Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of the Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge shall be to educate the public regarding the flora, fauna, and natural environment of the Refuge, through functions and educational events, promote public support for the Refuge by encouraging and organizing volunteer services, and solicit public donations for use in supporting, assisting, and enhancing ongoing conservation projects on the Refuge.
- Income
- $149,352
- Spending
- $256,474
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- -1.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 62%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 50
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
Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 72% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).
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
0 of 8Reports no 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.
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 (1)
- $244,688 spent. In 2025, the Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (FLANWR) participated in outreach and education, land conservation, and habitat restoration. OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONIn 2025, FLANWR hosted 70 events for approximately 14,000 individuals. Programs and events in 2025 included: Ocelot Conservation Day, the Wild Friends Storytime, the Friends Science Series, Bike the Bahia, the Naturally Native Garden Team, the CORE (Consumable Outdoor Recreation) Program, National Public Lands Day, the Rio Grande Birding Festival, the Christmas Bird Count, and participation at community events. Ocelot Conservation DayOcelot Conservation Day is an annual event held in March that is co-hosted by FLANWR and the USFWS that promotes ocelot conservation. This awareness-raising event highlights the ocelot, a small endangered wild cat native to South Texas. Activities included craft stations and information tables where guests may speak with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, and other local partners to learn about ocelot biology, research, and conservation.On March 9, 2025, the 21st annual Ocelot Conservation Day was held at the Gladys Porter Zoo. This event, coupled with the Ocelot Run, reached an estimated 3,300 people. This event included booths from partnering organizations, ocelot themed activities, and presentations by ocelot biologists. Partners include the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, American Forests, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Cara Cara Trails, South Texas Astronomy Society, the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center, the South Texas Ecotourism Center, Defenders of Wildlife, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Game Wardens Operation Game Thief Trailer, and the East Foundation. Activities included: pin the tail on the ocelot, ocelot bean bag toss, how far can an ocelot jump, an ocelot dress up station and selfie station, ocelot puzzles, ocelot masks, ocelot face painting, and ocelot button and magnet making. Presentations provided information about ocelots in Texas, ocelot monitoring at Laguna Atascosa NWR and south Texas, thornscrub restoration for ocelots, and ocelots at the Gladys Porter Zoo.Wild Friends StorytimeIn 2025, FLANWR continued the Wild Friends Storytime program. This program features a nature-themed book about wildlife or animals found at Laguna Atascosa NWR followed by a craft and/or nature hike. Events were held monthly at the Laguna Atascosa Visitor Center and the Laguna Vista Public Library. Through grant funding, we were also able to have a book giveaway at each event so participants could have a copy of the book read at the event. In 2025, we hosted 21 events for 107 youth.CORE (Consumable Outdoor Recreation) ProgramThe CORE (Consumable Outdoor Recreation) Program is an outreach program for youth that focuses on the National Wildlife Refuge Systems Big Six areas of outreach, which include: hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, and interpretation. We hosted events throughout the year that focused on these topics, including a hunter education class, a class on how to gut, skin, and quarter an animal, Family Fish Camps that included how to filet and cook fish, and guided hikes.Guided Bike RidesIn 2025, FLANWR hosted 18 guided wildlife bike rides for 119 participants. Guided bike rides are performed at the Steve Thompson Wildlife Drive and the Bahia Grande Unit. The Bahia Grande Unit contains coastal prairie, thornscrub, rare lomas, and the Bahia Grande, one of the largest wetland restoration sites in the United States. This Unit is currently closed to the general public but is accessible by guided tours. This wildlife bike ride provides a great public service by allowing participants to access this Unit of the refuge.Naturally Native Garden TeamIn 2025, FLANWR continued the Naturally Native Garden Team with 5 events that included 34 volunteers. This program is helping revitalize the pollinator garden in front of the Visitors Center and help establish native plants at a new wildlife observation area at the Refuge. The purpose of these events is to teach people about native plants, encourage the use of native gardening in the home, and to have a pollinator demonstration garden in front of the Visitor Center and surrounding trails.National Public Lands Day CleanupFLANWR, in partnership with the USFWS, assisted with National Public Lands Day Cleanup on September 27, 2025. At this event, the public came out to help restore a trail near the Visitors Center. This event hosted 45 people.Rio Grande Birding FestivalFLANWR participated as a vendor at the 32nd Annual Rio Grande Birding Festival at the Harlingen Convention Center in November 2025. FLANWR was able to assist in making the Birders Bazaar Trade Show a success along with other local Nature Store site vendors, optics, artists, and tour companies from all over the world. This event reached an estimated 3,000+ people. Christmas Bird CountFLANWR led the 126th Audubon Christmas Bird Count for Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in December 2025 from sunrise to sunset at LANWR. LAND CONSERVATIONIn 2025, FLANWR continued their land conservation efforts by partnering with the Far Wide Conservation Trust for a North American Wetlands Conservation Grant for wetland restoration at the 234-acre parcel acquired in 2023. We also continued to research a 31-acre parcel adjacent to this 234-acre parcel for acquisition. OPSREY OVERLOOK AND GATOR POND OVERLOOKSIn 2025, the Friends had a new boardwalk built and another one revitalized at the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. A boardwalk over Lake Laguna Atascosa was created at the popular Osprey Overlook, while the Gator Pond boardwalk was rebuilt.HABITAT RESTORATIONIn 2025, the Friends assisted the Laguna Atascosa with prairie habitat restoration and wetland restoration. We purchased stainless steel wheels for water control structures at Laguna Atas
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 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 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 1998.
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.