Friends of Sandoway House Nature Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CENTER OFFERS A GLIMPSE INTO THE MARINE & FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS OF THE AREA WITH INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS FOR ALL AGES TO EXPLORE. PROGRAMS & EVENTS ARE DESIGNED TO INSPIRE GUESTS TO CARE FOR WILDLIFE & THE NATURAL WORLD.
- Income
- $721,905
- Spending
- $559,982
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 8.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 46%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $92,671, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 25% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
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, 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 (2)
- $250,720 spent. SANDOWAY DISCOVERY CENTER OFFERS EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOCUSED ON FLORIDA'S ENVIRONMENTAL AND HISTORICAL SCIENCES, EMPHASIZING NATIVE COASTAL AND MARINE ENVIRONMENTS WHILE ADVOCATING FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES, BEACHES, AND PLANT LIFE. IN 2025, SANDOWAY WELCOMED 15,413 VISITORS OVER SIX DAYS A WEEK, EDUCATING THEM ABOUT CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION. A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER, ONE THIRD OF THESE VISITORS, ENGAGED IN DAILY EDUCATIONAL SHARK AND STINGRAY FEEDINGS, HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVING OUR OCEANS' APEX PREDATORS. THE CENTER FEATURES EDUCATIONAL DISPLAYS, ANIMAL EXHIBITS, AND AQUARIUMS DESIGNED FOR ALL AGES TO EXPLORE AND LEARN ABOUT THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT. ALL ANIMALS AT SANDOWAY HAVE BEEN DONATED AS UNWANTED PETS, RESCUED DUE TO INJURY, OR REHABILITATED BUT UNABLE TO RETURN TO THE WILD. THEY PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN DAILY EDUCATIONAL CLASSES, OFFERING VISITORS AND STUDENTS INTERACTIVE AND INFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES. SANDOWAY DISCOVERY CENTER OFFERS EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOCUSED ON FLORIDA'S ENVIRONMENTAL AND HISTORICAL SCIENCES, EMPHASIZING NATIVE COASTAL AND MARINE ENVIRONMENTS WHILE ADVOCATING FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES, BEACHES, AND PLANT LIFE. IN 2025, SANDOWAY WELCOMED 15,413 VISITORS OVER SIX DAYS A WEEK, EDUCATING THEM ABOUT CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION. A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER, ONE THIRD OF THESE VISITORS, ENGAGED IN DAILY EDUCATIONAL SHARK AND STINGRAY FEEDINGS, HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVING OUR OCEANS' APEX PREDATORS. THE CENTER FEATURES EDUCATIONAL DISPLAYS, ANIMAL EXHIBITS, AND AQUARIUMS DESIGNED FOR ALL AGES TO EXPLORE AND LEARN ABOUT THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT. ALL ANIMALS AT SANDOWAY HAVE BEEN DONATED AS UNWANTED PETS, RESCUED DUE TO INJURY, OR REHABILITATED BUT UNABLE TO RETURN TO THE WILD. THEY PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN DAILY EDUCATIONAL CLASSES, OFFERING VISITORS AND STUDENTS INTERACTIVE AND INFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES.
- $167,147 spent. SANDOWAY OFFERS A VIBRANT GATEWAY TO SOUTH FLORIDA'S FRAGILE MARINE LIFE AND FRESHWATER ENVIRONMENTS FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL VISITORS. RECOGNIZING THE LIMITED ACCESS TO AND DEEP NEED FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY'S CHILDREN TO UNDERSTAND CRUCIAL S.T.E.M (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATH) CONCEPTS, AND BE ABLE TO RELATE THEM IN A MEANINGFUL WAY TO THE NATURAL WORLD AROUND THEM, WE DEVELOPED OUR JUNIOR NATURALIST PROGRAM WHICH OFFERS HANDS-ON, ACTIVITY-BASED PROGRAMS IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOR GRADES K-12. THIS PROGRAM IS COMPATIBLE WITH NEXT GENERATION SUNSHINE STATE SCIENCE STANDARDS, AND PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOLS HAVE APPROVED OUR JUNIOR NATURALIST PROGRAM CURRICULUM. WE ARE FOCUSING WHERE OUR HANDS-ON EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT IS NEEDED MOST, ON PALM BEACH COUNTY'S TITLE ONE SCHOOLS, PROGRAMS THAT SERVE CHILDREN WHO ARE AT RISK OF ACADEMIC FAILURE, AND THOSE FROM LOW SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND MINORITY POPULATIONS. IN 2025, 6,844 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS AND CAMPS LOOKING TO EXPLORE SOUTHEASTERN FLORIDA'S NATIVE NATURAL HABITAT. SANDOWAY OFFERS A VIBRANT GATEWAY TO SOUTH FLORIDA'S FRAGILE MARINE LIFE AND FRESHWATER ENVIRONMENTS FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL VISITORS. RECOGNIZING THE LIMITED ACCESS TO AND DEEP NEED FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY'S CHILDREN TO UNDERSTAND CRUCIAL S.T.E.M (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATH) CONCEPTS, AND BE ABLE TO RELATE THEM IN A MEANINGFUL WAY TO THE NATURAL WORLD AROUND THEM, WE DEVELOPED OUR JUNIOR NATURALIST PROGRAM WHICH OFFERS HANDS-ON, ACTIVITY-BASED PROGRAMS IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOR GRADES K-12. THIS PROGRAM IS COMPATIBLE WITH NEXT GENERATION SUNSHINE STATE SCIENCE STANDARDS, AND PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOLS HAVE APPROVED OUR JUNIOR NATURALIST PROGRAM CURRICULUM. WE ARE FOCUSING WHERE OUR HANDS-ON EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT IS NEEDED MOST, ON PALM BEACH COUNTY'S TITLE ONE SCHOOLS, PROGRAMS THAT SERVE CHILDREN WHO ARE AT RISK OF ACADEMIC FAILURE, AND THOSE FROM LOW SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND MINORITY POPULATIONS. IN 2025, 6,844 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS AND CAMPS LOOKING TO EXPLORE SOUTHEASTERN FLORIDA'S NATIVE NATURAL HABITAT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 November 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 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.