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Bluff Lake Nature Center

EIN 84-1305302 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BLUFF LAKE NATURE CENTER EDUCATES INDIVIDUALS TO BE ENGAGED, RESILIENT, AND CURIOUS; CONSERVES A NATURAL AREA IN THE CITY; FURTHERS EQUITY IN OUTDOOR ACCESS; AND NURTURES THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF COMMUNITIES AND ECOSYSTEMS.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$884,199
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
5.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
21
Volunteers
749
Highest pay
$86,574, executive di

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 65% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 39% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $416,688 spent. BLUFF LAKE NATURE CENTER IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 365 DAYS A YEAR FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET. IN 2024, OVER 100,000 VISITORS CAME TO BLUFF LAKE TO ENJOY A FEW MOMENTS OF SOLACE AND CONNECTION TO NATURE, GO FOR A RUN, OR TO ENJOY AN AFTERNOON EXPLORING WITH THEIR FAMILY. NEARLY 6,000 AREA ECE- 12TH GRADE STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN STEM BASED FIELD TRIP PROGRAMS, OVER 80% OF THESE STUDENTS FROM TITLE 1 SCHOOLS (OVER 50% FREE/REDUCED LUNCH) AND CAME FOR FREE THANKS TO GRANT FUNDING AND DONATIONS. ON FIELD TRIPS, STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT HABITATS, WATER QUALITY, AND MORE. IN 2024, BLUFF LAKE ALSO HOSTED 10 WEEKS OF SUMMER CAMP FOR OVER 450 CAMPERS AGED 5-17, PROVIDING OVER 100 FULL AND PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP SPOTS TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. PUBLIC PROGRAMMING INCLUDED MONTHLY FAMILY DAYS, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SPECIAL PROGRAM EVENTS SUCH AS BOO ON THE BLUFF, AND GUIDED WALKS (BIRD WALKS, MINDFULNESS WALKS, ETC.). BLUFF LAKE ALSO HOSTS AN ONSITE FOREST SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES THAT IS FREE FOR THE FAMILIES, THANKS TO STATE FUNDING. EACH YEAR BLUFF LAKE WORKS WITH OVER 700 VOLUNTEERS (INCLUDING SCOUTS, CORPORATE GROUPS, FAMILIES, AND OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS) DOING SITE PROJECTS AND FACILITATING EDUCATION PROGRAMS. BLUFF LAKE NATURE CENTER IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 365 DAYS A YEAR FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET. IN 2024, OVER 100,000 VISITORS CAME TO BLUFF LAKE TO ENJOY A FEW MOMENTS OF SOLACE AND CONNECTION TO NATURE, GO FOR A RUN, OR TO ENJOY AN AFTERNOON EXPLORING WITH THEIR FAMILY. NEARLY 6,000 AREA ECE- 12TH GRADE STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN STEM BASED FIELD TRIP PROGRAMS, OVER 80% OF THESE STUDENTS FROM TITLE 1 SCHOOLS (OVER 50% FREE/REDUCED LUNCH) AND CAME FOR FREE THANKS TO GRANT FUNDING AND DONATIONS. ON FIELD TRIPS, STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT HABITATS, WATER QUALITY, AND MORE. IN 2024, BLUFF LAKE ALSO HOSTED 10 WEEKS OF SUMMER CAMP FOR OVER 450 CAMPERS AGED 5-17, PROVIDING OVER 100 FULL AND PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP SPOTS TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. PUBLIC PROGRAMMING INCLUDED MONTHLY FAMILY DAYS, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SPECIAL PROGRAM EVENTS SUCH AS BOO ON THE BLUFF, AND GUIDED WALKS (BIRD WALKS, MINDFULNESS WALKS, ETC.). BLUFF LAKE ALSO HOSTS AN ONSITE FOREST SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES THAT IS FREE FOR THE FAMILIES, THANKS TO STATE FUNDING. EACH YEAR BLUFF LAKE WORKS WITH OVER 700 VOLUNTEERS (INCLUDING SCOUTS, CORPORATE GROUPS, FAMILIES, AND OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS) DOING SITE PROJECTS AND FACILITATING EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
  2. $277,792 spent. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE EXPERIENCES LISTED ABOVE WE MANAGE OUR WILDLIFE REFUGE, PRESERVING AND RESTORING OUR 123-ACRE SITE WHICH HAS PRAIRIE, WETLAND, AND RIPARIAN HABITATS. YEARLY ONGOING PROJECTS INCLUDE TRAIL RESTORATION, WILDLIFE STUDIES, INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL, TREE PLANTING, SEEDING DISTURBED AREAS, REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF FENCING, SITE SECURITY AND SIGNAGE, AND MORE.

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 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 2024.

    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 June 1995.

    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.

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.