Friends of Patuxent Research Refuge Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
521762775
IRS 990 coverage
2009–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Location
Laurel, MD, USA
Phone
3014975789
Rating
80
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Single Organization Support

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$127,803
Expenses
$85,065
Assets
$405,154
Liabilities
$1,657

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

11 people listed

People named in this filing

  • RICHARD J DOLESH (CHAIR)
  • LOWELL ADAMS (DIRECTOR)
  • STEPHANIE KAUFMAN (TREASURER)

Selected names, not a complete roster or a statement of current roles. Open leadership details for the complete filed list.

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

Friends of Patuxent was formed to support the mission and programs of the Patuxent Research Refuge and the Eastern Ecological Science Center by raising funds for educational programs, exhibits, and research.

What it reported doing in 2024

The Friends of Patuxent operates a bookstore at the National Wildlife Visitors Center located at the Refuge. Wildlife Images carries a selection of wildlife books, wildlife art themes, wildlife tee-shirts, posters, songbird box kits and many other educational and exciting wildlife related items to further the publics appreciation and knowledge of the activites of the Eastern Ecological Science Center and Patuxent Refuge. The Friends of Patuxent raise funds for the educational programs, exhibits, and outreach opportunities undertaken by the Patuxent Refuge and for research conducted by the Eastern Ecological Science Center.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 86% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Some filing-based governance responses are negative or unanswered and program spending has declined or grown slowly.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 74
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 82
  • Sustainability: 77
  • Growth: 60

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 70.7%; rating input score 71
  • Program expense ratio: 83.3%; rating input score 83
  • Fundraising efficiency: $27.71 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 65; 65th 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: 4 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 57
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
    • Whistleblower policy: Fail
    • Document-retention policy: Fail
    • 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: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 33.4%; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 4.76; rating input score 78; 78th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 51; 51st percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: -1.3% per year; rating input score 0; 26th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 2% per year; rating input score 100; 35th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 7% per year; rating input score 100; 55th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 70.7% of revenue deployed · 83.3% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 9 of 9 board members independent · 4 of 7 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $71K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 11 people listed
  • Consistency: 24 of 24 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 4 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 13 filing years from 2009 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: 3 of 7 not reported.
  • High — Growth: Program expense growth scored 0/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 51/100.