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Monterey Audubon Society

EIN 94-2397544 · Carmel, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MONTEREY AUDUBON SOCIETY IS A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO CONSERVING AND CELEBRATING THE BIRDS AND WILDLIFE OF THE GREATER MONTEREY BAY REGION. OUR CHAPTER INCLUDES 1,200 MEMBERS THROUGHOUT MONTEREY AND PARTS OF SANTA CRUZ AND SAN BENITO COUNTIES. WE ENGAGE IN AN ARRAY OF EDUCATIONAL, COMMUNITY SCIENCE, AND ADVOCACY INITIATIVES GEARED TOWARD PROTECTING THE REGION'S BIRDS AND ITS BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY.

Income
$208,868
Spending
$155,157
Spent on programs
50%
Reserves
34 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
2
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$32,083, conservation committee chair

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 34.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    50% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (3)
  1. $54,480 spent. ANCILLARY PROGRAM SUPPORT IN EDUCATION, OUTREACH, BIRD CONSERVATION/PRESERVATION. PROMOTE NATURE LITERACY BY HOSTING MULTIPLE FREE MONTHLY FIELD TRIPS FOCUSING ON BEGINNERS, YOUTH, AND PARTICIPANTS WITH DISABILITIES, CONDUCTING PRESENTATIONS AT SCHOOLS AND SENIOR CENTERS, AND ENGAGING IN PUBLIC OUTREACH AT FARMER'S MARKETS AND NATURE-THEMED COMMUNITY EVENTS, LIKE EARTH DAY AND WILDLIFE DAY, INVITING PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TO CONNECT WITH THE BIRDS AROUND THEM.ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES THAT BALANCE ACCESS TO NATURE ALONG WITH THE PROTECTION OF SENSITIVE SITES AND SPECIES, LEADING TO FRUITFUL PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, CITIES, AND NONPROFITS. THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF THIS OUTREACH: BIRD BANDING HANDLING AND DEMOS USING AVIAN BIOMETRICS, PUBLIC DISSEMINATION OF SEABIRD MONITORING PROGRAM INFORMATION USING EBIRD SOFTWARE APPS AND OTHER METHODS, AVIAN CENSUS WORK THROUGHOUT MONTEREY COUNTY AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FOR OUR YOUNG BIRDERS BIRDING PROGRAM, SNOWY PLOVER GUARDIAN VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AND OTHER RELATED EFFORTS.CONCLUDED WORK ON GRANT FOR CREATING THE MAP AND BIRD SPECIES LIST IN MONTEREY COUNTY. CONCLUDED WORK ON THE "IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS" (IBA) PROJECT. RECEIVED TWO GRANTS FOR NEW WORK SUPPORTING A LOW INCOME COMMUNITY IN SALINAS BY PROVIDING AN AFTER-SCHOOL NATURE PROGRAM. RECEIVED TWO OTHER SMALL GRANTS SUPPORTING INCLUSIVE BIRDING ACTIVITIES IN THE COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS, ABILITIES, AND AGES.
  2. $16,500 spent. BLACK OYSTERCATCHER NESTING AND CENSUS MONITORING PROGRAM, FUNDING TWO BIOLOGISTS TO TABULATE NESTING AND REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS AND VIABILITY RATES ALONG THE MONTEREY BAY AREA SHORELINE. NUMEROUS VOLUNTEER EFFORTS AS WELL AS PAID PROFESSIONALS. GENERAL PUBLIC AS WELL AS BIRD LOVERS BENEFIT FROM THE PROJECT.
  3. $7,050 spent. PT. PINOS SEAWATCH - CENSUS OF MIGRATORY SEABIRDS ALONG THE FALL/WINTER FLYWAY OF THE PACIFIC COAST IN MONTEREY BAY REGION FROM A FIXED LAND-BASED OBSERVATION POINT AT PT. PINOS IN PACIFIC GROVE, CA. NUMEROUS INTERACTIONS WITH THE PUBLIC AS PROGRAMS ARE ACTIVE THROUGHOUT THE DAY FROM SUN-UP UNTIL SUNSET FOR A 6-WEEK PERIOD.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 March 1977.

    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.