Celebrating 30 years of helping you give wisely
America's most independent,
assertive charity watchdog
Top Rated

American Bird Conservancy

CharityWatch report issued
April 2022

Top-Rated Charity
A-
CharityWatch Grade
Our independent grade based
on a number of factors.
 
73%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$7
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

American Bird Conservancy
P.O. Box 249
The Plains, VA 20198-2237

Other Names

None

Tax Status

501(c)3

Stated Mission

Conserves native wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas, safeguarding the rarest species, restoring habitats, and reducing threats, while building capacity in the bird conservation movement.

View similar charities
Charity  
350.org  
African Wildlife Foundation  
Alaska Conservation Foundation  
Amazon Conservation Team  
American Farmland Trust  
American Forests  
American Rivers  
Appalachian Mountain Club  
Arbor Day Foundation  
Center for Biological Diversity  
Chesapeake Bay Foundation  
Conservation Fund  
Conservation International Foundation  
Cousteau Society  
Defenders of Wildlife  
Ducks Unlimited  
Earth Island Institute  
Earthjustice  
Earthworks  
Environmental Defense Action Fund  
Environmental Defense Fund  
Environmental Working Group  
Friends of the Earth  
Gaia-Movement Living Earth Green World Action USA  
Global Green USA  
Green America  
Greenpeace  
Greenpeace Fund  
Izaak Walton League of America (National Office)  
Keep America Beautiful (National Office)  
League of Conservation Voters  
League of Conservation Voters Education Fund  
National Audubon Society  
National Forest Foundation  
National Park Foundation (NPF)  
National Park Trust  
National Parks Conservation Association  
National Wildlife Federation  
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)  
Nature Conservancy  
NRDC Action Fund  
Ocean Conservancy  
Oceana  
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy  
Rainforest Action Network  
Rainforest Alliance  
Resources for the Future  
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation  
Save the Redwoods League  
Sierra Club  
Sierra Club Foundation  
Solar Cookers International (SCI)  
Southern Environmental Law Center  
Student Conservation Association  
The Wilderness Society  
Trout Unlimited (National Office)  
Trust for Public Land  
Union of Concerned Scientists  
Water.org  
Waterkeeper Alliance  
WildAid  
World Resources Institute  
World Wildlife Fund  
Yosemite Conservancy  
Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 12/31/2020

Program Percentage: 73%

The percentage of American Bird Conservancy's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$14,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $7

How many dollars American Bird Conservancy spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$10,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

25% to 49%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
American Bird Conservancy IRS Form 990 52-1501259
American Bird Conservancy Audited Consolidated Financial Statements multiple
Entity: American Bird Conservancy
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 52-1501259
Entity: American Bird Conservancy
Document Type: Audited Consolidated Financial Statements
Tax ID: multiple

Governance & Transparency

CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
This charity is Top-Rated
What does it mean to be Top-Rated?
 
American Bird Conservancy
meets governance benchmarks.
 
American Bird Conservancy
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy Opt-In Policy  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Michael J. Parr President $254,897
2 Erin Chen VP Development $175,810
3 Merrie Morrison VP Operations $170,006
1
Name: Michael J. Parr
Title: President
Compensation: $254,897
2
Name: Erin Chen
Title: VP Development
Compensation: $175,810
3
Name: Merrie Morrison
Title: VP Operations
Compensation: $170,006

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

The American Bird Conservancy (ABC) includes $216,105 of "Membership Services" expenses in its reported total Program Services expenses, according to its IRS Form 990 tax filing for the year ended December 31, 2020. The ABC audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020 includes $216,105 in "Membership Development" as part of its reported Supporting Services functional expenses.

The ABC 2020 tax filing describes its Membership Services program as follows: "ABC's membership is a growing network of birders and nature lovers making a difference for birds throughout the Americas" (IRS Form 990, Part III, line 4c). ABC reports $4,143,506 in "Membership dues" as part of its total contributions and other support received in 2020 (IRS Form 990, Part VIII, line 1b).

CharityWatch allocates this $216,105 in Membership expenses, net of $2,602 in in-kind contributed services, to Fundraising expenses as part of our calculation of ABC's Program % and Cost to Raise $100 for 2020.

According to the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) 2020 tax filing, ABC received in-kind donated services and use of facilities on which it placed a total value of $10,243 (IRS Form 990, Schedule D, Part XI).

[Note: CharityWatch generally excludes the value of in-kind (non-cash) donations of goods and services from its calculations of Program % and Cost to Raise $100. More information on how grades are calculated and the treatment of in-kind donations can be found on the Our Process page.]

According to the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) consolidated audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 4, Loan Payable):

"On April 2020, ABC received loan proceeds in the amount of $1,410,994 under the Paycheck Protection Program. The promissory note calls for monthly principal and interest payments amortized over the term of the promissory note with a deferral of payments for the first six months. Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the promissory note may be forgiven by the Small Business Administration in whole or in part. ABC intends to use the proceeds for purposes consistent with the Paycheck Protection Program and believes that its use of the loan proceeds will meet the conditions for forgiveness of the loan. ABC intends to apply for forgiveness after completing the 24-week period. If forgiveness is granted, ABC will record revenue from debt extinguishment during the period that forgiveness is approved."

According to the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) consolidated audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 1 re: Risks and uncertainties):

"ABC invests in various investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks such as interest rates, market and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the [audited] consolidated financial statements."


According to the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) consolidated audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 1 re: Economic uncertainties):

"On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a global pandemic. As a result of the spread of COVID-19, economic uncertainties have arisen which may negatively impact ABC's operations. The overall potential impact is unknown at this time."