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Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology

EIN 95-6096078 · Camarillo, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceGood72 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology is both a natural history collection specializing in eggs and nests of birds from around the world, and a research and education institution dedicated to bird conservation.

Income
$383,860
Spending
$518,293
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
54.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
9
Volunteers
2

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: 80 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 54.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 72 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
  1. $236,262 spent. THE FOUNDATION CONDUCTS RESEARCH STUDIES ON LOCAL AND REGIONAL BIRD POPULATIONS SUCH AS THE CACTUS WREN, THE ISLAND LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, AND LEAST BELL'S VIREO. PROJECTS COLLABORATE WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, UC SANTA BARBARA, AND CSU CHANNEL ISLANDS. RESEARCH PROJECTS STUDY AREAS SUCH AS POPULATION STATUS, IMPLICATIONS FOR SPECIES RECOVERS, LAND MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS, AND RESPONSES TO RESTORATION ACTIVITIES.
  2. $117,094 spent. THE MUSEUM HOUSES A COLLECTION OF APPROXIMATELY 225,000 EGGSETS, 18,000 NESTS, 56,000 BIRD SKINS, 800 MOUNTED BIRD SPECIMINS, AND 4,500 TEACHING SPECIMINS. THE EGG AND NEST COLLECTIONS ARE THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD. DATA, RECORDS, AND SPECIMIN LOANS ARE MADE AVAIALBE TO QUALIFIED RESEARCHERS AND EDUCATORS IN MULTIPLE FIELDS. A LIBRARY HOUSES MORE THAN 8,000 VOLUMES OF BOOKS AND 400 BIRD AND NATURAL HISTORY JOURNAL SERIES AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC RESEARCH.
  3. THE FOUNDATION PUBLISHES A JOURNAL SERIES: PROCEEDINGS, OCCASIONAL PAPERS, AND MONOGRAPHS OF THE WESTERN FOUNDATION OF VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION PUBLISHSES VARIOUS CHECKLISTS, BOOKS, AND PROCEEDINGS. DUPLICATE COPIES OF TITLES FROM THE LIBRARY ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR PURCHASE.
  4. PUBLIC TOURS AND TOURS TO STUDENT GROUPS PROVIDE EDUCATION ABOUT BIRD BIOLOGY, BIODIVERSITY, AND ECOLOGY. CLASSES, TRAINING, AND INTERNSHIPS ARE PROVIDED TO COLLEGE STUDENTS, RESEARCHERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. TEACHING MATERIALS ARE LOANED FREE OF CHARGE TO LOCAL EDUCATORS.

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 February 1958.

    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.