Shoal Creek Conservancy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CONSERVANCY IS DEDICATED TO RESTORING, PROTECTING AND ENHANCING THE ECOLOGICAL, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL VIBRANCY OF SHOAL CREEK IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, FOR THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN BY ENGAGING THE PUBLIC AND PARTNERING WITH THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING GOVERNING ENTITIES THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO IMPROVE THE CREEK AND ITS ASSOCIATED TRAIL THE ENJOYMENT AND USE BY THE PUBLIC.
- Income
- $607,812
- Spending
- $591,425
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 9.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 56%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 761
- Highest pay
- $91,765, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 29% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 September 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 (3)
- $211,118 spent. Watershed Action Plan: Shoal Creek Conservancy advocates for improvements to the Shoal Creek Trail, actively cleans Shoal Creek and partners with the community to have a watershed-wide decrease of pollutants entering the creek. We host 2-5 cleanups each month, creekside planting days, monthly educational tours, workshops for watershed residents, and we maintain 4 rain gardens that filter water flowing off Shoal Creek Blvd. In 2025, we successfully hosted our 1st annual Waterwise Landscapes Tour to show Austinites how their neighbors have transformed their yards for water conservation and water quality benefits.
- $117,568 spent. Trail Plan: Exciting Shoal Creek Trail projects now under construction, such as the urban trail along North Lamar Blvd between 29th-31st Streets and the nearly 1-mile-long trail extension connecting the Shoal Creek Trail to the Red Line Trail and Q2 stadium in North Austin. Work continues on the plans and designs for improvements of the Shoal Creek Trail and creek crossing at 3rd Street in downtown Austin and at the location of the 2018 landslide.
- $111,016 spent. Community Engagement: In 2025, we hosted 70 volunteer workdays with over 750 volunteers who removed over 27,000 pounds of litter from Shoal Creek. Volunteers also dispersed native seedballs and planted nearly 800 native plants along the creek.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 January 2014.
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.