Blue Bird Circle
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Blue Bird Circle (the Circle) is dedicated to the promotion of the well-being of humanity through the betterment of the community. Its charitable and benevolent activities are pledged to the support of The Blue Bird Circle Clinic for Pediatric Neurology at Texas Children's Hospital, The Blue Bird Circle Developmental Neurogenetics Laboratory at Baylor College of Medicine, The Blue Bird Circle Rett Center at Baylor College of Medicine, and the Blue Bird Circle Clinical Research Center at Texas Children's Hospital.
- Income
- $2.2 million
- Spending
- $2.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 17 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 20
- Volunteers
- 350
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 17.0 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 40% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 31% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 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.
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 May 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 (4)
- $634,335 spent. Approximately 350 Blue Bird Circle members devote at least 50,000 hours every year working in The Blue Bird Circle Clinic for Pediatric Neurology at Texas Children's Hospital or in The Blue Bird Circle Resale Shop (the Shop) and other fundraising activities to support the Circle's charitable causes. The Shop is substantially run by the volunteer members of the Circle and provides an important source of funding to enable the Circle to support its projects.Continued on Schedule O. The mission of The Blue Bird Circle Clinical Research Center at Texas Children's Hospital is to bring ever-advancing therapies to its patients. The Center supports cutting-edge research in neurology and enhances the larger effort to build a clinical research support structure that will advance care to the next level and make a difference in the lives of children affected by neurological disorders. It capitalizes on the remarkable scientific discoveries being made in childhood neurological diseases and serves as the clinical research arm of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, as well as for the Blue Bird Circle Developmental Neurogenetics Lab and The Blue Bird Circle Rett Center, developing the treatments and cures of tomorrow. The Blue Bird Circle funded an endowed chair in pediatric neurology at Texas Children's Hospital to allow the program to have increased flexibility and to attract and keep the highest quality of physicians working in the area of pediatric neurology.
- $233,155 spent. The Blue Bird Circle Clinic for Pediatric Neurology at Texas Children's Hospital is one of the largest neurology service centers in the United States, specializing in the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care of neurological disorders in children. With over 20,000 patient encounters each year, the large team of specialists cares for patients with more than 450 neurological disorders including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, developmental delay, sleep disorders, stroke, cortical malformations, and brain tumors. The Clinic also diagnoses and treats such rare disorders as Rett syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Batten disease, and Prader-Willi syndrome. Satellite neurology clinics are located in Clear Lake, Sugar Land, the Woodlands, and TCH West Campus.
- $435,583 spent. The Blue Bird Circle Developmental Neurogenetics Laboratory at Baylor College of Medicine continues to perform ground-breaking research into the causes and treatments of neurological disorders in both children and adults including seizures, stroke, brain trauma and other neurodegenerative disorders.
- $399,672 spent. The Blue Bird Circle Rett Center at Baylor College of Medicine is one of the few centers in the world that specializes in the diagnosis and care of patients with Rett Syndrome, a neuro-developmental disorder that develops almost exclusively in females. The syndrome causes chronic neurological problems that include severe communication and motor disabilities. There is no known cure for the disorder, but the Center offers a multi-disciplinary approach focused on care, education, and research that will improve the quality of life for patients and their families.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 May 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 March 1941.
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.