Taking Care of Texas

Programs

1. Membership, projects, and statewide initiatives: Texan by Nature's membership program supports its mission to advance conservation that benefits people, prosperity, and natural resources. Member contributions fund no-cost services for over 145 conservation partners, including strategic planning, partnership building, and communications support.Broad Membership: Catalyst members provide year-round support, enabling Texan by Nature to offer essential services that strengthen conservation efforts across Texas.(See Schedule O for continuation)Custom Projects: Projects, such as those in partnership with EOG, NRG in Jewett, and CapMetro in Austin, are led by Texan by Nature staff, who convene partners, drive action, support communications, and deliver impact-focused reporting. More details are available at TexanbyNature.org.

   $768,250 spent$47,526 earned by the program
   28% of program spending

2. TxWAC:The Texas Water Action Collaborative (TxWAC) connects funders with conservation projects that improve water quality and quantity across Texas. Piloted in the Upper Trinity River Basin in 2021 and expanded in 2022, the 18-month trial secured over $3 million for local water initiatives. Following its success, TxWAC is expanding statewide. Its goals include enhancing river health, increasing awareness of effective water conservation, and fostering collaboration among conservation groups, companies, and communities. Texan by Nature facilitates the initiative, overseeing project matching, stakeholder engagement, and communications.

   $766,505 spent$10,000 earned by the program
   28% of program spending

3. Conservation Wrangler - Projects and Summit:Texan by Nature's Conservation Wrangler program accelerates high-impact, Texan-led conservation initiatives. Up to six projects are selected annually for 18 months of support, including strategic planning, messaging, metrics analysis, partnership development, and a professionally produced video. Projects are announced each April and featured at the annual Conservation Summit. Texan by Nature provides approximately $65,000 support per project each year. The Summit is typically scheduled for November at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas.

   $351,536 spent$28,183 earned by the program
   13% of program spending

4. Conservation Partner Support: Texan by Nature supports a network of over 170 Conservation Partners across Texas and beyond, offering resources in strategy, marketing, education, and partnership development. The program includes monthly media roundups, quarterly meetups, training sessions, and year-round engagement to strengthen and connect conservation efforts. This trusted network serves as the foundation for aligning conservation projects with industry partners to scale impact statewide.

   $320,596 spent
   12% of program spending

5. Deep in the Heart:Deep in the Heart is a Texas-based film designed to inspire conservation, highlight the connection between water and wildlife, and showcase Texas' ecological significance. Premiering in theaters on June 3, 2022, it is now available via streaming and reaches audiences through schools, universities, community screenings, and digital platforms. To support conservation education, the film includes free companion curriculum aligned with TEKS and NGSS standards. Materials are available in English and Spanish for K12 teachers and students.Production of Deep in the Heart 2 began in 2023.

   $208,304 spent
   8% of program spending

6. Nature and Health Alliance: Texan by Nature serves as program manager for the Nature and Health Alliance, a network advancing the connection between nature and human health. The Alliance includes researchers, medical professionals, and practitioners across 30 states and four countries, working together to promote the health benefits of nature through research, collaboration, and shared initiatives.

   $139,736 spent
   5% of program spending

7. Center for Health and Nature: In 2016, Texan by Nature and Houston Methodist co-hosted a symposium to explore gaps in the science behind nature's impact on health and healing. This led to the creation of the Center for Health & Nature. Since then, the Center has advanced research, launched data-driven projects, and shared findings through publications and annual symposiums.

   $68,595 spent
   2% of program spending

8. Texan by Nature 20: Launched in 2019, the TxN 20 honors Texas-based organizations leading in conservation and sustainability through innovation, commitment, and best practices. These organizations serve as models for others across Texas and beyond. Texan by Nature evaluates more than 2,000 organizations across 12 sectors using a 17-point scoring system, narrowing to a top 50. A selection committee of industry leaders then chooses the final 20. The TxN 20 generates millions of media impressions annually and showcases replicable examples of conservation leadership.

   $67,164 spent
   2% of program spending

9. Return on Conservation (ROC):Texan by Nature is developing a standardized framework and baseline dataset to measure conservation investment and impact across Texas. These tools will support industries, municipalities, and conservation groups in setting goals, tracking outcomes, and aligning efforts with global standards like the UN Sustainable Development Goals. By addressing the current lack of trusted data and reporting frameworks, ROC aims to improve funding, visibility, and strategic integration of local conservation. Planned deliverables include a statewide conservation report and project-level report cards illustrating how local actions contribute to broader sustainability goals.

   $37,864 spent
   1% of program spending

10. Texan by Nature Certification: Texan by Nature Certification recognizes Texas-based conservation efforts that benefit people, support economic prosperity, and protect natural resources. Certified projects are data-driven and serve as replicable models for others. Texan by Nature supports these projects through case study development, media outreach, and knowledge sharing. Efforts include building a searchable project repository to increase visibility and ease replication.

    $20,750 spent
    1% of program spending

The 10 programs described on its FY2024 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $2,749,300.