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National Aviary Pittsburgh Inc

EIN 25-1667146 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROTECT AND PROVIDE FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES, TO CONDUCT AVIAN RESEARCH AND PROVIDE INFORMATION AS A NATIONAL RESOURCE, TO PROVIDE A RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND TO PROMOTE AN APPRECIATION OF NATURAL LAW AND A RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Income
$9.9 million
Spending
$10.5 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 42%
Employees
134
Volunteers
105
Highest pay
$281,161, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 29 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 December 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)
  1. $2.4 million spent. VISITOR RECREATION AND EDUCATION: THE NATIONAL AVIARY IS THE NATION'S AVIARY PRIDING ITSELF ON PROVIDING FUN, IMMERSIVE AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR THEIR GUESTS. A VISIT TO THE NATIONAL AVIARY IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER WITH LUSH WALK-THROUGH HABITATS WHERE BIRDS FLY OVERHEAD, INTERACTIVE DAILY ACTIVITIES THAT CHANGE EVERY SEASON, EXHILARATING ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS THAT OFFER A WINDOW INTO THE WORLD OF BIRDING CONSERVATION AND STEM-BASED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. IN 2025, THE NATIONAL AVIARY WELCOMED 228,741 GUESTS AND PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH TO MORE THAN 25,537 PEOPLE. LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAMMING AND CONSERVATION AT AVIARY.ORG!
  2. $988,431 spent. WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH: THE NATIONAL AVIARY MADE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TO ITS AVIAN COLLECTION IN 2025 WITH THE ACQUISITION OF 51 BIRDS REPRESENTING 27 SPECIES. THREE NEW SPECIES ADDED TO THE COLLECTION INCLUDED THE CARMINE BEE EATER, CUBAN GRASSQUIT, AND THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED BLUE CROWNED LAUGHING THRUSH. FIFTY-EIGHT CHICKS HATCHED REPRESENTING 17 SPECIES HIGHLIGHTED BY 2 GUAM KINGFISHERS, 2 AFRICAN PENGUINS, 12 RED SISKINS, AND 1 HOODED VULTURE. OUR TWO MAJOR FIELD CONSERVATION PROGRAMS WERE FURTHER DEVELOPED IN 2025 AND INCLUDED THE ADDITION OF AN EDUCATION PROGRAM TO OUR SATELLITE TELEMETRY PROGRAM FOR ANDEAN CONDORS IN SOUTHERN ECUADOR AND AN ARTIFICIAL NEST BURROW PROJECT FOR AFRICAN PENGUINS IN NAMBIA WHICH HAD 100 MORE ARTIFICIAL NEST BURROWS IN NAMBIA DEPLOYED.
  3. $1.3 million spent. ADVANCED ON-SITE AVIAN TREATMENT AND CARE: THE NATIONAL AVIARY'S VETERINARY HOSPITAL PROVIDES SPECIALIZED AVIAN MEDICINE SERVICES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OVER 550 ANIMALS; BIRDS, MAMMALS, AND REPTILES. SERVICES INCLUDE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE, EMERGENCY SERVICES, FULL LABORATORY TESTING, ANESTHESIA AND SURGERY. IN 2025, OVER 350 ANIMALS RECEIVED PREVENTATIVE HEALTH SCREENS AND TREATMENTS INCLUDING 131 BIRDS & MAMMALS RECEIVING 182 VACCINATIONS TO PROTECT THEM AGAINST WEST NILE AND POLYOMA VIRUS (BIRDS), RABIES AND DISTEMPER (MAMMALS). TO PREVENT COMMON AVIAN PNEUMONIA (ASPERGILLOSIS), 176 BIRDS RECEIVED PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE INCLUDING ORAL AND INHALED TREATMENT WITH A 100% SUCCESS RATE. IN THE AVIARY'S CARE, 19 CRITICALLY ENDANGERED AFRICAN PENGUINS RECEIVED INDIVIDUALIZED AVIAN MALARIA PREVENTION.
  4. $2.9 million spent. THE OTHER REMAINING EXPENSES ARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO VARIOUS EXHIBITS AND DAILY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 August 1992.

    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.