Avian Conservation Center

What it reported doing in 2024

The center founded out of an acute awareness for the need of an avian conservation center in South Carolina, the charleston raptor center was formally incorporated as a 501(c)3 organization in september 1991. The centers name was changed to the South Carolina center for birds of prey in 1995 to better reflect an expanded scope of programs and services. With continued growth and reach, the avian conservation center was established in 2004 as an umbrella organization to accommodate distinctive educational, medical, scientific and conservation disciplines within the organization. These operating divisions are: the center for birds of prey; the avian medical center; and the South Carolina oil spill treatment facility. The avian conservation centers medical clinic operates 365 days a year with support from more than 60 trained and dedicated volunteer staff members. This state-of-the-art medical facility treats more than 600 injured birds of prey and shorebirds each year. Since its founding, the center has admitted over 7,000 birds for treatment and release. The sc oil spill treatment facility is among the most distinctive facilities housed at the avian conservation center. In 2005 u.s. Fish and wildlife and South Carolina dnr awarded the center a $1.8 million grant for the construction of the 3,500 square foot facility, which remains the only permanent oil spill treatment center of its kind on the eastern seaboard. Research and field studies combine with the objectives of the medical and educational programs to support the protection of wild bird populations and their habitat. The center has led and participated in groundbreaking scientific research on avian genetics and environmental hazards, including an ongoing study of endangered and threatened species in South Carolina such as the swallowtailed kite. The centers work is well known in connection with environmental threats like the emergence of avian vacuolar myelinopathy (avm) among eagles and other birds, and poisoning from unregulated landfill substances. A citizen science approach to a number of initiatives allows the public to become active contributors to wildlife conservation and to raise public awareness of vital ecological issues. Citizen-science programs carry the additional bonus of raising public awareness about ecological issues, educating the public about species of concern and their associated habitats, and allowing the public to become actively engaged supporters of wildlife conservation. Avian medical clinic the professional treatment of injured birds is a source of incomparable insight into critical environmental issues, many of which have human health implications. The avian medical clinic currently treats more than 600injured raptors and shorebirds each year, releasing the majority back to their natural habitat. Injured birds are admitted from a continually widening geographical area. Although the causes of injuries vary widely, nearly all are human-related - ranging from gunshot wounds to collisions, electric shock from power lines, and toxicity. The medical functions of the center operate on a 365-day / 24-hour basis. Environmental education each year, thousands of students are engaged in the centers science and natural history based educational programs. The power and beauty of birds of prey cast them as unparalleled ambassadors in public education - exemplifying both the intellectual and ethical aspects of conservation management. Decades of program experience and evaluations consistently provided from educators demonstrate that these programs capture attention, enhance retention of subject material, and foster a renewed enthusiasm for learning - all of which contribute to an overall improvement in academic performance. The experiential programs offered by the center, whether onsite at the centers 152 acre campus, or offered as outreach in classrooms and other venues, promote an awareness and appreciation for the natural world and our respective roles as

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 79.3%; rating input score 79
• Program expense ratio: 82.9%; rating input score 83
• Fundraising efficiency: $13.39 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 47; 47th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 71
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 9.5%; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 4.82; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.13; rating input score 39; 39th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 3.7% per year; rating input score 100; 35th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 5.9% per year; rating input score 100; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 0.1% per year; rating input score 100; 18th percentile among comparable filings