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Point Reyes Bird Observatory

EIN 94-1594250 · Petaluma, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

POINT BLUE'S MISSION IS TO CONSERVE BIRDS, OTHER WILDLIFE AND ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH SCIENCE, RESTORATION, OUTREACH AND PARTNERSHIPS. POINT BLUE ADVANCES THE SCIENTIFIC BASIS OF CONSERVATION BY PROVIDING OBJECTIVE INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE TO HABITAT AND WILDLIFE (SEE SCH. O) MANAGERS AND DECISION MAKERS. THE ORGANIZATION'S HIGHEST PRIORITY IS TO REDUCE THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, HABITAT LOSS AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS WHILE PROMOTING ADAPTATION TO FUTURE CONDITIONS THROUGH NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS TO BENEFIT WILDLIFE AND PEOPLE.

Income
$31.7 million
Spending
$28.6 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 69%
Employees
298
Volunteers
6,639
Highest pay
$262,667, president and ceo (thru 11/24)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 38% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 53% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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 March 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. $5.0 million spent. SIERRA NEVADA GROUP:THROUGH THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INNOVATIVE AVIAN MONITORING AND RESEARCH, THIS GROUP HELPS GUIDE FOREST ECOLOGY AND LAND MANAGEMENT DECISIONS TO IMPROVE CONSERVATION OUTCOMES ACROSS THE VAST SIERRA NEVADA ECOSYSTEM. THE GROUP ENGAGES AND DEVELOPS CONSERVATION SCIENTISTS THROUGH ITS ROBUST SEASONAL SCIENTIST AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS.
  2. $5.0 million spent. WORKING LANDS:THIS GROUP WORKS WITH FARMERS, RANCHERS, LAND STEWARDS, AND OTHER PARTNERS TO ENSURE THAT AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES PROVIDE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES THAT SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE. IT ACHIEVES THIS BY CONDUCTING SCIENCE THAT INFORMS METRICS, PRACTICES, AND STRATEGIES FOR THRIVING AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES; EVALUATING AND GUIDING IMPLEMENTATION OF INNOVATIVE AGRICULTURAL AND LAND STEWARDSHIP STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE MULTIPLE BENEFITS AND MINIMIZE UNDESIRABLE TRADEOFFS ACROSS SCALES; AND LEVERAGING THE ORGANIZATION'S CLIMATE-SMART RESTORATION STRATEGY TO AMPLIFY BENEFITS TO WORKING LANDSCAPES.
  3. $4.3 million spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH GROUP:THIS GROUP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SCIENTIFIC AND CONSERVATION OUTREACH, PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND SCHOOL-BASED EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE STRAW (STUDENTS AND TEACHERS RESTORING A WATERSHED) RESTORATION PROGRAM. THE GROUP ALSO HELPS THE ORGANIZATION COMMUNICATE ITS SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION RECOMMENDATIONS TO A VARIETY OF AUDIENCES, INCLUDING POLICY-MAKERS, LAND OWNERS, RESOURCE MANAGERS, AND MEMBERS.
  4. $9.0 million spent. PACIFIC COAST AND CENTRAL VALLEY GROUP:WORKING LOCALLY, REGIONALLY, AND INTERNATIONALLY, THIS GROUP PROVIDES CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND TRAINING TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATION SCIENTISTS, INFORM POLICY, AND FORMULATE STRATEGIES THAT ENSURE THRIVING ECOSYSTEMS THAT MAXIMIZE MULTIPLE BENEFITS TO WILDLIFE AND HUMANS.CALIFORNIA CURRENT GROUP:THIS GROUP WORKS TO CONSERVE THE INTEGRITY OF THE CALIFORNIA CURRENT ECOSYSTEM. ITS FOCUS IS ON HELPING PROTECT OCEAN FOOD WEBS THAT CAN SUPPORT BOTH THRIVING AND DIVERSE MARINE LIFE AND THE NEEDS OF HUMAN COMMUNITIES. ITS UNDERSTANDING OF OCEAN AND MARINE TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS IS INFORMED BY LONG-TERM DATA MONITORING ACTIVITIES BOTH AT SEA AND ON THE FARALLON ISLANDS. ADDITIONALLY, THE GROUP TRAINS EMERGING CONSERVATION SCIENTISTS IN ITS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.ECOINFORMATICS GROUP:USING CUTTING EDGE MODELS AND ANALYTICAL APPROACHES, THIS GROUP INCREASES THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSES ON ECOSYSTEMS AND COMMUNITIES. THE FOCUS IS ON SCIENCE AND OUTREACH TO INFLUENCE SHORELINE AND BAY-LAND DEVELOPMENT, CLIMATE ADAPTATION ACTIVITIES, ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT, HABITAT RESTORATION, AND MITIGATION. THIS GROUP DEVELOPS TOOLS, FRAMEWORKS AND TECHNIQUES FOR MANAGING THE WEALTH OF SCIENTIFIC DATA COMPILED BY THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS PARTNERS. IT FURTHER SEEKS TO TRANSFORM THIS DATA INTO CONSERVATION OUTCOMES AND ECOSYSTEMS KNOWLEDGE THAT IMPROVES CONSERVATION DECISIONS AROUND CALIFORNIA AND THE WORLD. THIS GROUP ALSO MANAGES THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITES AND NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE.INNOVATIONTHE INNOVATION GROUP WORKS TO CONNECT SCIENCE TO CONSERVATION IMPACT AND ACTION. THE GROUP INITIATES STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND SCIENCTIFIC ENDEAVORS, COLLABORATES TO CREATE PROGRAM VISIONING, PROVIDE PROJECT MANAGEMENT EXPERTISE, AND DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN FRAMEWORKS AND DATABASE SYSTEMS FOR ORGANIZATIONAL AND PROGRAMMAIC METRICS AND DATA TRACKING. THE INNOVATION GROUP BRINGS NOVEL DISCIPLINARY EXPERTISE THAT CAN HELP EXPAND CONSERVATION IMPACT THROUGH LEVERAGING THE HUIM DIMENSIONS OF CONSERVATION, INCLUDING SOCIAL SCIENCE, POLICY ENGAGEMENT, AND CITIZEN SCIENCE. THE GROUP PARTICIPATES IN STRATEGIC CONSERVATION COALITIONS, INCLUDING THE CALIFORNIA BIODIVERSITY NETWORK, THE CALIFORNIA GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY WORKING GROUP, AND TOGETHER BAY AREA.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 November 6, 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 March 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 May 1965.

    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 November 4, 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.