Point Reyes Bird Observatory
Also known as Point Blue Conservation Science
Point Reyes Bird Observatory reported $31.7 million in revenue and $28.6 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $81.45 went to program services, $13.38 to management and general costs and $5.17 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 69.4% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $262,667 (PRESIDENT AND CEO (THRU 11/24)). 36 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 139% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $29MFor context, the median across 245 covered animal-related charities: $83.96 programs, $9.42 management, $6.62 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $32MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 81.4% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 13.4% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 5.2% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.16 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 29.6% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 69.4% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $262,667 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.92% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 36 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 6.9 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 21 of 21 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseSierra 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
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…
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
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT AND CEO (THRU 11/24) Officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $227,130 | $0 | $35,537 | $262,667 |
| CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER Key employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $192,175 | $0 | $35,905 | $228,080 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $187,311 | $0 | $28,917 | $216,228 |
| INTERIM CEO Officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $172,414 | $0 | $26,147 | $198,561 |
| DIR. OF INDIVIDUAL PHILANT Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $158,554 | $0 | $28,793 | $187,347 |
| DIR. OF INNOVATION Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $161,254 | $0 | $26,028 | $187,282 |
| DIR. OF INDIVIDUAL PHILANT Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $156,976 | $0 | $28,070 | $185,046 |
| INFORMATICS ENGINEER MANAGER Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $145,095 | $0 | $20,124 | $165,219 |
36 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Point Reyes Bird Observatory (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $891K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b21 · 21 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aNo
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5298
- Volunteers Part I, line 66,639
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| TROUT UNLIMITED Professional services | $1,432,495 |
| EIS CONSULTING It services | $422,138 |
| PLUMAS CORP Professional services | $353,945 |
| STACKARMOR INC Professional services | $270,650 |
| SOUTH YUBA RIVER CITIZENS LEAGUE Professional services | $240,029 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 17 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
8 private foundations reported grants to Point Reyes Bird Observatory totaling $290K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Point Reyes Bird Observatory's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Point Reyes Bird Observatory, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Point Reyes Bird Observatory spent in FY2025, $81.45 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Humane Society of MissouriSt Louis, MO · revenue $32M · programs 80.5% · FY2025
- Michigan Humane SocietyDetroit, MI · revenue $32M · programs 76.1% · FY2025
- Foundation to Support Animal ProtectionNorfolk, VA · revenue $31M · programs 91.5% · FY2025
- Dane County Humane SocietyMadison, WI · revenue $32M · programs 66.5% · 2025
- East Coast Zoological Society of FloridaMelbourne, FL · revenue $31M · programs 75.6% · 2024
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Point Reyes Bird Observatory's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, Point Reyes Bird Observatory reported that 81.4% of its $28.6 million in expenses went to program services, 13.4% to management and general and 5.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Point Reyes Bird Observatory pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Point Reyes Bird Observatory reported for one person in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 was $262,667, for the role of PRESIDENT AND CEO (THRU 11/24) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Point Reyes Bird Observatory get its money?
Of $31.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, 29.6% came from contributions and grants and 69.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Point Reyes Bird Observatory a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 94-1594250 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, object 202502909349300030 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, object 202402859349301110 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, object 202332839349301413 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, object 202223429349301007 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, object 202113479349301621 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020, object 202100119349300245 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 94-1594250: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.