy and management actions.
- Income
- $5.3 million
- Spending
- $2.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- 13.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 33
- Volunteers
- 500
- Highest pay
- $44,410, chair-elect, interim president/ceo
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 59% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 118% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1566% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 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)
- $816,084 spent. LAND & HABITAT CONSERVATION: Houston Audubon owns and manages 17 nature sanctuaries spanning Greater Houston and the Upper Texas Coast, totaling 4,112 acres of diverse habitat critical to 300+ migratory and resident bird species. The sanctuaries are managed with an emphasis on bird monitoring and protection, habitat restoration, and providing public access to nature. Staff, volunteers and contractors removed invasive plants from 16 acres of Houston Audubon's coastal properties this year, and 300+ plants propagated at the Entergy Coastal Natives Nursery in High Island were used in coastal restoration efforts. Staff and volunteers conducted over 80 bird surveys that contributed valuable data both for direct management efforts and for larger data sets used by federal, state and other regional professionals.
- $635,032 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH & EDUCATION: Houston Audubon reached over 11,000 people while delivering 200 programs at its sanctuaries and across the region, including school visits, camps, field trips, bird surveys, and community events. Houston Audubon organized the 6th annual Houston Bird Week in September 2024 which featured 44 events including bird walks, trash cleanups and art classes. Houston Audubon continued to build relationships with underserved communities and to engage individuals reflective of Houston's diversity. In May 2025 Houston Audubon co-hosted a World Migratory Bird Day celebration at Burnett Bayland Park, where attendees participated in fun educational activities and learned about native plants at the park's pollinator garden maintained by Houston Audubon and its community partners.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1970.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.