Audubon Nature Institute Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
See Schedule O
- Income
- $61.3 million
- Spending
- $54.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- -2.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 53%
- Employees
- 745
- Volunteers
- 264
- Highest pay
- $2.1 million, president & ceo
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
Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 3% 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
2 of 20It owes 77% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 37% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2532 of 32 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
0 of 10Did not give 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, 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 (1)
- $36.8 million spent. Audubon Aquarium welcomes two endangered African penguin chicks. Chicks Calypso and Gouda joined the rest of the Aquarium's colony and added to the population of these critically endangered birds. Native to the southern coast of Africa, they are the most endangered penguin species, threatened by oil spills, overfishing, and habitat loss. Audubon was busy in 2024 preparing for initial construction on Riverfront for All, a visioinary project that will forever change the Mississippi Riverfront in downtown New Orleans, creating uninterrupted pedestrian and bicycle access across 2.25 miles of contiguous riverfront. Audubon Zoo received a Certificate of Accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The Zoo was examined by the nation's leading experts and determined to meet the world's most exacting standards for animal welfare, husbandry, veterinary care, safety, staffing, conservation, education, and more. The Zoo has been accredited by the AZA for 48 consecutive years. Audubon Louisiana Nature Center was the kickoff location for the annual Party for the Planet presented by Entergy series of events desgined to connect people with nature. Guests took advantage of the spring weather to stroll boardwalks and experience the newly reopened Planetarium with its variety of programming. The newly formed Conservation Committee is coordinating conservation grants and encouraging participation across Audubon. In 2024, Audubon funded 16 new staff conservation projects across four continents, including work with native prairie seeds, Jamaican iguana, and coral surveying. Audubon also participates in a variety of AZA SAFE (Savings Animals from Extinction) programs for species in our collection, including African penguin, Asian elephant, ocelot, orangutan, North American songbird, Perdido Key beach mouse, sea turtle, and whooping crane. USA Today readers voted for their favorite North American AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums-facilities that excel in the fields of animal care and enrichment, while also facilitating meaningful interactions between animals and human visitors. The Aquarium ranked #2 and the Zoo ranked #7 among 20 nominees. Woldenberg Riverfront Park was nominated in the USA Today Reader's Choice voting for the first time and came in #2 most popular riverwalk in the country. Audubon Aquarium Rescue (formerly Audubon Coastal Wildlife Network) serves as Louisiana's primary marine mammal and sea turtle stranding responder and the only permitted marine mammal and sea turtle rehabilitation facility in the state. AAR responded to 54 strandings and took in 16 cold-stunned sea turtles flown to New Orleans for extended rehabilitation after they were found off the coast of Massachusetts. AAR also released 1 Kemp's ridley sea turtle. AAR also conducted stranding surveys in the stranding hotspots of Grand Isle and southwest Louisiana. Coupled with public reporting, these surveys are important in gathering data to determine the most accurate picture of strandings in Louisiana. Audubon's Gulf United for Lasting Fisheries continued to support the Gulf of Mexico fishing industry in demonstrating and improving their sustainability. GULF assisted the U.S. Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery for all five Gulf states and federal waters in achieving Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) Certification. This is the first shrimp fishery certified to the RFM Standard which includes criteria including fisheries management, stock assessment activities, and serious impacts of the fishery on the ecosystem. Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center continued successful recovery efforts, including working with partners to add five whooping cranes to White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area as part of an ongoing effort to protect this endangered species from extinction. Six Mississippi Sandhill Crane chicks hatched at the westbank facility were successfully relocated to the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge in Gauthier, Mississippi. Audubon Learning & Engagement held Audubon Aquarium's first summer camp since its 1990 opening for campers ages 7-10. Each week, campers learned about undersea and native Louisiana ecosystems and animals and participated in STEM activities and crafts. Audubon's Youth Volunteer Program had more than 75 volunteers through two programs: Counselor-in-Training (CIT) and Conservation Krewe. CITs assisted with camps and the Nature at Night series. Conservation Krewe assisted with guest interpretation across Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium, and Audubon Insectarium. Several Krewe volunteers also participated in advanced placement roles, working directly with Zoo animal staff. This was the second year of Audubon's Wild Encounters, behind-the-scenes experiences at Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium, and Audubon Insectarium. Nearly 2,300 guests enjoyed Wild Encounters at Audubon including Penguin Party, Maya Snorkel, Butterfly First Flight, Orangutan Family Fun, Sea Lion Splash, Jammin' with Jaguar, Aldabra Tortoise, and Black Bear Bonanza. Guests were able to meet animal staff, learn about animals and participate in animal feedings or enrichment activities. Audubon continued its Community Connect access initiative in 2024, which involves three components. Orleans Parish Appreciation Days offer free admission for Orleans Parish residents on a rotating schedule; the Audubon SNAP Program provides free admission for SNAP benefit recipients and their families; and the Audubon Museum Culture Pass allows Orleans Parish Public Library cardholders to check out admission passes. In 2024, Community Connect made it possible for more than 97,000 community members to visit Audubon attractions. Through the Taylor Scholars Awards Program, more than 240,000 high-achieving students in grades 6 through 12 statewide received free Audubon admission passes as part of the ongoing initiative established by the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation to reward Louisiana students' hard work. Scales & Ales, the evening fun
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? 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 2024.
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 March 1995.
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.