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Morro Coast Audubon Society

EIN 23-7165021 · Morro Bay, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE THE APPRECIATION, CONSERVATION, AND RESTORATION OF ECOSYSTEMS, FOCUSING ON THE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF BIRDS, OTHER WILDLIFE, AND THEIR HABITATS, PARTICULARLY IN SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

Income
$191,778
Spending
$165,588
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
42.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 43%
Employees
2
Volunteers
380

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 42.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 93% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (5)
  1. $52,935 spent. SWEET SPRINGS NATURE PRESERVE: 32+ ACRES LOCATED OFF RAMONA AVENUE IN THE TOWN OF LOS OSOS, HAS BEEN OWNED, MANAGED, AND BY THE MORRO COAST AUDUBON SOCIETY SINCE 1989. THE PRESERVE OFFERS HIKING TRAILS, BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF MORRO BAY AND MORRO ROCK, AND EXCELLENT BIRDING OPPORTUNITIES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
  2. $36,875 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS LIKE "FEATHER AND BIYN" ENGAGE STUDENTS OF DIFFERENT AGES IN HANDS-ON ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING. FEATHER (FOSTERING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH) IS A TRANSDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT COMBINES SCIENCE, RESEARCH, COLLEGE-READINESS SKILLS, AND BIRD STUDIES TO PROMOTE CONSERVATION AWARENESS AND REAL-WORLD CITIZEN SCIENCE EXPERIENCES. BIYN (BIRDS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD) INTRODUCES 3RD AND 4TH GRADERS ACROSS SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY TO LOCAL BIRD SPECIES THROUGH INTERACTIVE LESSONS ON TOPICS LIKE NESTS, FEATHERS, AND TAXIDERMY, FOLLOWED BY GUIDED BIRD WALKS WHERE STUDENTS USE BINOCULARSOFTEN FOR THE FIRST TIMETO IDENTIFY BIRDS AROUND THEIR SCHOOLYARDS. OVER 1350+ STUDENTS PARTICIPANT EVERY YEAR.
  3. $13,777 spent. HI MOUNTAIN CONDOR LOOKOUT: A FIELD RESEARCH FACILITY WHICH MONITORS MOVEMENTS OF THE ENDANGERED CALIFORNIA CONDOR POPULATION AND CONDUCTS.
  4. $5,250 spent. FIELD TRIPS: OFFERING 6 TO 8 FREE FIELD TRIPS A MONTH TO BIRDING HOTSPOTS THROUGHOUT SLO COUNTY. THESE TRIPS ARE LED BY EXPERIENCED LEADERS WHO ENJOY SHARING THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND THEIR LOVE OF BIRDS WITH OTHER INTERESTED BIRDERS. TWO OF THE MONTHLY TRIPS ARE USUALLY DESIGNATED AS MEMBERS ONLY. UPWARDS OF 850 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE ANNUALLY.
  5. $4,921 spent. HOLIDAY BIRD COUNT: THE MB COUNT IS CONDUCTED WITHIN A CIRCLE, 15 MILES IN DIAMETER. THE CIRCLE IS DIVIDED INTO 54 SECTORS. MANY COUNTERS ARE NEEDED TO ACHIEVE A GOOD COUNT AND MAINTAIN MCAS' HIGH AND NATIONALLY ACCREDITED RANKING. OUR SUCCESS IN THE NATIONAL RANKING HAS BEEN THE RESULT OF HAVING LOTS OF PEOPLE IN THE FIELD.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 June 1986.

    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.

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