FRIENDS OF LAGUNA ATASCOSA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Financials

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

22817 OCELOT TRL, LOS FRESNOS, TX 78566-4759

In care of

% TOM DEMAAR

Mailing address (990-N for 2020)

22817 OCELOT TRL, LOS FRESNOS TX 78566

Principal officer (990-N for 2020)

Jolaine Lanehart, 133 Oleander, Laguna Vista TX 78578

Signed the 990

NICOLE EKSTROM, Treasurer

Phone

(956) 832-3905

Website

www.flanwr.org

Return prepared by

GREGG S BOSSEN CPA PC

Mission

The mission of the Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge shall be to educate the public regarding the flora, fauna, and natural environment of the Refuge, through functions and educational events, promote public support for the Refuge by encouraging and organizing volunteer services, and solicit public donations for use in supporting, assisting, and enhancing ongoing conservation projects on the Refuge.

Program accomplishments

• In 2025, the Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (FLANWR) participated in outreach and education, land conservation, and habitat restoration. OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONIn 2025, FLANWR hosted 70 events for approximately 14,000 individuals. Programs and events in 2025 included: Ocelot Conservation Day, the Wild Friends Storytime, the Friends Science Series, Bike the Bahia, the Naturally Native Garden Team, the CORE (Consumable Outdoor Recreation) Program, National Public Lands Day, the Rio Grande Birding Festival, the Christmas Bird Count, and participation at community events. Ocelot Conservation DayOcelot Conservation Day is an annual event held in March that is co-hosted by FLANWR and the USFWS that promotes ocelot conservation. This awareness-raising event highlights the ocelot, a small endangered wild cat native to South Texas. Activities included craft stations and information tables where guests may speak with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, and other local partners to learn about ocelot biology, research, and conservation.On March 9, 2025, the 21st annual Ocelot Conservation Day was held at the Gladys Porter Zoo. This event, coupled with the Ocelot Run, reached an estimated 3,300 people. This event included booths from partnering organizations, ocelot themed activities, and presentations by ocelot biologists. Partners include the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, American Forests, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Cara Cara Trails, South Texas Astronomy Society, the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center, the South Texas Ecotourism Center, Defenders of Wildlife, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Game Wardens Operation Game Thief Trailer, and the East Foundation. Activities included: pin the tail on the ocelot, ocelot bean bag toss, how far can an ocelot jump, an ocelot dress up station and selfie station, ocelot puzzles, ocelot masks, ocelot face painting, and ocelot button and magnet making. Presentations provided information about ocelots in Texas, ocelot monitoring at Laguna Atascosa NWR and south Texas, thornscrub restoration for ocelots, and ocelots at the Gladys Porter Zoo.Wild Friends StorytimeIn 2025, FLANWR continued the Wild Friends Storytime program. This program features a nature-themed book about wildlife or animals found at Laguna Atascosa NWR followed by a craft and/or nature hike. Events were held monthly at the Laguna Atascosa Visitor Center and the Laguna Vista Public Library. Through grant funding, we were also able to have a book giveaway at each event so participants could have a copy of the book read at the event. In 2025, we hosted 21 events for 107 youth.CORE (Consumable Outdoor Recreation) ProgramThe CORE (Consumable Outdoor Recreation) Program is an outreach program for youth that focuses on the National Wildlife Refuge Systems Big Six areas of outreach, which include: hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, and interpretation. We hosted events throughout the year that focused on these topics, including a hunter education class, a class on how to gut, skin, and quarter an animal, Family Fish Camps that included how to filet and cook fish, and guided hikes.Guided Bike RidesIn 2025, FLANWR hosted 18 guided wildlife bike rides for 119 participants. Guided bike rides are performed at the Steve Thompson Wildlife Drive and the Bahia Grande Unit. The Bahia Grande Unit contains coastal prairie, thornscrub, rare lomas, and the Bahia Grande, one of the largest wetland restoration sites in the United States. This Unit is currently closed to the general public but is accessible by guided tours. This wildlife bike ride provides a great public service by allowing participants to access this Unit of the refuge.Naturally Native Garden TeamIn 2025, FLANWR continued the Naturally Native Garden Team with 5 events that included 34 volunteers. This program is helping revitalize the pollinator garden in front of the Visitors Center and help establish native plants at a new wildlife observation area at the Refuge. The purpose of these events is to teach people about native plants, encourage the use of native gardening in the home, and to have a pollinator demonstration garden in front of the Visitor Center and surrounding trails.National Public Lands Day CleanupFLANWR, in partnership with the USFWS, assisted with National Public Lands Day Cleanup on September 27, 2025. At this event, the public came out to help restore a trail near the Visitors Center. This event hosted 45 people.Rio Grande Birding FestivalFLANWR participated as a vendor at the 32nd Annual Rio Grande Birding Festival at the Harlingen Convention Center in November 2025. FLANWR was able to assist in making the Birders Bazaar Trade Show a success along with other local Nature Store site vendors, optics, artists, and tour companies from all over the world. This event reached an estimated 3,000+ people. Christmas Bird CountFLANWR led the 126th Audubon Christmas Bird Count for Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in December 2025 from sunrise to sunset at LANWR. LAND CONSERVATIONIn 2025, FLANWR continued their land conservation efforts by partnering with the Far Wide Conservation Trust for a North American Wetlands Conservation Grant for wetland restoration at the 234-acre parcel acquired in 2023. We also continued to research a 31-acre parcel adjacent to this 234-acre parcel for acquisition. OPSREY OVERLOOK AND GATOR POND OVERLOOKSIn 2025, the Friends had a new boardwalk built and another one revitalized at the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. A boardwalk over Lake Laguna Atascosa was created at the popular Osprey Overlook, while the Gator Pond boardwalk was rebuilt.HABITAT RESTORATIONIn 2025, the Friends assisted the Laguna Atascosa with prairie habitat restoration and wetland restoration. We purchased stainless steel wheels for water control structures at Laguna Atascosa NWR (Crossing 1 and 2). Refuge maintenance staff replaced the old, dilapidated wheels on the Crossings and were able to install the new wheels onto the screwgate gearbox in way that allows the Refuge to more easily and safely manage the water levels in the Atascosa Wetland Management Complex (~5,000 acres). We also purchased native prairie seeds for the restoration of 140 acres of coastal prairie. The saline coastal prairie portion of the planting is adjacent to the remnant Dulaney coastal prairie and is managed to provide habitat for the endangered aplomado falcon and other grassland-dependent birds. In addition to assisting the US Fish and Wildlife Service with coastal prairie habitat restoration, the Friends continued maintenance of the wildlife guzzlers at Laguna Atascosa. These guzzlers, which capture rainwater at strategic locations throughout the refuge, provide an important source of freshwater for numerous species on the refuge and are especially important during times of drought.
  Expenses $244,688

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

74-2815350

Tax-exempt status

501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization

Foundation status

Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))

Donations deductible (Pub 78)

Public charity, 50% deduction limit

Exempt since

1998

Accounting year ends

December

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking foundations (T30)

Assets (IRS master file)

$1,014,281

Income (IRS master file)

$169,975

Filing history

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 74-2815350).

Questions about FRIENDS OF LAGUNA ATASCOSA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

What is the EIN of FRIENDS OF LAGUNA ATASCOSA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE?

The employer identification number (EIN) of FRIENDS OF LAGUNA ATASCOSA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE is 74-2815350.

Is FRIENDS OF LAGUNA ATASCOSA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1998.

Are donations to FRIENDS OF LAGUNA ATASCOSA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does FRIENDS OF LAGUNA ATASCOSA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE file?

Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.

When is the next return of FRIENDS OF LAGUNA ATASCOSA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE due?

The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did FRIENDS OF LAGUNA ATASCOSA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.

Who is the principal officer of FRIENDS OF LAGUNA ATASCOSA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE?

The 990-N for 2020 names Jolaine Lanehart.

Who are the officers and directors of FRIENDS OF LAGUNA ATASCOSA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 10 people; 0 received compensation from the organization.

How much revenue does FRIENDS OF LAGUNA ATASCOSA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE have?

On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $149,352, expenses of $256,474 and total assets of $1,014,281 at year end.

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