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Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory

EIN 84-1079882 · Brighton, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO CONSERVE BIRDS AND THEIR HABITATS THROUGH AN INTEGRATED APPROACH OF SCIENCE, EDUCATION AND LAND STEWARDSHIP. WE ENVISION A FUTURE WHERE BIRDS ARE FOREVER ABUNDANT, CONTRIBUTING TO HEALTHY LANDSCAPES AND INSPIRING HUMAN CURIOSITY AND LOVE OF NATURE. OUR MISSION IS TO CONSERVE BIRDS AND THEIR HABITATS THROUGH AN INTEGRATED APPROACH OF SCIENCE, EDUCATION AND LAND STEWARDSHIP. WE ENVISION A FUTURE WHERE BIRDS ARE FOREVER ABUNDANT, CONTRIBUTING TO HEALTHY LANDSCAPES AND INSPIRING HUMAN CURIOSITY AND LOVE OF NATURE. OUR WORK RADIATES FROM THE ROCKIES TO THE GREAT PLAINS, MEXICO AND BEYOND. OUR EFFORTS ARE ADVANCED BY SOUND SCIENCE, ACHIEVED THROUGH EMPOWERING PEOPLE, REALIZED THROUGH STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINED THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS. TOGETHER, WE ARE IMPROVING NATIVE BIRD POPULATIONS, THE LAND AND THE LIVES OF PEOPLE.

Income
$11.1 million
Spending
$9.4 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 61%
Employees
168
Volunteers
177
Highest pay
$169,000, executive director

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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, 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 (4)
  1. $4.7 million spent. SCIENCE - BIRD CONSERVANCY OF THE ROCKIES MONITORS, EVALUATES AND RESEARCHES BIRDS AND THEIR HABITATS GENERATING DATA THAT GUIDES SCIENCE-BASED CONSERVATION EFFORTS ACROSS THE FULL ANNUAL CYCLE OF BIRDS' LIVES. OUR WORK EXTENDS FROM THE BREEDING GROUNDS IN THE U.S. AND CANADA TO WINTERING GROUNDS IN MEXICO AND BEYOND. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY SCIENTISTS EXPAND OUR REACH AND INCREASE OUR IMPACT. WE WORK WITH STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, UNIVERSITIES, NGOS, LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND LANDOWNERS TO BUILD CAPACITY, KNOWLEDGE AND SUPPORT FOR THE CONSERVATION OF ECOSYSTEMS IMPORTANT TO MIGRATORY AND RESIDENT BIRDS AND PEOPLE. JOIN US IN THE DISCOVERY.
  2. $2.0 million spent. STEWARDSHIP - OUR NETWORK OF STRATEGICALLY-PLACED PRIVATE LANDS WILDLIFE BIOLOGISTS ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH LANDOWNERS, LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND MANAGERS TO ENACT VOLUNTARY, PRO-ACTIVE CONSERVATION ACTION. WE BUILD A GRASSROOTS LAND STEWARDSHIP ETHIC THAT LINKS BIRDS, HABITAT AND LAND HEALTH. TOGETHER, WE'RE CREATING LONG-TERM CONSERVATION SOLUTIONS FOR PEOPLE, BIRDS AND THE LAND. WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE CAN ENGAGE LANDOWNERS AND COMMUNITIES IN CONSERVATION EFFORTS, INTEGRATING THE ECOLOGICAL HEALTH, ECONOMIC DRIVERS AND HABITAT NEEDS OF BIRD POPULATIONS. HELP US IMPART A STEWARDSHIP ETHIC.
  3. $1.1 million spent. EDUCATION - BIRDS, NATURE AND SCIENCE ARE POWERFUL SOURCES OF INSPIRATION. BIRD CONSERVANCY FOCUSES ON CONNECTING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WITH THE NATURAL WORLD. WE PROVIDE YEAR-ROUND LEARNING AND EXPOSURE TO SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART AND MATHEMATICS (STEAM). WE SPARK THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ABILITIES OF THE WHOLE PERSON TO EMPOWER AND ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUAL GROWTH AND CONFIDENCE, WELL-BEING, AND A PASSION FOR OUR NATURAL WORLD. THIS IS ACHIEVED THROUGH FIELD AND CLASSROOM PROGRAMS, YOUTH SUMMER CAMPS, FIELD EXCURSIONS, TRAINING FOR TEACHERS AND LANDOWNERS, AND PROGRAMMING FOR SENIORS AND OTHERS IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES. INSPIRE IN NATURE.
  4. $305,101 spent. CGRI - BIRD CONSERVANCY OF THE ROCKIES CATALYZED THE CENTRAL GRASSLAND ROADMAP INITIATIVE INCLUDING HIRING THE FIRST-EVER CENTRAL GRASSLAND ROADMAP DIRECTOR TO INCREASE COMMUNICATION, COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION ACROSS THE REGION. THE INITIATIVE IS DESIGNED TO LIFT ALL VOICES INCLUDING TRIBAL NATIONS, US, MEXICO AND CANADA AS WELL AS 7-SECTORS: PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, INDUSTRY, FOUNDATIONS AND ACADEMIA AND CREATE A MOVEMENT TO SAVE OUR GRASSLANDS ACROSS THE CENTRAL GREAT PLAINS. WE ARE STRIVING TO ENSURE HEALTHY GRASSLANDS, HUMAN COMMUNITIES AND WILDLIFE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. OUR THREE PILLARS OF FOCUS INCLUDE: POLICY AND FUNDING, PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT, AND RESEARCH AND EVALUATION. TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE THE STORY AND TRAJECTORY OF OUR GRASSLANDS.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1988.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.

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