Armand Bayou Nature Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To preserve the habitats with which we have been entrusted and to provide opportunities for people to experience and understand the local ecosystems through preservation and education we strive to reconnect people with nature.
- Income
- $7.8 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- -40.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 42%
- Employees
- 35
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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 82% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 330% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% 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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2523 of 19 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $974,719 spent. Stewardship: ABNC is one of the largest urban wilderness preserves in the nation, conserving one of the most extensive holdings of coastal tallgrass prairie in the lower Galveston Bay watershed. Currently, over 900 acres are actively managed within out preserve boundaries. Critical prairie habitat is annually being restored and then preserved through controlled burns and mowing to reduce invasive species and replanting native grasses an forbs propagated in out native plant nursery. More recently, ABNC has assumed management of a 24-acre tract that specifically protects the endangered Prarie Dawn Flower species. Additionally, ABNC manages over 330 acres of Texas State Coastal Preserve in the Armand Bayou watershed, restoring intertidal marsh to maintain appropriate water depth and encourage native plant and animal recolonization.
- Education: Over 9,500 students of all ages participate in ABNC environmental education programs annually. School groups attend Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills TEKS correlated outdoor classes, field trips, and unique natural and cultural history programs. ABNC offers outdoor nature camps each summer and winter, scouting and similar youth programs, and community outreaches. ABNC has also introduced a range of early-childhood outdoor programs and STEM focused classes to support homeschool programs.
- All other accomplishments
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
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 December 2024.
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 August 1974.
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.