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Houston Wilderness Inc

EIN 42-1573695 · Houston, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HOUSTON WILDERNESS WORKS WITH A BROAD-BASED ALLIANCE OF BUSINESS, ENVIRONMENTAL AND GOVERNMENT INTERESTS TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE 10 DIVERSE ECOREGIONS OF THE 13+ COUNTY AREA AROUND HOUSTON, GALVESTON BAY, AND THE GULF OF MEXICO, INCLUDING COASTAL PRAIRIES, FORESTS, WETLANDS, AND WATERWAYS.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$969,758
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
11.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
13
Volunteers
833
Highest pay
$175,744, president & ceo

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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 25

    25 of 25 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 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 (4)
  1. $145,292 spent. HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL TREES & RIPARIAN ENHANCEMENT OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES (HSC TREES) PROGRAM -Beginning in 2020, a 10-year collaborative program, facilitated by Houston Wilderness in collaboration withEconomic Port Alliance, Houston Health Department, Buffalo Bayou Partnership and multiple municipalities and private businesses along the Houston Ship Channel that is focused on enhanced ecosystem services and resiliency through targeted large-scale native Super Tree species plantings along the 25 miles of the Houston Ship Channel, use of the 14 targeted Super Trees species
  2. $492,411 spent. THE RIVERINE TARGETED USE OF BUYOUTS (TUBS) PROGRAM - The pioneering Riverine Targeted Use of Buyouts (Riverine TUBs) Program is an innovative approach to coastal resilience and hazard mitigation through a long-term strategy for habitually flooded properties to be 1) purchased by respective regional counties or municipalities, 2) held by the county or municipality - with maintenance/enhancement MOUs with community partners or transferred to a state agency or NGO for fee-simple ownership, and 3) enhanced with native bioswales, large-scale native trees/plants, replaced coastal wetlands, and other types of nature-based infrastructure techniques.
  3. $90,335 spent. GULF HOUSTON REGIONAL CONSERVATION PLAN Facilitated by Houston Wilderness, the Gulf-Houston Regional Conservatin Plan ("RCP") is a long-term collaborative of environmental, business, and governmental entities working together to implement an ecosystem continuity and connectivity plan for the Gulf-Houston region through implementation of three key goals for enhanced resilience and nature-based infrastructure. Ecoregions Affected: All 10 ecoregions Ecosystem Services Enhanced/Utilized: Air & Water Quality, Water Absorption (flood abatement), Carbon Sequestration, Wildlife Habitat, Urban Heat Island Reduction, Ecotourism, Erosion Control, Energy savings
  4. $117,237 spent. SET NATIVE SEED MIX PROGRAMEXPENSES $ 59,651 GRANTS $ 0 REVENUE $ 0SUPER TREES FOR SUSTAINABILITYEXPENSES $ 22,468 GRANTS $ 0 REVENUE $ 0 GCQ & PASSPORTS PROGRAMEXPENSES $ 21,834 GRANTS $ 0 REVENUE $ 0 OTHER PROGRAMSEXPENSES $ 14,038 GRANTS $ 0 REVENUE $ 0

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

  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 June 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 June 2003.

    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.