Bird Endowment
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Bird Endowment's mission is to save the critically endangered Blue-throated Macaw from extinction in its native range in Bolivia. Habitat destruction has contributed to a steep decline in the wild population of Blue-throated Macaws. In 2007, our Nido Adoptivo supplemental nest box project began with our Bolivian NGO partner, Asociación Armonía. At that time, fewer than 100 Blue-throated Macaws remained in the wild, with numbers declining. To date, 164 Blue-throated Macaw chicks have fledged from our nest boxes. With current wild population estimates of 420 - 480, this number of fledglings is significant, about 25% of the population, and increasing. In 2018, the Laney Rickman Reserve was established, which protects 6,000 acres of Blue-throated Macaw breeding grounds. Our Habitat Restoration Project commenced in 2022 to restore the reserve's habitat to its most natural state possible. By saving the Blue-throated Macaw, all species in the ecosystem have a safe haven to thrive.
- Income
- $117,628
- Spending
- $108,549
- Reserves
- 2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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)
- Our in situ Nido AdoptivoTM ("nest adoption") supplemental nest box project on the Laney Rickman Reserve is a cooperative effort with the Bolivian bird conservation NGO Asociación Armonía, the BirdLife International Partner in Bolivia. The Laney Rickman Reserve protects the most significant breeding grounds for the critically endangered Blue-throated Macaw. This vitally important reserve comprises ~6,000 acres of former cattle ranches, more than three times the size when dedicated in 2018. The survival success of the Blue-throated Macaw in the wild is highly dependent on the availability of large trees where they prefer to make their nests in empty cavities. However, over 150 years of land use in the Beni Savanna, this bird's native range, has cleared almost all these older-growth trees, reducing the availability of suitable nest areas for the Blue-throated Macaw. To remedy this lack of suitable nesting sites, we aim to increase the Blue-throated Macaw wild population by installing and monitoring supplemental nest boxes. To date, a total of 164 Blue-throated Macaw chicks have fledged from our Nido Adoptivo nest boxes since project inception in 2007. This number of successful fledglings is truly significant, approximately one-third of the wild Blue-throated Macaw population (based on current population estimates of 420 - 480). The cumulative number of successful fledges by year is trending upward; specifically, it took 16 years for the project to reach the milestone of the 100th fledge, yet if current trends continue, the 200th fledge is expected in 2027, after only 6 years. The steepening of the trend after the 2017- 2018 breeding season is most likely due to two significant factors: 1) when the land became protected as the Laney Rickman Reserve, and 2) for the first time, a second-generation chick fledged. The number of banded parent birds has generally increased each breeding season, an essential indicator of population recruitment, as chicks fledge into the wild, reach sexual maturity, and return to raise their own chicks. These previous Blue-throated Macaw fledges, now parent birds, have learned the nest boxes are a safe place to return to raise their own families, showing this program's success and positive impact.
- Conservation Education and Habitat Restoration Project on the Laney Rickman Reserve: Bird Endowment and its partner, Armonía, are taking action to restore the habitat of the Laney Rickman Reserve in Bolivia, which protects the most significant breeding grounds for the Blue-throated Macaw. To provide the best chance for this critically endangered bird's survival, steps are being taken to educate local students about conservation and restore the savanna and forest-island habitat as close to their original state as possible, so that the Blue-throated Macaw and other threatened species in the ecosystem can rebound and thrive. The survival success of this critically endangered bird in the wild is highly dependent on the availability of large mature trees for nesting in empty cavities. However, over 150 years of ranching in the Beni Savanna, this bird's native range, has cleared almost all these older-growth trees, reducing the availability of suitable nest sites. Work on this critical project commenced in late 2022 with surveys to document the remnant forest's current diversity, structure, and composition, an important first step in understanding the ecosystem and determining what needs to be done to restore the habitat. Armonía staff worked closely with a botanist to map the reserve and assess the various levels of degradation. The resulting data are incorporated into the Reforestation and Monitoring Plan for the Laney Rickman Reserve. Since Armonía now owns the land, plans are being made not only for 5-year and 10-year goals but also long-range goals for 100 and 200 years. The next immediate step is the Greenhouse Project to research and understand what specific types of plants need to be restored. The primary food source for the Blue-throated Macaw is the fruit of the motacú palm tree (Attalea phalerata). In addition, these birds also enjoy fruits from various other trees. Once the types and sources of seeds are determined, the project steps include sowing and nurturing them in the greenhouse. Research will also be done on testing the best methods for planting and maintaining the seedlings to ensure they will grow into mature trees. After the seedlings are planted, Armonía will construct firebreaks to protect the restored areas. In addition, workshops will be held on the reserve to share the best conservation and restoration practices with local landowners, cattle ranchers, government personnel, as well as university staff and students.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1998.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.