Headwaters at Incarnate Word Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Our mission is to preserve, restore and celebrate the rich natural, cultural, historical, spiritual and educational values of the headwaters of the San Antonio River, especially within the 53-acre Headwaters Sanctuary. We respond to the call for a sustainable relationship with God's creation by offering environmental education, reflective experiences on care of creation, and practical, hands-on volunteer opportunities to restore and protect the land. Headwaters at Incarnate Word is a nonprofit sponsored Earth care ministry of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.
- Income
- $390,236
- Spending
- $219,278
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- 41.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 62%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 608
- Highest pay
- $77,000, executive dir.
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 41.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 44% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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, 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 (3)
- $122,501 spent. Habitat Restoration Program:The Headwaters Sanctuary: We share a sacred responsibility to care for God's creation. The San Antonio area is undergoing rapid urban growth, climate stressors, and biodiversity pressure. One 53-acre oasis in downtown San Antonio remains-the Headwaters Sanctuary. Sheltering the Blue Hole, the primary spring of the San Antonio River, the Sanctuary is protected in perpetuity by a conservation easement agreement. Headwaters is committed to the preservation and restoration of this urban refuge.The Headwaters ecological restoration vision plan addresses the need for an unfragmented native habitat corridor to support diverse native wildlife and migratory species in a growing urban center while simultaneously providing visitors with a connection to nature. In 2024, the Headwaters staff and our community volunteers engaged in the practical, hands-on restoration and protection of local natural resources within this corridor. Headwaters offered supervised volunteer sessions every Wednesday, Saturday, and frequently Friday mornings throughout the year, pausing only for extreme summer heat in mid-July through August. Headwaters staff and dedicated volunteers prepared and maintained trails, cleared debris, removed invasive species, and planted and maintained native plants. A total of 575 volunteers contributed 4698 service hours to Headwaters Stewardship Programs.Bird City San Antonio - Partner Organization: Headwaters habitat restoration work continued to support Bird City San Antonio certification requirements. Headwaters shared habitat restoration progress with Bexar Audubon South Central Texas representatives throughout the year. Headwaters is pleased to partner in this far reaching effort to protect and improve native habitat in the San Antonio area. Headwaters Earth Care 2024 A Year of Achievements, Plans, and Hope: Ecological Succession Continues: Prolonged drought and high spring/summer temperatures continue to stress our Hackberry trees, which produce desirable berries for wildlife. The forest transition has accelerated under these climate stressors. Yet, we do see signs of recovery amid this change. Native saplings and understory plants are responding. Dayflowers, Pigeonberry, Bluewood Condalia, Lotebush, and Turks Cap flourished this year. We continue our habitat restoration work to reduce the invasive plant population, augment the native seed supply, and provide more resources for our local and migratory wildlife. Along each trail, we view the land healing.Invasive Plant Management Program: Invasive plant species threaten the health of our forest by competing with native trees and suppressing understory species propagation that local and migratory wildlife require for sustenance and shelter. Wind, water, and birds introduce invasive seeds from neighboring properties to the Sanctuary. In 2024, Headwaters removed over 34,508 invasive plants, bringing the total removed since fall 2019 to 127,622. Headwaters has worked 54% of the Sanctuary (27 acres). In 2025, removal work on an additional 9 acres will deliver 72% of the Sanctuary initially cleared of invasive plants. Volunteers and Headwaters staff execute this multi-year program with limited assistance from hired tree crews as funds are available.Forest Floor Restoration Project: Native grass seed has been cast onto the forest floor, creating a more robust native seed bank to compete with invasive seeds present. Pedestrians can view Inland Sea Oats and Wildrye grasses along our pedestrian trails. Native grasses support insects, birds, and small mammals by providing foraging materials, food sources, and host plants. These drought-tolerant and deep-rooted grasses help reduce erosion, increase carbon sequestration, and improve soil health.The Circle of the Springs Garden Program: Headwaters continued to maintain the Sanctuary's 80-foot diameter Circle of the Springs Garden, composed of 16 planting beds with 43 native pollinator plant species to support local and migratory wildlife. The Buttonbush, Heartleaf Hibiscus, Apache Plume, Desert Rue, Lindheimer's Muhly, Dwarf Barbados Cherry, Datura, and Gulf Muhly were exceptional this year. In 2025, Headwaters will upgrade the drip irrigation system and install QR code signage to make garden and prairie plant information available to visitors.Native Prairie Program: After 2.5 years of preparation, the field surrounding the garden has been seeded with 13 grass species to establish a native short grass prairie. The area will remain fenced to protect the young grass plants from curious visitors until fully established. The prairie will provide food and nesting materials for wildlife, a significant addition to our habitat corridor along the migratory flyway.Butterfly and Bird Population: Volunteers completed North American Butterfly Association surveys in June and October 2024. The Headwaters Fall survey reported 31 butterfly species (53%) of the total species reported in all San Antonio survey sites. Headwaters monitors the species and population counts year to year, noting the habitat changes and environmental stressors. After each 2nd Friday Bird Walk, our Bexar Audubon guides file an eBird report. Since spring 2016, our docents have recorded the Headwaters Bird Walks to eBird.Volunteer Support: Over 621 volunteers contributed 5,296 service hours to support our Earth Care Mission. Our 2024 community support included members of the Texas Master Naturalist; River Aid San Antonio, Incarnate Word High School; Native Plant Society of Texas; Ronald Reagan High School, University of the Incarnate Word; Boy Scouts of America; Trinity University; St Anthony Catholic High School; Stantec, Inc.; United States Air Force; Young Men's Service League; Teens Give Back; Edgewood Fine Arts Academy; Our Lady of the Lake University; San Antonio Gaelic Athletic Club; HDR; University of Texas at San Antonio; Texas Conservation Corp; Bexar County Youth; Maestas & Associates, LLC; National Charit
- $13,541 spent. Environmental Education Program: During volunteer service sessions, Headwaters offered practical knowledge and guidance in land stewardship. Public response to our Sanctuary-guided bird and nature programming was strong. Community and school tours included a brief history of the ministry of Headwaters Sanctuary and an overview of our habitat programs. 2025 Guided nature walks, presentations, and tours will remain free and open to the public. Sanctuary wildlife and phenology survey work will continue. Our Environmental Film Series will resume when a facility with parking is secured.Donated Services (In-Kind) received for 2024 amounted to $3,173.
- $10,369 spent. Public Access Program:Spirit Reach Project: In October 2021, the Bexar County Commissioners funded the Spirit Reach Project. Headwaters at Incarnate Word, University of the Incarnate Word, the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, and the San Antonio River Authority signed a Memo of Understanding (MOU} to begin plans for a contemplative pedestrian route from the Brackenridge Park Lilly Pond, under Hildebrand Avenue to the Sanctuary's Blue Hole Spring and riparian forest. This contemplative walkway will complete a pedestrian route between the UNESCO World Heritage Site Missions to the primary source spring of the San Antonio River, the Blue Hole, providing a physical, cultural, historical, and spiritual connection by 2027.2025 Headwaters Plans:Spirit Reach Project-Contemplative Path to the Blue Hole and Beyond: The project will connect the Blue Hole to the World Heritage Site Missions along the San Antonio River. The contemplative path will bring visitors from Brackenridge Park under Hildebrand Avenue through the Incarnate Word campus to the Blue Hole and the Sanctuary main entrance near the Little Blue Hole. The project entails embankment stabilization, riparian restoration, an engaging contemplative path, and Blue Hole site preservation/restoration. Project construction begins in August 2025. Completion is anticipated in 2027.Great Oak Trail Bridge Project: By August 2025, the Great Oak Trail will reopen with three new pedestrian bridges thanks to the lronkosky Charitable Foundation. Visitors of all ages may then easily cross the creek beds along the trail surrounded by Mountain Laurels.Donated Services (In-Kind) received for 2024 amounted to $11,554.
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
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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on February 15, 2017 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on February 15, 2017.
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 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 June 2017.
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.