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Detroit Bird Alliance

EIN 38-6004962 · Detroit, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO FOSTER APPRECIATION AND CONSERVATION OF BIRDS AND THE ENVIRONMENT WE SHARE THROUGH EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND ACTION.

Income
$297,357
Spending
$295,153
Spent on programs
54%
Reserves
3.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
4
Volunteers
450

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    54% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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, 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 (5)
  1. $63,012 spent. CONSERVATION & Advocacy: PARTNER WITH OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL AND EDUCATION GROUPS TO DEVELOP SERVICES, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND RESEARCH PROJECTS WITH END GOAL OF ADVOCACY AND CONSERVATION. PARTNERS HAVE INCLUDED/ CURRENTLY INCLUDE NATIONAL AUDUBON, AUDUBON GREAT LAKES, NAT FISH & WILDLIFE, DETROIT CITY PARKS, BELLE ISLE NATURE CENTER, DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, DETROIT RIVERFRONT CONSERVANCY, US FISH AND WILDLIFE, GREENING OF DETROIT, HURON CLINTON METROPARKS, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, SEMI-WILD, AND MORE. JOINT CONSERVATION AND ADVOCACY PROJECTS INCLUDE DETROIT BIRD CITY, URBAN BIRD TREATY AND OTHERS. DETROIT BIRD CITY IS A LONG-TERM MAJOR FOCUS PROJECT, PARTNERING WITH DETROIT CITY PARKS, NATIONAL FISH and WILDLIFE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, NATIONAL AUDUBON, URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVES, MI STATE UNIVERSITY, AND OTHERS TO DEVELOP MULTIPLE PARKS AND VACANT CITY LOTS AS NATIVE MEADOW GRASSLAND HABITATS FOR ENJOYMENT BY BIRDS AND RESIDENTS. ADDITIONAL GROWTH OF PROGRAM HAS COME IN FORD CORKTOWN PROJECT AND IN THE 1000 ACRE MEADOWS PROJECT. CONSERVATION ALSO INCLUDES PURSUIT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO PRESERVE LAND BY PURCHASE, EASEMENTS, OR SUPPORT OF OTHER 501C3'S PURCHASE FOR CONSERVATION PURPOSES.
  2. $43,926 spent. COMMUNICATIONS and EDUCATIONAL PUBLICATIONS - PRINT and DIGITAL: PROVIDE over 5000 MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC WITH ONLINE NEWS-MAGAZINE AND INFORMATIONAL WEBSITE, AS WELL AS REGULAR DIGITAL NEWSLETTERS AND SOCIAL MEDIA SHARING. PROVIDE DETROIT CHAPTER MEMBERS WITH PERIODIC PRINT MAGAZINE. PUBLICATIONS PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING CONSERVATION, RESEARCH, EDUCATION, PROGRAMS, EVENTS, ADVOCACY.
  3. $40,442 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR MEMBERS AND PUBLIC: REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMS SUCH AS CLASSROOM AND LIBRARY PRESENTATIONS OR WORKSHOPS. FREQUENT FIELD TRIPS FOR NEW AND EXPERIENCED BIRDERS, FIELD TRIPS TO REGIONAL CONSERVANCY LANDS AND AT AREA NATURE CENTERS, COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING TO ENCOURAGE CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES, LEADERSHIP OF YOUNG BIRDERS, PERIODIC OWL PROWLS. HOLDING AND/OR SPEAKING/TEACHING AT CONFERENCES. AWARD EVENTS TO RECOGNIZE AND ENCOURAGE AREA INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN CONSERVATION EFFORTS. PARTNERS / RECIPIENTS INCLUDE BELLE ISLE NATURE CENTER, AREA LIBRARIES, GARDEN CLUBS, AUDUBON CHAPTERS, AUDUBON GREAT LAKES, SCHOOLS IN DETROIT, AND GENERAL PUBLIC. EDUCATION PROGRAMS ALSO INCLUDE CONTINUED OFFERINGS OF LIVE WEBINARS AND LESSONS, VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS, AND ACCESS TO ARCHIVED WEBINARS AFTER THE EVENTS.
  4. $9,062 spent. RESEARCH PROGRAMS: CONTINUING MULTI-YEAR RESEARCH: CONDUCT MULTI-YEAR RESEARCH ON BLACK TERN AND OTHER AVIAN SPECIES OR GROUPS THAT ARE AT RISK OR PERTINENT TO THE REGION AS WELL AS OTHER RELATED HABITAT CHARACTERISTICS. RESEARCH ALSO INCLUDES SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM AND VARIOUS BIRD COUNTS, INCLUDING WINTER WATERFOWL, CHRISTMAS COUNT, AND MULTIPLE GRASSLAND. ALL RESEARCH PROGRAMS ALSO INCLUDE INVOLVEMENT AND EDUCATION OF VOLUNTEERS AS CITIZEN SCIENTISTS, AS WELL AS PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS. PARTNERS HAVE/DO INCLUDE MI STATE UNIV, UNIV OF MI, WAYNE STATE, MI DNR, USFW, DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, NATIONAL AUDUBON AND OTHERS.
  5. $2,228 spent. MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAM EXPENSES: INCLUDES PROGRAM MANAGEMENT EXPENSES THAT CANNOT BE ALLOCATED PRIMARILY TO A SINGLE PROGRAM CATEGORY BUT IS INHERENT TO ALL PROGRAMS OF THE ORGANIZATION.

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

  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 October 13, 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 2024.

    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 March 1947.

    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 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.