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Environmental Nature Center

EIN 23-7182423 · Newport Beach, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE QUALITY EDUCATION THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH NATURE.

Income
$3.3 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
7.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 69%
Employees
60
Volunteers
625

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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (1)
  1. $2.1 million spent. DURING THE 2024-25 PROGRAM YEAR, 30,810 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN ENVIRONMENTAL NATURE CENTER (ENC) PROGRAMS. ENC STAFF NATURALISTS DELIVERED OVER 60,000 HOURS OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, PROVIDING HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT DEEPEN UNDERSTANDING OF BIODIVERSITY, HABITAT CONSERVATION, AND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS AND HUMAN WELL-BEING. THE ENC NATURE PRESCHOOL OPERATED AT FULL CAPACITY, SERVING 72 CHILDREN DAILY. APPROXIMATELY $11,000 WAS ALLOCATED TO SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FAMILIES EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, ENSURING ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY, NATURE-BASED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. THE PRESCHOOL LIAISON PROGRAM CONTINUED TO SUPPORT EDUCATORS BY MODELING OUTDOOR, NATURE-BASED TEACHING STRATEGIES. ON-SITE FIELD TRIPS REACHED A NEW HIGH, SUPPORTED BY EXPANDED PROGRAMMING AT THE ENC TUCKER WILDLIFE SANCTUARY. A TOTAL OF 304 FIELD TRIPS SERVED 17,898 STUDENTS ACROSS BOTH CAMPUSES. MORE THAN $13,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS SUPPORTED ACCESS FOR 4,735 STUDENTS FROM 75 TITLE I SCHOOLS, ENSURING THAT COST WAS NOT A BARRIER TO PARTICIPATION. THE TRAVELING NATURALIST PROGRAM DELIVERED 199 PROGRAMS TO 7,635 STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM HAS ADAPTED BY EXPANDING INTO AFTER-SCHOOL SETTINGS AND LIBRARIES, REACHING NEW AUDIENCES AND STRENGTHENING PATHWAYS TO ON-SITE ENGAGEMENT. ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS REMAINED IN HIGH DEMAND, WITH 1,189 CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD CLASSES AND SEASONAL CAMPS. NEW OFFERINGS INCLUDED EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMMING AT THE TUCKER WILDLIFE SANCTUARY AND THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEURODIVERGENT NATURALISTS PROGRAM, EXPANDING ACCESSIBLITY AND INCLUSIVITY. SUMMER NATURE CAMPS AGAIN FILLED TO CAPACITY, SERVING 798 CHILDREN ACROSS ALL SESSION, REFLECTING STRONG COMMUNITY DEMAND AND CONTINUED PROGRAM EXCELLENCE. YOUTH ENGAGEMENT REMAINED A PRIORITY, WITH 502 SCOUTS PARTICIPATING IN ENC PROGRAMS. STAFF ALSO SUPPORTED NUMBEROUS EAGLE SCOUT AND SILVER AWARD PROJECTS, FOSTERING LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE. BEARTHDAY PARTIES PROVIDED AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ENC FOR NEW FAMILIES WHILE MODELING ZERO-WASTE CELEBRATION PRACTICES. IN 2024-25, 36 PARTIES SERED 529 CHILDREN. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS CONNECTED APPROXIMATELY 2,000 PARTICIPANTS TO NATURE THROUGH OFFERINGS SUCH AS READING IN THE REDWOODS, NATIVE PLANT WALKS, FAMILY CAMPOUTS, QUARTERLY PLANT SALES, AND SPANISH-LANGUAGE PROGRAMMING. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS SERVED 221 EDUCATORS AND TEAM MEMBERS THROUGH THE EXCELLENT EDUCATORS SERIES AND CUSTOMIZED WORKSHOPS FOCUSED ON OUTDOOR, NATURE-BASED TEACHING STRATEGIES. VOLUNTEERS REMAINED ESSENTIAL TO ENCS SUCCESS. IN 2024-25, 625 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 5,212 HOURS OF SERVICE, SUPPORTING PROGRAMS ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS. ENC PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO FOSTER LONG-TERM OUTCOMES INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY, LIFELONG STEWARDSHIP, AND INFORMED EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER PATHWAYS.

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

  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 November 6, 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 June 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 November 1972.

    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 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.