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Salem Audubon Society

EIN 23-7098433 · Stayton, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE THE APPRECIATION OF NATURE AND RESPECT FOR NATURAL PLACES, FOCUSING ON BIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE, AND FOSTERING ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY WITH PROGRAMS CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH NATURE.

Income
$153,684
Spending
$180,040
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
44.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
1
Highest pay
$21,600, administrator

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 44.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% 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 September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (4)
  1. $101,505 spent. MEMBERSHIP: THE SALEM AUDUBON SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP CONTINUES TO GROW, UP TO 900. MEMBERSHIP IS COMPRISED OF A COMBINATION OF NATIONAL AUDUBON MEMBERS WHO LIVE IN OUR SERVICE AREA (MARION, POLK, AND YAMHILL COUNTIES) AND LOCAL CHAPTER MEMBERS. WE HAVE AN ACTIVE VOLUNTEER WORKFORCE OF APPROXIMATELY 200 HARDWORKING SALEM AUDUBON MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WHO DONATE AN ESTIMATED 4,500 HOURS TO SALEM AUDUBON-SPONSORED ACTIVITIES
  2. $26,179 spent. PUBLIC PROGRAMS: SALEM AUDUBON SOCIETY OFFERS PROGRAMS FOCUSED MAINLY ON BIRDS IN THEIR NATURAL HABITATS. THE PROGRAMS ALSO EMPHASIS CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES. OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND FEATURE GUEST SPEAKERS MAKING POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS. IN THE PAST YEAR, WE CONDUCTED 10 SUCH PUBLIC LECTURES WITH APPROXIMATELY 400 ATTENDEES. DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE PROGRAMS WERE OFFERED IN A HYBRID FORMAT, WITH ATTENDANCE OPTIONS BOTH IN PERSON AND THROUGH ZOOM. WE ALSO ORGANIZED AND LED AROUND 36 FIELD TRIPS AND BIRD WALKS FOR THE COMMUNITY WITH A TOTAL OF AROUND 400 PARTICIPANTS. WE OFFERED 2 ZOOM WEBINARS ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS MOSTLY FOCUSED ON BIRDS, ATTENDED BY AROUND 50 PARTICIPANTS. THESE WEBINARS ARE RECORDED AND UPLOAD TO THE SALEM AUDUBONS YOUTUBE CHANNEL. CURRENTLY WE HAVE 49 VIDEOS WEVE PRODUCED ON THIS YOUTUBE CHANNEL, WITH A TOTAL OF 3,867 VIEWS. WORK CONTINUED AT THE NATURE RESERVE IN WEST SALEM.
  3. $26,178 spent. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION: SALEM AUDUBON SOCIETY HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROVIDER IN THE MID-WILLAMETTE VALLEY FOR SEVERAL DECADES, DELIVERING AROUND 40 PROGRAMS PER YEAR TO MOSTLY K-12 SCHOOLS--PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND ALTERNATIVE. IN ADDITION, THE TRAVELING EDUCATION PROGRAM PARTICIPATES IN COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS THE MSWD STREAM CELEBRATION AND PRESENTS AT EVENTS FOR ADULTS INCLUDING AT CENTER 50 AND THE SALEM GROW AND SHOW GARDEN CLUB. FOR THE 2025 YEAR, WE REACHED AN AUDIENCE OF 1002 PEOPLE. FOR THE PAST DECADE, WE HAVE BEEN PARTNERING WITH U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS OF THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY NWR COMPLEX IN CREATING AND OPERATING A NEW NATURE CENTER AT ANKENY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SOUTH OF SALEM. THE NATURE CENTER SERVES AS A RESOURCE FOR REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, WITH TWO CLASSROOMS. IN FY 2024-25, WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 15,000 PEOPLE VISIT THE NATURE CENTER, AND 26 ORGANIZATIONS DELIVER ENVIRONMENTAL
  4. $26,178 spent. PUBLIC PROGRAMS: SALEM AUDUBON SOCIETY OFFERS PROGRAMS FOCUSED MAINLY ON BIRDS IN THEIR NATURAL HABITATS. THE PROGRAMS ALSO EMPHASIS CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES. OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THEY FEATURE GUEST SPEAKERS MAKING POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS. IN THE PAST YEAR, WE CONDUCTED 10 SUCH PUBLIC LECTURES WITH APPROXIMATELY 400 ATTENDEES. THE PROGRAMS WERE OFFERED IN A HYBRID FORMAT, WITH ATTENDANCE OPTIONS BOTH IN PERSON AND THROUGH ZOOM. MEETINGS ARE RECORDED AND MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON SALEM AUDUBONS YOUTUBE CHANNEL. WE ALSO ORGANIZED AND LED AROUND 50 FIELD TRIPS AND BIRD WALKS FOR THE COMMUNITY WITH A TOTAL OF AROUND 1,000 PARTICIPANTS. WORK CONTINUED AT THE NATURE RESERVE IN WEST SALEM. A DEDICATED WORK PARTY CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN THE NATIVE HABITAT OF THE SEVEN-ACRE PARCEL OF OAK WOODLAND AND ITS SEVERAL WALKING TRAILS. .

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1971.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.