Blue Heron Nature Preserve Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

The organization operated the following programs in 2024: conservation: as an ecological treasure filled with woodlands, wetlands, riparian creek areas over 30-acres, a meadow, blue heron nature preserve is committed to tap the beauty and wonder of our greenspace regionally as a dynamic outdoor classroom and research hub for metropolitan atlanta and beyond. In 2024, we continued a partnership with Georgia tech and the city of atlanta to leverage the use of drone and apps for our ongoing tree canopy work. Our native plant garden has grown in size and appreciation with the help of volunteers guided by our meadow manager. During the year we installed a demonstration native plant garden around our new entrance sign to inspire the community to see first hand the beauty and benefits of native plants.education: blue heron nature preserve, inc. Enhanced the quality and reach of our environmental education programs in 2024. Understanding that our curriculum should be dynamic like our 30-acre greenspace, blue heron educators complemented our reggio emilia curriculum with art activities for the 1267 students and families in our summer and school break camps, scout programs, and after school programs, and counselor-in-training programs. Through partnerships with organizations serving underserved families including title 1 schools, we were honored to inspire children and adults of diverse backgrounds about the nature beauty at our 30-acre preserve and the greenspaces in their communities.public art: 2024 witnessed the blossoming of our nature-themed art programs. To celebrate its 10th year we had 10 visual artists from the atlanta region and the southeast participated in our art of nature outdoor art exhibition, curated by the blue heron artist-in-residence. We continued our quarterly indoor art exhibitions featuring emerging and established artists from atlanta and the southeast region. Our arts program stands out as one of the few community-based nonprofit organizations to provide free, environmental arts programs in the southeast

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 79.6%; rating input score 80
• Program expense ratio: 74.7%; rating input score 75
• Fundraising efficiency: $4.75 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 21; 21st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• 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: 2 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 25
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -6.3%; rating input score 27; 27th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.54; rating input score 52; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4.5%; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 10% per year; rating input score 100; 70th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 7.8% per year; rating input score 100; 65th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 16.8% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings