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The Institute for Bird Populations

EIN 68-0175012 · Petaluma, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE INSTITUTE FOR BIRD POPULATIONS ENABLES SCIENCE-BASED CONSERVATION OF SPECIES AND HABITATS BY STUDYING THE ABUNDANCE, DEMOGRAPHY, AND ECOLOGY OF BIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 88%
Employees
79
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$154,675, treasurer and cfo

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: 44 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 81% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 7 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 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 (5)
  1. $2.1 million spent. REGIONAL SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. RESEARCH, POPULATION MONITORING, AND CONSERVATION WORK FOR BIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE IN SEVERAL GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS WHERE STAFF MEMBERS HAVE PARTICULAR EXPERTISE, INCLUDING THE SIERRA NEVADA, THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST, AND PACIFIC ISLANDS.
  2. $213,227 spent. MONITORING AVIAN PRODUCTIVITY AND SURVIVORSHIP (MAPS). DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF LONG-TERM, LARGE-SCALE AVIAN MONITORING PROGRAMS ON BIRDS AND THEIR HABITATS, INCLUDES THE MONITORING AVIAN PRODUCTIVITY AND SURVIVORSHIPS (MAPS) PROGRAM THAT COMPLETED ITS 36TH YEAR IN 2024 WITH HUNDREDS OF BIRD MONITORING STATIONS OPERATING ACROSS NORTH AMERICA. OVER THE YEARS IT HAS YIELDED HUNDREDS OF TECHNICAL REPORTS AND SCIENTIFIC PAPERS, DEALING WITH THE ECOLOGY, DEMOGRAPHY, MANAGEMENT, AND CONSERVATION OF BIRD POPULATIONS.
  3. $12,994 spent. TROPICAL BIRD MONITORING AND CONSERVATION. DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF MONITORING AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS FOR WINTERING LANDBIRDS IN MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA, THE CARIBBEAN, AND SOUTH AMERICA, INCLUDING THE MONITOREO DE SOBEVIVENCIA INVERNAL (MOSI) PROGRAM.
  4. $16,861 spent. RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH TO STUDY MOLT AND MOLT-MIGRATION IN BIRDS, TO DETERMINE AGE AND SEX OF BIRDS IN THE HAND AND IN THE FIELD, AND TO PRODUCE MATERIALS TEACHING OTHER RESEARCHERS HOW TO DO SO.
  5. $17,407 spent. PROVISION OF ON-DEMAND BIOLOGICAL DATA ANALYSIS FOR BIRDS AND WILDLIFE, AND BIRD BANDER TRAINING COURSES.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1994.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.