Buffalo Bayou Partnership
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
See Schedule OEstablished in 1986, Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP) is the non-profit transforming and revitalizing Buffalo Bayou. The organization's geographic focus is the 10-square mile stretch of the bayou that flows from Shepherd Drive, through the heart of downtown into the East End, and on to the Port of Houston Turning Basin. BBP creates and cares for inclusive public spaces such as Buffalo Bayou Park, constructs hike and bike trails, removes trash and debris from the waterway, and promotes the economic and social well-being of surrounding neighborhoods through affordable housing. BBP also activates the bayou with unique programs, public art, volunteer events, and recreational opportunities that enrich Houston's quality of life.
- Income
- $31.0 million
- Spending
- $21.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- -0.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 71%
- Employees
- 66
- Volunteers
- 2,514
- Highest pay
- $253,106, president
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
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2540 of 40 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
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 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 (7)
- $4.2 million spent. See Schedule OBuffalo Bayou Park - A strong public-private partnership including the Kinder Foundation, Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP), the City of Houston, and Harris County Flood Control District carried out an ambitious $58 million restoration project for the stretch of bayou from Shepherd Drive to Sabine Street. The project involved flood management, eco-restoration, new hike and bike trails, and an array of park amenities. The park improvements were substantially completed in 2015, and BBP transferred ownership to the City. BBP maintains and operates the 160-acre Buffalo Bayou Park with funding from the Downtown Redevelopment Authority TIRZ #3. It is also responsible for maintaining the hike and bike trails and green spaces along the waterway from Sabine to Austin streets with funding from Houston First Corporation and Houston Parks Board. To assist with ongoing maintenance and conservation efforts, BBP relies on thousands of volunteers and community service workers each year who remove weeds and invasive species, plant wildflowers, pick up trash, and remove silt from the trails after heavy rains.
- $14.6 million spent. Buffalo Bayou East Sector Implementation - Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP) is developing green space and trails along the east sector of Buffalo Bayou - the area from approximately U.S. 59 east to the Port of Houston Turning Basin.
- $484,397 spent. Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern - BBP restored and repurposed this underground city water reservoir and opened it to the public in 2016. In addition to tours highlighting the history and architecture of this unique industrial site, BBP presents periodic art installations in the space.
- Waterway Maintenance - Removing trash and debris is central to BBP's mission of helping to restore Buffalo Bayou to an ecologically functional system and providing an enhanced amenity for the mental and physical benefit of Houstonians and visitors. The program, partially funded by the Harris County Flood Control District and Port Houston, removes floatables from the water and along the banks of the bayou.
- Other Programming - BBP offers a wide range of recreational and cultural activities, including: - Buffalo Bayou Partnership Regatta: Annual 15-mile canoe and kayak race on Buffalo Bayou from Voss Road to Allen's Landing in Downtown Houston, held annually in March. - Kids Day: A free event filled with family fun, educational activities, music, food, and park performers, held annually in October. - Pontoon Boat Rides: Offered year-round and include bat tours, history tours, and private charters. - Walking Tours: Offered year-round and include public art tours, wellness walks, and nature tours. - Public Art: Each year, BBP offers an artist residency as well as events like Night Light, a free evening of video art created by local artists and presented along the bayou.
- Buffalo Bayou East Parks - In 2024, Buffalo Bayou Partnership continued the maintenance of Buffalo Bayou East park projects as its first Buffalo Bayou East 10-Year Plan project neared completion. BBP maintains and operates green space along the approximately 4-mile distance along Buffalo Bayou from U.S. 59/I-69 North to Turkey Bend and extending into the greater East End and Fifth Ward communities. BBP accomplishes this with funding from the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority (TIRZ #23), the Fifth Ward Redevelopment Authority (TIRZ #18), and distributions from the Buffalo Bayou East Maintenance Endowment.
- $956,545 spent. Hike and Bike Trails - A top priority of Buffalo Bayou Partnership is to build a continuous system of trails on the north and south banks of Buffalo Bayou from Shepherd Drive to the Port of Houston Turning Basin. This gives Houstonians and visitors approximately 20 miles of trails to run, walk and bike along the waterway. To accommodate residents and visitors who want to enjoy a walk or jog along the Shepherd Drive to Sabine Street stretch of the bayou, BBP added asphalt footpaths closer to the waterway.
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
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 2024.
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 July 1986.
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.