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Galveston Bay Foundation

EIN 76-0279876 · Kemah, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The mission of the Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) is to preserve and enhance Galveston Bay as a healthy and productive place for generations to come.

Income
$20.2 million
Spending
$12.6 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
-0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
59
Volunteers
2,208
Highest pay
$193,022, 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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 25

    19 of 19 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 (4)
  1. $9.6 million spent. Conservation programs work to preserve, protect, and restore important coastal habitats that provide critical ecosystem services and have suffered loss or degradation. The Foundation works closely with numerous partners in land acquisition, land stewardship, habitat restoration, and habitat enhancement activities across the Bay. As an accredited land trust, the Foundation protects natural areas by acquiring real estate and partnering with landowners to establish conservation easements on private lands. Program income is generated where appropriate from grazing and hunting leases and baling of hay. Habitat restoration activities work to ensure healthy habitats for productive and sustainable populations of native species. (Continued on Schedule O) Restoration sites all around Galveston Bay focus on protection of eroding shorelines; restoration of wetlands, oyster reefs, coastal prairies, and bird rookery; and removal of marine debris. The Foundation maintains a native plant nursery to provide stock for habitat restoration work around Galveston Bay and offers native plant sales within the community. The Foundation also collects oyster shells from local restaurants to return to the bay to build oyster shell breakwaters and provide habitat for oyster spat.
  2. $741,990 spent. Education and outreach programs aim to connect our community to Galveston Bay and inspire lifelong stewardship through diverse programs, training, tools, and events that reach tens of thousands of people each year. The Foundation's youth education programs connected students in the classroom and in the field with hands-on STEM curriculum and resources. The Foundation also offers rain barrel installation workshops and distributes rain barrels to the public. Ongoing public outreach campaigns and initiatives target segments of the population to increase awareness of the importance of Galveston Bay and address specific issues of concern.
  3. $306,463 spent. Research programs monitor trends affecting Galveston Bay's most valuable coastal resources. Current efforts monitor dolphin populations (in partnership with the Environmental Institute of Houston), marine debris, and water quality at sites around Galveston Bay. These efforts are collaborative, involving research partners throughout the region and beyond. Several utilize trained citizen scientists to augment professional monitoring data. Findings are widely communicated through data portals, public presentations, and scientific publications. Most monitoring efforts are ongoing in an effort to collect large datasets spanning many years, though some are initiated to allow the Foundation to respond to specific incidents impacting the bay.
  4. $85,448 spent. Advocacy programs aim to give a voice to Galveston Bay, taking an inclusive and collaborative approach to protect the health and well-being of the bay. The Foundation attempts to balance the multiple uses of Galveston Bay so that the long-term interests of the Bay itself are not compromised. Through initiatives such as the Galveston Bay Report Card (released in partnership with the Houston Advanced Research Center) and the Galveston Bay Action Network (GBAN) pollution reporting app, the Foundation provides tools to enable the public to take positive actions for Galveston Bay.

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 1988.

    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.