Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE AUDUBON SOCIETY OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA'S MISSION IS TO CONNECT THE PEOPLE OF SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA TO BIRDS AND NATURE THROUGH OUR PROGRAM, PROJECTS, AND PLACES.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $2.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 0.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 51
- Volunteers
- 1,246
- Highest pay
- $150,271, executive director thru aug
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
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 55% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 2513 of 13 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 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 (3)
- $1.7 million spent. AUDUBON SOCIETY OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA (ASWP) PROVIDES PROGRAMS AND OFFERINGS THAT CONNECT PEOPLE TO NATURE AND EMPOWER THEM TO UNDERSTAND, CONSERVE, AND RESTORE THE NATURAL WORLD. ASWP STRIVES TO PROVIDE A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS, WELCOMING THEM TO ENJOY THE NATURAL WORLD. IN THE PAST YEAR, ASWP DELIVERED NEARLY 1,200 TOTAL BIRD-RELATED, EDUCATION, AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS TO INDIVIDUALS IN ALLEGHENY, ARMSTRONG, BEAVER, BUTLER, FAYETTE, WASHINGTON, AND WESTMORELAND COUNTIES. ASWP'S PROGRAMS ENGAGED OVER 30,000 INDIVIDUALS (2/3 OF WHICH WERE STUDENTS). ASWP ALSO OFFERS TRAINING FOR MASTER BIRDERS AND MASTER NATURALISTS, WHO AMPLIFY OUR REACH BY VOLUNTEERING TO LEAD PROGRAMS BOTH AT ASWP AND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. ASWP'S CONSERVATION SUCCESSES INCLUDE ADDING 14 ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BIRD TOWNS TO THE GREATER PITTSBURGH REGION AS WELL AS NEARLY 300 CERTIFIED BACKYARD HABITATS. ASWP CONTINUED VALUABLE RESEARCH ON CHIMNEY SWIFTS THROUGH MONITORING OVER 100 NESTING AND ROOSTING TOWERS; ASWP MAINTAINS THE CONTINENT'S LARGEST NUMBER OF PURPOSE-BUILT CHIMNEY SWIFT TOWERS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE CRITICAL NESTING HABITAT FOR THIS VULNERABLE SPECIES
- $223,503 spent. AUDUBON SOCIETY OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA (ASWP) OPERATES NATURE STORES AT LOCATIONS IN FOX CHAPEL, BUTLER, AND SARVER, PA PROVIDING A FRIENDLY LANDING SPOT FOR VISITORS TO ENGAGE WITH US. THE STORES CARRY ASWP'S PROPRIETARY BIRD SEED, BEECHWOOD BLEND, WHICH IS SPECIALLY FORMULATED FOR THE BIRDS IN THIS REGION. BY PROVIDING PRODUCTS THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO BETTER ENJOY THE NATURAL WORLD, FROM BINOCULARS TO GARDENING TOOLS, WE INCREASE CONNECTION AND ACCESSIBILITY TO BIRDS, NATIVE PLANTS, AND WILDLIFE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. AUDUBON NATURE STORES ALSO FOCUS ON LOCALLY PRODUCED NATURAL ITEMS SUCH AS HONEY AND MAPLE SYRUP, AS WELL AS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PRODUCTS CREATED FROM REUSED, RECYCLED, OR REPURPOSED MATERIALS. A DISCOUNT IS OFFERED ON MOST ITEMS FOR ASWP MEMBERS. DURING SPECIAL PROMOTIONS, INCLUDING A SPRING AND FALL NATIVE PLANT SALE, DISCOUNTS ARE EXTENDED TO ALL INDIVIDUALS. AUDUBON NATURE STORE AT BEECHWOOD FARMS NATURE RESERVE IS HOME TO ASWP'S NATIVE PLANT NURSERY. THE NURSERY IS OPEN ANY TIME THE STORE IS OPEN, ALLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO SHOP FOR PLANTS THAT SUPPORT WILDLIFE INCLUDING BIRDS, BENEFICIAL INSECTS, AND BUTTERFLIES. ASWP SOLD 14,344 PLANTS IN 2025, REPRESENTING 130 SPECIES OF LOCALLY SOURCED NATIVE PLANTS.
- $511,113 spent. SUCCOP NATURE PARK (SNP) IS ONE OF AUDUBON SOCIETY OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA'S (ASWP) FOUR PUBLIC PROPERTIES. A 50-ACRE FORMER FARM ESTATE IN BUTLER COUNTY WITH JUST UNDER TWO MILES OF TRAILS WEAVING THROUGH A VARIETY OF HABITATS, SUCCOP NATURE PARK WELCOMES WALKERS AND HIKERS TO ENJOY ITS TWO PONDS, 200-YEAR-OLD MAIN HOUSE, AND 1883 BARN. EDUCATION PROGRAMS TAKE PLACE YEAR-ROUND ON THE PROPERTY, BOTH ON THE TRAILS AND INSIDE THE BARN CLASSROOM. ASWP CREATED HIGH-QUALITY NATURAL HABITAT AT SNP THROUGH HABITAT RESTORATION AND INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT. SNP'S NATURE TRAILS ARE OPEN FOR FREE TO THE PUBLIC YEAR-ROUND, FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET, PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF WALKS IN NATURE. IN ADDITION TO ASWP'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, SNP IS UTILIZED AS A POPULAR OUTDOOR WEDDING VENUE FROM APRIL OCTOBER. SMALLER WEDDINGS ARE HELD IN THE HISTORIC HOUSE DURING THE COLDER MONTHS. SNP ALSO HOSTS FREE MUSIC CONCERTS/PUBLIC PICNICS AND PAID RENTALS FOR SMALLER GATHERINGS AND PRIVATE PARTIES.
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
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 November 6, 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 June 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 1966.
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 November 4, 2026.
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