Kalamazoo Nature Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Create relationships & experiences that welcome and inspire people to discover, enjoy, value, and care for nature. Kalamazoo Nature Center envisions a resilient community where all people have strong interconnections with the natural world.
- Income
- $9.5 million
- Spending
- $5.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 47.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 58%
- Employees
- 117
- Volunteers
- 810
- Highest pay
- $80,765, cfo
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 47.8 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 126% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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 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 (3)
- $1.2 million spent. We serve people of all ages through award winning education programs and community outreach to some of Kalamazoo's most vulnerable populations. Our programs include extended experiences comprising early childhood education at Nature's Way Preschool, on and offsite school K-12 programs, camp experiences from preschool through high school, and high school conservation studies at Heronwood Field Station.
- $1.5 million spent. Research activities at KNC create partnerships with scientists to understand the restoration and conservation needs of native habitats and species, with a particular focus on long-term bird surveys. Stewardship activities protect, conserve, and restore KNC's ecological heritage through a variety of sustainable land management practices across the Center's 1,500+ acres of land. KNC's ecological services division works with private and public landowners to find more sustainable solutions for their land management needs. And, conservation engagement programs cultivate care for nature through immersive education in regenerative agriculture, animal ambassador encounters, and thoughtfully maintained trails and gardens.
- $1.2 million spent. We provide year-round environmental education experiences that foster understanding and stewardship of the natural world. Services include more than 12,700 square feet of interpretive exhibits, one-time educational programs for all ages, public events and mission-aligned support for private events held on the facility's premises.
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 September 1962.
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.