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Erie Bird Observatory

To provide avian research, education and conservation along the Pennsylvania shoreline of Lake Erie.

Animal Welfare Erie, PA EIN: 824134595 (IRS) Sign up to see website
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74
Integrity Assessment
Strong transparency
74/100 · methodology

About Erie Bird Observatory

In 2023, EBO continued ongoing bird monitoring & education programs.Spring migration count over 4 months include 951,557 birds of 160 taxa. In 2023 the banding stationcaptured 3415 birds in 67 days including 2448 new birds, 613 recaptures and 354 released unbanded. See Schedule O.

Founded
Headquarters
Erie, PA
Foundation type
Supporting organization (509(a)(3))
NTEE code
D32
IRS subsection
501(c)(03)
Ruling date
Size
small

Verified certifications

Confirmed against the issuing authority - not self-reported.

IRS Tax-Deductible since 2018

Mission

To provide avian research, education and conservation along the Pennsylvania shoreline of Lake Erie.

Focus areas & reach

· What they work on and where
Cause tags
SDG alignment The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the global agenda for ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity by 2030. We tag each charity to the goals its work advances.

How it stacks up against peers

· vs. 8 similar animal welfare in United States
Program spending This charity: 96%
Peer average: 91%
CEO comp as % of revenue This charity: 9.62%
Peer average: 0.48%
Integrity Assessment This charity: 74
Peer average: 90

Concerns

· 1 red flag
High Executive Pay
Top executive compensation is 12.8% of total expenses ($24,527 of $191,954).

Where every $1 goes

· FY2024 · IRS 990 (FY2024)
$0.96
Program$0.96
96% to programs beats the peer average (91%) and beats the Charity Navigator "highly efficient" threshold (75%).

GiveRadar Analysis

Original analysis from GiveRadar's dataset of comparable organizations

From what GiveRadar has verified so far, Erie Bird Observatory has a complete profile, cross-referenced across 4 independent sources including the IRS.

  • GiveRadar has cross-referenced this organization across 4 independent sources, led by the IRS - more than 97% of similar organizations. See the sources
  • It is one of the better-documented animal welfare charities in the United States GiveRadar currently tracks, because GiveRadar has verified its financial disclosures and its governance. Most of those have little verified data on record yet. View this cohort
  • It has more complete contact information than nearly all similar organizations, with a verified website, email, phone and address on record. See national comparisons
GiveRadar has verified
  • government registration
  • financial records (5 filed years)
  • disclosed leadership
  • a website
  • a contact email
  • a donation page
Not yet verified by GiveRadar
  • an owner-submitted profile claim

Analysis based on GiveRadar's benchmark dataset of 2026-07-03. It describes what GiveRadar has verified, not a judgment of the organization itself.

Common questions

· Auto-generated from filings + methodology

Erie Bird Observatory is a registered animal welfare nonprofit based in Erie, PA, United States. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It was founded in 2018 and has been operating for 8 years. Its EIN is 824134595. According to GiveRadar's records, it holds active tax-deductible status on the IRS Publication 78 list, which means donations are tax-deductible and the organization is in good standing with the IRS. GiveRadar's Integrity Assessment for the organization is 74/100, which reflects how much public information is available, not whether the charity is legitimate. The organization reports $255K in annual revenue. 29 officers and directors are publicly disclosed. GiveRadar has identified 1 potential concern.

Erie Bird Observatory's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 824134595. This is the organization's IRS tax identification number; you can use it to verify tax-exempt status and to look up its Form 990 filings with the IRS.

Erie Bird Observatory has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 74/100. This score combines five components: Registration (20 pts), Financial Transparency (30 pts), Governance (20 pts), Contact Availability (10 pts), and Data Recency (20 pts), with negative adjustments for any red flags. A score of 74 ('Strong transparency') reflects well-documented governance, recent financials, named leadership, and working contact details. The charity allocates 96% of expenses to programs, which contributes positively to its score. For comparison, the average integrity assessment for animal welfare charities in United States is 90/100.

Erie Bird Observatory is located in Erie, PA, United States. The organization was established in 2018 and has been active for 8 years.

Based on official tax filings, Erie Bird Observatory has $255K in annual revenue. It allocates 96% of expenses to programs and services. This is in line with the average of 91% for animal welfare charities in United States. Its revenue is below the peer average of $1M. Create a free GiveRadar account to view the complete financial breakdown with year-over-year trends.

Erie Bird Observatory is classified as an Animal Welfare organization, registered in United States. It operates as a Supporting organization (509(a)(3)). By size, it is categorized as a small organization. It has $255K in annual revenue. The organization has 29 disclosed officers and directors.

GiveRadar has identified 1 potential concern for Erie Bird Observatory. Red flags are automatically detected from official data and may include high executive compensation relative to budget, low program spending, or missing financial filings. Red flags do not necessarily mean wrongdoing but indicate areas that may warrant further review before donating.

According to GiveRadar's records, Erie Bird Observatory holds active tax-deductible status on the IRS Publication 78 list, which means donations are tax-deductible and the organization is in good standing with the IRS. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It reports that 96% of expenses go to programs (the peer average is 91%). You can donate directly through their official donation page linked on their GiveRadar profile. GiveRadar provides data for research and does not endorse any organization. A GiveRadar Integrity Assessment reflects how much public data is available, not whether an organization is safe to donate to, so it is always smart to do your own research before giving.

In 2023, EBO continued ongoing bird monitoring & education programs.Spring migration count over 4 months include 951,557 birds of 160 taxa. In 2023 the banding stationcaptured 3415 birds in 67 days including 2448 new birds, 613 recaptures and 354 released unbanded. See Schedule O. Erie Bird Observatory is classified as an animal welfare organization registered in United States. The organization was founded in 2018.

Among animal welfare charities registered in United States: It allocates 96% of expenses to programs, in line with the peer average of 91%. Its annual revenue of $255K is below the peer average of $1M.

Yes, donations to Erie Bird Observatory are generally tax-deductible in the United States. Erie Bird Observatory is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Its EIN is 824134595, which you can use for tax filing purposes. Donors can typically deduct contributions on their federal income tax return if they itemize deductions. Consult a tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Annual revenue
$100K-$1M
96% to programs
Source: IRS 990 (FY2024) why this matters
Unlock exact figures

Filing history

5 years on file from IRS 990 (FY2024): revenue, expenses, program spending, assets, and liabilities by fiscal year.

Years on record: FY2024, FY2023, FY2022, FY2021, FY2020.
Financial details are free - with a GiveRadar account

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Taxes

Tax-deductibility for donors

Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United States under local rules. Confirm with the charity directly.

Always confirm tax treatment with the charity directly or your tax advisor before donating.

Staff & volunteers

From filings and published profiles

Employees
15

Leadership

From FY2024 filing

HO
Holley S••••
Exec. Director

Officers & trustees (8)

Source: Public filings

See full names, roles, and stories

8 officers and trustees on file - free with a GiveRadar account.

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Latest news

From global news sources

10 articles found

From news sources and the organization. Shown for transparency; news never affects the integrity score.

Activity timeline

Filings and press mentions, merged

Erie Bird Observatory, Presque Isle State Park, Tom Ridge Environmental Center Host Pennsylvania Piping Plover Fest In E
Jul 2026
paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com
Erie Bird Observatory banding birds at Presque Isle last weekend in May - Erie Times-News
May 2026
www.goerie.com
As birds migrate through Erie, experts ask residents to minimize artificial light - yourerie.com
May 2026
www.yourerie.com
Bird watchers wanted at Presque Isle Oct. 11. Why Erie Bird Observatory seeks volunteers - MSN
May 2026
www.msn.com
The Last Word: Erie News Now Weather Radar Tracks Rain, Snow & Birds! | Local News | erienewsnow.com - Erie News Now
May 2026
www.erienewsnow.com
Members of Erie Bird Observatory band birds Presque Isle State Park. - Savannah Morning News
Apr 2026
www.savannahnow.com
Erie Bird Observatory's next era takes flight with new executive director - Erie Times-News
Jun 2025
www.goerie.com
Erie Bird Observatory's new leader explains why she migrated to northwestern Pennsylvania - Erie Times-News
Jun 2025
www.goerie.com
Flocking to Presque Isle this summer for bird watching? What to know if you go - Erie Times-News
Jun 2025
www.goerie.com
Spring brings millions of birds to Erie County. Learn more about these migrants - Erie Times-News
May 2025
www.goerie.com
Form filed
$0.3M revenue
FY2024
IRS 990
Form filed
$0.2M revenue
FY2023
IRS 990
Form filed
$0.1M revenue
FY2022
IRS 990
Form filed
$0.1M revenue
FY2021
IRS 990
Form filed
$0.2M revenue
FY2020
IRS 990

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Cause areas in United States

How many charities work in each area, with this charity's area highlighted.

Human Services 322,679
Education 195,586
Arts & Culture 133,128
Advocacy & Civil Rights 128,026
Religion 114,636
Health 98,862
Community Development 56,086
Youth Development 53,450
Animal Welfare this charity 40,468
See all cause areas in United States

Most common causes in United States

Causes charities work on most, with this charity's causes ticked.

Community Development 235,146
Education 159,016
Religion 103,741
Arts & Culture 101,203
Human Rights 76,926
Health 65,250
Youth Development 47,775
Animal Welfare 32,425

Sources and verification

Registration and legal identity
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search
Financial filings
IRS Form 990 filings - Fiscal year 2024 most recent on file.
Officers and trustees
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search - 29 disclosed in the public registry.
News and media coverage
GDELT Project + Google News
Supplementary verification
Charity Navigator

Data freshness

Last updated
Jun 12, 2026
Registry checked
Jun 6, 2026
Profile completeness
100%

What we know and don't know

Exactly which public data we hold on this charity. Our score reflects transparency, not impact.

On record · 10
  • Financial data · FY2024 on record
  • Named leadership · 29 officers on file
  • Executive pay · Disclosed
  • Government registration · Registered with an official registry
  • Mission statement · Published
  • Official website · On record
  • Headquarters address · On file
  • Direct contact · Email or phone published
  • Tax-deductibility · Verified
  • Founding date · 2018
Not available · 1
  • Programs & activities
    No named programs listed by the charity

Methodology

GiveRadar builds each profile primarily from official government charity registries, supplemented where available by third-party nonprofit databases and news archives, and combines it into a single 0-100 integrity assessment. The exact sources for this charity are listed above. We don't take a cut of any donation, ever.

Read full methodology

Are you the owner or a board member?

If you represent this organization and want to correct or update its data, you can claim this listing to edit details yourself, or email [email protected] with the correct information. We review every request and respond within 30 days.

Quick facts about Erie Bird Observatory

What is Erie Bird Observatory?
Erie Bird Observatory is a animal welfare supporting organization (509(a)(3)) based in Erie, United States. In 2023, EBO continued ongoing bird monitoring & education programs.Spring migration count over 4 months include 951,557 birds of 160 taxa. In 2023 the banding stationcaptured 3415 birds in 67 days including 2448 new birds, 613 recaptures and 354 released unbanded. See Schedule O.
When was Erie Bird Observatory founded?
Erie Bird Observatory was founded in 2018.
Who leads Erie Bird Observatory?
Holley Short serves as Exec. Director.
Where is Erie Bird Observatory located?
Headquartered in Erie, PA, United States.
What is Erie Bird Observatory's annual budget?
Annual revenue for fiscal year 2024 is approximately $100K-$1M. 96% of expenses go to program services.
Is Erie Bird Observatory trustworthy?
Erie Bird Observatory has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 74 out of 100 (Strong transparency). The score reflects public-data transparency: registration, financial disclosure, governance, contact details, and how recently data was refreshed. It does not measure program impact.
What is Erie Bird Observatory's registration number?
IRS EIN: 824134595.
What is Erie Bird Observatory's website?
http://eriebirdobservatory.org