Flat Rock Brook Nature Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO MAINTAIN THE 150-ACRE PRESERVE AS A NATURAL SANCTUARY FOR PLANTS AND WILDLIFE IN OUR URBAN AREA AND AS A NATURE PRESERVE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR TRAIL WALKS, NATURE STUDY AND OTHER PASSIVE RECREATION.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $722,281
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 1.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 57%
- Employees
- 16
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $108,430, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 45% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 73% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2523 of 23 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 August 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 (4)
- $117,524 spent. FLAT ROCK BROOK'S 150 ACRES OF FORESTED LAND IS A UNIQUE SANCTUARY IN A HIGHLY URBANIZED AREA. IT ACTS AS A REFUGE FOR PLANTS AND ANIMAL SPECIES IN AN AREA OTHERWISE LACKING AN ABUNDANCE OF GREEN SPACES. AS STEWARDS OF THE LAND IT IS FLAT ROCK BROOK'S RESPONSIBILITY TO IMPLEMENT PRACTICAL AND EFFECTIVE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PROJECTS THAT ENSURE A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR THE LAND. ALL OF THESE PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES SHARE A SET OF GOALS; TO INCREASE AND CONSERVE BIODIVERSITY, INCREASE THE VIABILITY OF OUR FOREST AS WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND SUPPORT FOREST REGENERATION AND RE-GROWTH OF NATIVE VEGETATION.
- $21,863 spent. SUMMER NATURE DAY CAMP OFFERS HANDS-ON DISCOVERY AND ADVENTURE AND GAMES FOR CHILDREN.
- $16,000 spent. THROUGH CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES AND GUIDED NATURE HIKES, STUDENTS WILL HAVE REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES IN NATURE TO SEE HOW THE ROCK CYCLE AND THE WATER CYCLE ARE CONNECTED AS WELL AS HOW CLIMATE CHANGE HAS AFFECTED BOTH OF THESE CYCLES. THESE CLASSES WILL HIKE TO AREAS SUCH AS OUR GLACIER ROCK TO LEARN HOW THE GLACIERS LEFT THEIR MARK, OUR STREAM TO SEE HOW THE WATER HAS ERODED THE ROCK AND STREAM BED, AS WELL AS OUR WETLAND AND ROCK QUARRY POND AREAS. ALL OF THE EDUCATION PROGRAMMING CONDUCTED THROUGH "EARTH'S ROCK AND WATER CYCLE CONNECTION" WILL AIM TO SUPPORT TEACHERS WITH THE NEW CLIMATE CHANGE CURRICULUM AS WELL AS ENHANCE THE SCIENCE AND NATURE WONDER OF STUDENTS.
- $397,639 spent. FLAT ROCK BROOK'S ONSITE AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS BRING NATURE INTO YOUR CLASSROOM. OUTREACH PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED TO SCHOOLS, HOUSES OF WORSHIP, CAMPS, LIBRARIES, SENIOR CENTERS, AND ANY OTHER GROUP THAT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN IMMERSIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE. THE CLASSROOM-BASED OUTREACH PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO INSPIRE RESPECT FOR NATURE.FLAT ROCK OFFERS ONE-HOUR GUIDED NATURE WALKS FOR GROUPS YEAR ROUND. THESE WALKS ARE AVAILABLE TO GROUPS OF CHILDREN FOUR YEARS OR OLDER, YOUTH GROUPS, ADULT GROUPS, AND GROUPS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. WALKS FOLLOW THE TRAILS AND EXPLORE THE PLANTS AND ANIMALS OF THE POND, FOREST, AND FIELD HABITATS AS WELL AS SEASONAL CHANGES AT THE PRESERVE AND CAN BE CATERED TO THE SPECIFIC NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF EACH GROUP.WE OFFER FUN, NATURE-THEMED BIRTHDAY PARTIES FOR CHILDREN AGES 4 AND OLDER.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1974.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.