Headwaters at Incarnate Word Inc

What it reported doing in 2025

Habitat Restoration Program: Bird City San Antonio Partner OrganizationHeadwaters habitat restoration work continued to support Bird City San Antonio certification requirements. Headwaters shared habitat restoration progress with Bexar Audubon South Central Texas representatives throughout the year. Headwaters is pleased to partner in this far-reaching effort to protect and improve native habitat in the San Antonio area. Sanctuary Habitat ProgramsOur programs strive to improve habitat conditions - to promote wildlife diversity, increase Sanctuary carrying capacity for wildlife, and provide a more pleasurable visitor experience. Prolonged drought and summer nighttime temperatures above 85 degrees continue to stress our native trees, especially our Hackberry population, which provides an important food source for birds. While Hackberry trees suffer, Retama, Anacua, Bluewood Condalia, Lotebush, and Gum Bumelia species thrive.Invasive Plant Management Program: Invasive plant species threaten the Sanctuary habitat by competing with essential native trees and suppressing understory species, needed for local and migratory wildlife sustenance and shelter. In 2025, Headwaters removed over 17,143 invasive plants, bringing the total removed since fall 2019 to 150,165. By years end, Headwaters will have worked 67% of the Sanctuary (31.9 acres). In 2026, planned removal work on an additional 6.8 acres will deliver 80% of the Sanctuary initially cleared of invasive plants. Volunteers and Headwaters staff execute this multi-year program with limited assistance from hired tree crews as funds are available.Forest Floor Restoration Project: Additional native grass and forb seed broadcasts on the forest floor have created a more robust native seed bank, enabling it to better compete with invasive seeds. Pedestrians may view Inland Sea Oats and Wildrye grasses filling exposed areas. Native grasses and forbs support insects, birds, and small mammals by providing foraging materials, food sources, and host plants. With greater native plant coverage, we reduce erosion, increase carbon sequestration, and improve soil health. Native Prairie Program: The Upper Field 2-acre native grass prairie was seeded with 13 grass species one year ago. The area will remain fenced to protect the young grass plants from curious visitors until fully established. Providing food and nesting materials for wildlife, the prairie is a significant addition to our habitat corridor along the migratory flyway.The Circle of the Springs Garden: Headwaters continued to maintain the Sanctuarys 80-foot diameter Circle of the Springs Garden, composed of 16 planting beds with 43 native pollinator plant species to support local and migratory wildlife. In the first quarter, the 7-year-old drip irrigation system was upgraded. The Shrubby Boneset, Heartleaf Hibiscus, Apache Plume, Dwarf Barbados Cherry, Fall Aster, and Gulf Muhly were exceptional this year. Research Projects: Completed or in progress- Insect - North American Butterfly Association surveys, July and October 2025, volunteers; Gulf Fritillary Butterfly Study, summer 2025, University of San Diego; Leafhopper Surveys, 2025-2026, Texas A&M at San Antonio; and Insect general surveys, Fall 2025-Spring 2026, University of the Incarnate Word. Bird - Cattle Egret Vegetation Study, Summer-Fall 2025, Texas State University; 2nd Friday Bird Walk eBird reports, monthly, Bexar Audubon docents; and Sanctuary Bird Surveys, multi-year commitment, Bexar Audubon South Central Texas. Flora - Phenology study, monthly, volunteers.Water for Wildlife Project: A solar-powered wildlife water station near the native grass prairie will operate in time for the spring heat. Community donations and a gift from The Skiles Foundation funded this project.Sanctuary Multi-season Biodiversity Study: To obtain a baseline habitat and wildlife evaluation of the Sanctuary, a twelve-month biodiversity study will be performed by members of the Urban Alchemy Collective

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 31.5%; rating input score 32
• Program expense ratio: 74.4%; rating input score 74
• Fundraising efficiency: $17.32 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 51; 51st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd 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: 87.5%; rating input score 88; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 62
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 63.3%; rating input score 94; 94th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 26.13; rating input score 97; 97th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 88; 88th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 26.9%; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 8.6% per year; rating input score 100; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 16.3% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 4.2% per year; rating input score 100; 32nd percentile among comparable filings