Odc Network
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ADVANCING OUTDOOR EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION IN WEST MICHIGAN.
- Income
- $18.2 million
- Spending
- $18.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- -8.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 51%
- Employees
- 404
- Volunteers
- 435
- Highest pay
- $263,827, ceo
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
Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 48% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 21% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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 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 (1)
- $15.7 million spent. FIRST ACCOMPLISHMENT: IN 2000, A LOCAL NONPROFIT WILDLIFE UNLIMITED OF ALLEGAN AND OTTAWA COUNTIES FORMED A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OTTAWA AREA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO CREATE AN OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER THAT WOULD SERVE THE ALLEGAN AND OTTAWA COUNTIES SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY. THIS ENTITY WAS THE OUTDOOR DISCOVERY CENTER (ODC). NINE YEARS LATER, THE ODC MERGED WITH THE MACATAWA GREENWAY PARTNERSHIP IN AN EFFORT TO LEVERAGE AND EXPAND THEIR MISSIONS. THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF A SIGNIFICANT GROWTH PERIOD FOR THE ODC. IN THE COMING YEARS, 9 ADDITIONAL BUSINESS DIVISIONS WERE DEVELOPED THAT DRIVE OUR GOALS TO REDEFINE EDUCATION, RESTORE AND CONSERVE LAND AND WATER, AND TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, PLAY AND LEARN. OUR BREADTH OF SERVICES LED TO A NAME CHANGE TO THE ODC NETWORK WHICH SERVES AS THE PARENT ORGANIZATION THAT PERFORMS ESSENTIAL, MISSION SPECIFIC WORK TO DRIVE COMMUNITY CHANGE, GROWTH, AND IMPACT IN CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION. THE ODC NETWORK'S MISSION IS TO ADVANCE OUTDOOR EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION. THE ODC NETWORK OPERATES TWO GREENWAY PROJECTS, A WATERSHED CLEAN-UP INITIATIVE, THREE NATURE-BASED PRESCHOOLS, TWO NATURE CENTERS, MULTIPLE WILDLIFE PRESERVES, AN ECO-TOUR BUSINESS, A LAND CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION BUSINESS, AND AN EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING BUSINESS. THE FOLLOWING DIVISIONS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED TO FACILITATE THE PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS OF THE ODC NETWORK. OUTDOOR DISCOVERY CENTER (ODC): THE ODC PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO THE WEST MICHIGAN COMMUNITY TO ENHANCE THE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF OUR NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES. THE ODC IS HOME TO A VARIETY OF HABITATS, WALKING TRAILS, LIVE ANIMAL EXHIBITS, AND A WIDE ARRAY OF EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES. THE ODC IS OPEN FREE TO THE PUBLIC 365 DAYS A YEAR. MACATAWA RIVER GREENWAY (MRG): ITS MISSION IS TO PROTECT ENHANCE NATURAL LANDS, STREAMS, AND OPEN SPACES WITHIN THE LAKE MACATAWA WATERSHED FOR PUBLIC ENJOYMENT AND THE PRESERVATION OF PLANT AND WILDLIFE HABITAT. WHERE APPROPRIATE, THE MRG WILL CREATE PARKS AND OPEN SPACES FOR RECREATION, CONSERVATION, WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, AND PRESERVATION. ODC EXPLORER NETWORK: IT PROVIDES NATURE-BASED, SMALL GROUP ECO-TOUR EXCURSIONS WITH EXPERIENCED TRAVELERS AND NATURALISTS FROM THE ODC NETWORK. THE ODC NETWORK CONNECTS PEOPLE WITH UNIQUE ECOSYSTEMS AND EXPERIENCES AIMED AT BUILDING KNOWLEDGE, AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNIQUE NATURAL HISTORY AND CULTURAL HISTORY OF THE WORLD. ON AVERAGE, THE ODC EXPLORER NETWORK FACILITATES TWO ECO-TOUR ADVENTURES EACH YEAR. ODC EARLY CHILDHOOD: THE ODC EARLY CHILDHOOD BUSINESS LINE INCLUDES LITTLE HAWKS DISCOVERY PRESCHOOL, HATCHLINGS CHILD CARE, SEEDLINGS DISCOVERY PRESCHOOL AND DRAGONFLIES DISCOVERY PRESCHOOL. THESE ARE NATURE BASED EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON CONNECTING EARLY LEARNERS TO THE OUTDOORS. NEARLY 400 CHILDREN AGES 0-5 ATTEND THESE PROGRAMS WHERE THEY ARE PROVIDED A QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE THAT PREPARES THEM TO BE ACTIVE, INDEPENDENT LEARNERS WHO HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF AND APPRECIATION FOR THE NATURAL WORLD AND ENSURING A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE. PROJECT CLARITY (PC): THE PC MISSION IS TO RESTORE THE WATER QUALITY OF LAKE MACATAWA AND THE MACATAWA WATERSHED THROUGH A MULTI-PHASED APPROACH FOCUSED ON LAND RESTORATION, BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, COMMUNITY EDUCATION, AND LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY. OVER THE PAST 4 YEARS OVER 100 WATERSHED RESTORATION PROJECTS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN THE MACATAWA WATERSHED. ODC CONSERVATION SERVICES: ITS PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE LAND MANAGEMENT AND RESTORATION SERVICES, INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT, AND WILDLIFE HABITAT AND CONSERVATION IMPROVEMENT TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LAND OWNERS IN THE KALAMAZOO AND MACATAWA RIVER WATERSHED REGION. CURRENTLY, ODC CONSERVATION SERVICES PROVIDE HABITAT MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO OVER 100 CUSTOMERS IN WEST MICHIGAN. ODC EDUCATION NETWORK: IT PROVIDES A CUSTOMIZED SET OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND NATURE-BASED EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP STUDENTS, EDUCATORS AND EDUCATION ADMINISTRATORS CREATE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR ENVIRONMENT. ODC EDUCATION NETWORK HAS A TEAM OF EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONALS THAT WORK THE SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE CLASSROOM AND THE OUTDOORS USING PROJECT-BASED LEARNING, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, AND CUSTOMIZED EXPERIENCES THAT BUILD RELEVANT CONTEXT AND MEANING INTO AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE 17 SCHOOLS WORKING WITH THE ODC EDUCATION NETWORK TO CONNECT THEIR CLASSROOMS, SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS TO THE OUTDOORS. KALAMAZOO RIVER GREENWAY (KRG): THE MISSION IS TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE NATURAL LANDS, STREAMS, AND OPEN SPACES WITHIN THE KALAMAZOO RIVER WATERSHED IN ALLEGAN COUNTY FOR PUBLIC ENJOYMENT AND THE PRESERVATION OF PLANT AND WILDLIFE HABITAT. WHERE APPROPRIATE, THE KRG WILL CREATE PARKS AND OPEN SPACES FOR RECREATION, CONSERVATION, WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS AND PRESERVATION. DEGRAAF NATURE CENTER: OWNED BY THE CITY OF HOLLAND, THIS 18-ACRE NATURE CENTER IS LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE CITY. THE CONTRACTUAL MANAGEMENT OF THE CENTER WAS TRANSITIONED TO THE ODC NETWORK WITH THE GOAL OF GROWING THE IMPACT AND PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED AT DEGRAAF BY THE ODC NETWORK STAFF. IT SERVES AS AN URBAN NATURE EDUCATION SITE, EXPANDING OUR ABILITY TO REACH MORE PEOPLE. NATURE-RICH COMMUNITY: THE NEWEST OF THE ODC BUSINESS DIVISIONS, NATURE-RICH IS AN INITIATIVE THAT WAS DEVELOPED TO PROMOTE A SYSTEMS-BASED SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM TO ADVANCE NOT ONLY ODC NETWORK'S INTERNAL SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS, BUT ALSO TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH THE COMMUNITY.
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
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 December 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 1983.
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.
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.