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Great Springs Project Inc

EIN 82-4915975 · Austin, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO HELP CREATE A NETWORK OF SPRING-TO-SPRING TRAILS AND A CORRIDOR OF PROTECTED LANDS OVER THE EDWARD'S AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE, BETWEEN SAN ANTONIO AND AUSTIN, TEXAS.

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
4.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
21
Volunteers
250
Highest pay
$365,142, ceo

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 68% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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, 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)
  1. $1.9 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION WORKED TO UNIFY EXISTING LOCAL EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE MOST CRITICAL WATER, LAND, WILDLIFE, AND PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGES FACING THE CENTRAL TEXAS REGION. IN 2022, THE ORGANIZATION RELEASED THE GREAT SPRINGS TRAILS PLAN FOR THE PROPOSED 100+ MILE SPRING-TO-SPRING NETWORK OF TRAILS FROM THE ALAMO TO THE CAPITOL. THIS PLAN IS A LIVING DOCUMENT THAT SERVES AS A RESOURCE FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE TRAIL NETWORK BY THE TEXAS BICENTENNIAL IN 2036. SECTIONS OF THE TRAIL WILL LIKELY BE BUILT IN PHASES, WITH THE ORDER OF PHASES DEPENDING ON KEY FACTORS SUCH AS FUNDING, LANDOWNER NEGOTIATION, ESTABLISHING RIGHT-OF-WAY, PERMITTING, DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCTION. THIS PLAN REPRESENTS A MAJOR STEP FORWARD ON THE PATH TO IMPLEMENTATION. THE ORGANIZATION IS DOING DIRECT OUTREACH TO OVER 850 LANDOWNERS OVER THE RECHARGE ZONE OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER BETWEEN AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO TO DEVELOP CONSERVATION PROJECTS WITH AND SECURING TRAIL RIGHT OF WAY FROM WILLING LANDOWNERS.

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

  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 2025.

    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 April 2019.

    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.