Great Salt Lake Audubon
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
GREAT SALT LAKE AUDUBON, A CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY, WAS FOUNDED IN 1912 AND IS THE OLDEST CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION IN UTAH. THIS VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION STRIVES TO MEET ITS MISSION THROUGH VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, SEMINARS, EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIPS, HABITAT RESTORATION AND INFORMATIVE GENERAL MEETINGS WITH GUEST PRESENTERS. WE ALSO SUPPORT STATE AND LOCAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS. GREAT SALT LAKE AUDUBON IS DEDICATED TO PROTECTING AND ENHANCING HABITAT FOR WILD BIRDS, ANIMALS AND PLANTS, AND TO MAINTAINING HEALTHY AND DIVERSE ENVIRONMENTS FOR WILDLIFE AND PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
- Income
- $61,351
- Spending
- $72,506
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 65.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 69%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 218
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 65.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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)
- $65,323 spent. - BIRDS 'N BITES MONTHLY MEETINGS ARE STILL BEING CONDUCTED VIRTUALLY, BUT WE PLAN TO ADD IN-PERSON MEETINGS IN THE COMING YEAR. - EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDING MONTHLY GENERAL MEETINGS FOR MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC, SOME SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. ONLINE OFFERINGS WERE EXTENDED TO KEEP PEOPLE ENGAGED AND WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR INDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS. - SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE GREAT SALT LAKE INSTITUTE AT WESTMINSTER COLLEGE, INCLUDING THE ANNUAL FALL FORUM EDUCATION SEMINAR. - BI-MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION OF THE GSLA NEWSLETTER, THE PELICAN, HIGHLIGHTING CONSERVATION ISSUES, FIELD TRIP OFFERINGS, RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF GSLA, AND NOTICES OF GENERAL INTEREST. WE ARE NOW ISSUING IN DIGITAL FORMAT ONLY TO REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. - SPONSORED APPROXIMATELY 95 BIRDING FIELD TRIPS OPEN TO AUDUBON MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. ALSO PROVIDED OVER 30 DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS/EVENTS TO VARIOUS PUBLIC GROUPS IN ADDITION TO THE BIRDS 'N BITES PROGRAMS - SPONSORED THE DOYLE W. STEPHENS RESEARCH PROGRAM, THE GREAT SALT LAKE BIRD FESTIVAL, INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP AND THE GREAT SALT LAKE ISSUES FORUM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FRIENDS OF GREAT SALT LAKE AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. - CONDUCTED LOCAL PARTICIPATION IN THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT (NATIONAL ACTIVITY), THE JORDAN RIVER BIRD COUNT (LOCAL ACTIVITY) AND THE BRIGHTON BIRD COUNT (LOCAL ACTIVITY). - MANAGEMENT AND REPAIR OF THE BLUEBIRD BOX TRAIL AT STRAWBERRY RESERVOIR. - PARTNERED WITH OTHER LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS TRACY AVIARY, GREAT SALT LAKE ALLIANCE, FRIENDS OF GREAT SALT LAKE, UTAH PHYSICIANS FOR A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT, AND STOP THE POLLUTING PORT COALITION, IN ORDER TO INSURE THAT IMPACTS FROM PORT DEVELOPMENT TO BIRDS AND HABITAT OF THE GREAT SALT LAKE ECOSYSTEM ARE MINIMIZED. - MAINTAINED THE PRESENCE OF A LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATE TO LOBBY THE UTAH LEGISLATURE ON ISSUES REGARDING HABITAT CONSERVATION AND ESPECIALLY THOSE RELATED TO THE DRYING OF THE GREAT SALT LAKE. - SUBMISSION OF COMMENTS AND POSITION STATEMENTS TO DECISION-MAKING AGENCIES REGARDING LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT IMPACT BIRDS, WILDLIFE AND HABITAT. - CONTINUED TO EXPAND BOTH OUR DARK SKIES AND BIRD WINDOW COLLISION PROGRAMS WHICH INFORM MEMBERS, THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND PUBLIC/PRIVATE LARGE BUILDING OWNERS HOW TO MITIGATE THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF LIGHT POLLUTION AND WINDOW COLLISIONS ON BIRDS. BEGAN INSTALLING WINDOW MITIGATION MATERIALS ON PRIVATE RESIDENCES IN ORDER TO REDUCE BIRD-WINDOW COLLISIONS. - AWARDED 25,000 IN SMALL GRANTS TO THIRTEEN DIFFERENT NON-PROFIT OR EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR PROJECTS THAT FURTHER THE MISSION AND GOALS OF GREAT SALT LAKE AUDUBON. - BIRDS 'N BITES MONTHLY MEETINGS ARE STILL BEING CONDUCTED VIRTUALLY, BUT WE PLAN TO ADD IN-PERSON MEETINGS IN THE COMING YEAR. - EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDING MONTHLY GENERAL MEETINGS FOR MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC, SOME SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. ONLINE OFFERINGS WERE EXTENDED TO KEEP PEOPLE ENGAGED AND WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR INDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS. - SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE GREAT SALT LAKE INSTITUTE AT WESTMINSTER COLLEGE, INCLUDING THE ANNUAL FALL FORUM EDUCATION SEMINAR. - BI-MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION OF THE GSLA NEWSLETTER, THE PELICAN, HIGHLIGHTING CONSERVATION ISSUES, FIELD TRIP OFFERINGS, RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF GSLA, AND NOTICES OF GENERAL INTEREST. WE ARE NOW ISSUING IN DIGITAL FORMAT ONLY TO REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. - SPONSORED APPROXIMATELY 95 BIRDING FIELD TRIPS OPEN TO AUDUBON MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. ALSO PROVIDED OVER 30 DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS/EVENTS TO VARIOUS PUBLIC GROUPS IN ADDITION TO THE BIRDS 'N BITES PROGRAMS - SPONSORED THE DOYLE W. STEPHENS RESEARCH PROGRAM, THE GREAT SALT LAKE BIRD FESTIVAL, INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP AND THE GREAT SALT LAKE ISSUES FORUM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FRIENDS OF GREAT SALT LAKE AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. - CONDUCTED LOCAL PARTICIPATION IN THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT (NATIONAL ACTIVITY), THE JORDAN RIVER BIRD COUNT (LOCAL ACTIVITY) AND THE BRIGHTON BIRD COUNT (LOCAL ACTIVITY). - MANAGEMENT AND REPAIR OF THE BLUEBIRD BOX TRAIL AT STRAWBERRY RESERVOIR. - PARTNERED WITH OTHER LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS TRACY AVIARY, GREAT SALT LAKE ALLIANCE, FRIENDS OF GREAT SALT LAKE, UTAH PHYSICIANS FOR A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT, AND STOP THE POLLUTING PORT COALITION, IN ORDER TO INSURE THAT IMPACTS FROM PORT DEVELOPMENT TO BIRDS AND HABITAT OF THE GREAT SALT LAKE ECOSYSTEM ARE MINIMIZED. - MAINTAINED THE PRESENCE OF A LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATE TO LOBBY THE UTAH LEGISLATURE ON ISSUES REGARDING HABITAT CONSERVATION AND ESPECIALLY THOSE RELATED TO THE DRYING OF THE GREAT SALT LAKE. - SUBMISSION OF COMMENTS AND POSITION STATEMENTS TO DECISION-MAKING AGENCIES REGARDING LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT IMPACT BIRDS, WILDLIFE AND HABITAT. - CONTINUED TO EXPAND BOTH OUR DARK SKIES AND BIRD WINDOW COLLISION PROGRAMS WHICH INFORM MEMBERS, THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND PUBLIC/PRIVATE LARGE BUILDING OWNERS HOW TO MITIGATE THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF LIGHT POLLUTION AND WINDOW COLLISIONS ON BIRDS. BEGAN INSTALLING WINDOW MITIGATION MATERIALS ON PRIVATE RESIDENCES IN ORDER TO REDUCE BIRD-WINDOW COLLISIONS. - AWARDED 25,000 IN SMALL GRANTS TO THIRTEEN DIFFERENT NON-PROFIT OR EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR PROJECTS THAT FURTHER THE MISSION AND GOALS OF GREAT SALT LAKE AUDUBON.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 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 May 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 April 1971.
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.