Big Thicket Association FY2023 filing

Tax-deductible

Beaumont, TX501(c)(3)Since 1964EIN 74-6074261Revenue $215K in FY2023

On file with the IRSbigthicket.org700 North St Ste 79, 77701-1834 · Beaumont, TXTax-exempt since Apr 1967Publicly supported — 509(a)(2)

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The Big Thicket Associations mission is to preserve, protect, and promote the Big Thicket region, its natural resources and cultural history, for the enjoyment and well-being of present and future generations through advocacy, education and research.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
90¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$47K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2023 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $14K a year · 7% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
90%
of spending
Looks good: 90% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$47K
to officers and key staff · 26% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 26% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
28 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 27.5 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $18K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$3K
0.7% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
20
of 20 voting members
Looks good: 20 of 20 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$215K
+24% vs prior year
Spent
$177K
To programs
90%
Net assets
$443K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$215K
FY2023▲ +24%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$198K
FY2021$185K
FY2022$173K
FY2023$215K
FY2024$185K
FY2025$191K
Expenses
$177K
FY2023▼ -0.5%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$166K
FY2021$155K
FY2022$178K
FY2023$177K
FY2024$183K
FY2025$203K
Net assets
$443K
FY2023▲ +9%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$381K
FY2021$410K
FY2022$405K
FY2023$443K
FY2024$445K
FY2025$433K

From the FY2023 Form 990 · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Apr 1967.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

90 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 90% · $159K Management & general 9% · $17K Fundraising 1% · $2K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

21 people listed on the 990; $47K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$46,800Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Diane Thompson$50,169$48,708$46,800$22,143——
Wendy Ledbetter————$43,088$17,000
Bruce Walker———$21,429—$35,560

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Big Thicket Association executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Preserves, protects, and promotes the Big Thicket region's natural resources and cultural history.

Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $159K · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

Neches River Adventures

The Association operates the Ivory Bill, a covered excursion boat on the Neches River for school field trips, social events and nature classes. Public tours are conducted most Saturdays between late March and early November. The Ivory Bill is also available for private tours all year.

$116Kprogram expense
02

Thicket of Diversity and Field Research Learning Center

The Association, in partnership with the Big Thicket National Preserve, The Nature Conservancy, and other entities, administers and coordinates the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI). The ATBI is undertaken to enhance the ability of the National Park Service management by identifying every living species inhabiting the Big Thicket…

$24Kprogram expense
03

Awareness and Conservation

The Association promotes awareness of the Big Thicket National Preserve and the need to protect the natural resources and natural beauty of the Big Thicket.

$19Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$18K
See all 3 funders →
Grants paid · 3 grants · $27K · 2020–2025
Unitemized GrantFY2025$8,736

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$215K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$179K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$33K
Investment incomeLn 3$3K
Money outPt IX
$177K
Ln 25
Programscol B$159K
Managementcol C$17K
Fundraisingcol D$2K
Owns and owesPt X
$443K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$406K
Total assetsLn 16$446K
LiabilitiesLn 26$3K
PeoplePt VI, VII
21
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a20
IndependentVI 1b20
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$179K
Government grantsLn 1e$68K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$33K
Investment incomeLn 3$3K
Other incomeLn 4–11$76
Total revenueLn 12$215K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$205
SavingsLn 2$405K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$406K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$40K
Other assetsLn 15$310
Total assetsLn 16$446K
LiabilitiesLn 26$3K
Net assetsLn 32$443K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 53
VolunteersI 695
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$376K$406K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$47K$40K
Total assetsLn 16$423K$446K
LiabilitiesLn 26$18K$3K
Net assetsLn 32$405K$443K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$47K$42K$3K$2K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$29K$28K$796$0
Payroll taxesLn 10$6K$5K$300$119
Accounting feesLn 11c$6K$0$6K$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$17K$17K$0$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$875$867$6$2
Office expensesLn 13$7K$7K$235$85
Information technologyLn 14$1K$1K$10$3
OccupancyLn 16$13K$13K$49$18
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$200$50$150$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$6K$6K$22$8
InsuranceLn 23$10K$7K$3K$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$27K$27K$377$0
All other expensesLn 24e$7K$5K$2K$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$177K$159K$17K$2K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $191K$203K−$12K$433K 990 PDF
FY2024 $185K$183K$2K$445K 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $215K$177K$38K$443K 990 PDF
FY2022 $173K$178K−$5K$405K 990 PDF
FY2021 $185K$155K$30K$410K 990 PDF
FY2020 $198K$166K$32K$381K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $215,091 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $137,813$179,009
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $33,792$32,572
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,086$3,434
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $119$76
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $172,810$215,091
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $16,096$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $83,943$81,155
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $78,153$96,099
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $178,192$177,254
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$5,382$37,837
Part VI · Governance 20 of 20 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body20
VI-1b Independent voting members20
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $215,091 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1b Membership dues$6,410
VIII-1e Government grants$67,800
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$104,799
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$179,009
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$32,572
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $3,434$3,434
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $76$76
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $32,572 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $3,510$215,091
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $177,254 across 14 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $42,120 · Management $3,120 · Fundraising $1,560$46,800
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $27,792 · Management $796 · Fundraising $0$28,588
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $5,348 · Management $300 · Fundraising $119$5,767
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $6,035 · Fundraising $0$6,035
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $16,643 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$16,643
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $867 · Management $6 · Fundraising $2$875
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $6,604 · Management $235 · Fundraising $85$6,924
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $1,164 · Management $10 · Fundraising $3$1,177
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $12,981 · Management $49 · Fundraising $18$13,048
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $50 · Management $150 · Fundraising $0$200
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $6,423 · Management $22 · Fundraising $8$6,453
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $6,813 · Management $3,199 · Fundraising $0$10,012
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $26,888 · Management $377 · Fundraising $0$27,265
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $5,254 · Management $2,213 · Fundraising $0$7,467
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $158,947 · Management $16,512 · Fundraising $1,795$177,254
Part X · Balance sheet $445,982 assets, 12 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $335$205
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $375,529$405,337
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $46,582$40,130
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $310$310
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $422,756$445,982
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,968$3,174
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $14,817$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $17,785$3,174
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $338,848$385,242
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $66,123$57,566
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $404,971$442,808
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $422,756$445,982
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $442,808 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$215,091
XI-2 Total expenses$177,254
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$37,837
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$404,971
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$442,808

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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