2026-08-13T14:53:41-07:00 2024-12-31 741694817 Wathen DeShong & Juncker LLP 4140 Gladys Avenue Suite 101 Beaumont TX 77706 990 2024-01-01 752935050 Big Thicket Natural Heritage Trust BIGT 7572880190 PO Box 1049 Kountze TX 77625 Ellen Buchanan President 2026-08-13 true true Jeremy Triska P01227495 4098381605 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z X PO Box 1049 Kountze TX 77625 52966 false X https://bigthickettrust.org/home X 2001 TX We acquire properties to be donated to the National Park Service and state entities and advocate for protection of Big Thicket natural resources. 8 8 0 150 0 18599 46458 0 638 6458 58 50 19295 52966 0 0 0 0 0 16005 31012 16005 31012 3290 21954 846775 897096 0 846775 897096 We acquire properties to be donated to the National Park Service and state entities and advocate for protection of Big Thicket natural resources. false false 25196 50 LAND CONSERVATION - The Big Thicket Natural Heritage Trust (BTNHT) protects Big Thicket ecosystems in the following ways: acquisition of conservation lands at fair market value, acquisition of conservation lands through a bargain sale arrangement, receipt of donated conservation lands to BTNHT, donation of conservation easements to BTNHT, and purchase of development rights on conservation lands in southeast Texas. Conservation lands are held in permanent trust and are maintained for the benefit of wildlife and ecosystems. LAND STEWARDSHIP - BTNHT monitors its conservation easement lands annually to ensure that the goals and objectives of the easement are followed and that the land retains its conservation values. BTNHT establishes baseline data on all its easements so it can track changes over time through regular monitoring protocols. PUBLIC OUTREACH - BTNHT works with various governmental entities to track and monitor public policy issues that may affect Big Thicket ecosystems, including major thoroughfare and road plans, flood control initiatives, and solar farms. BTNHT partners with the Big Thicket National Preserve on restoration efforts and educational programs and activities on public lands. 25196 true true false false false false true false false true true false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 0 0 false 0 false false false false false false false 0 false false false false false false false X 8 8 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true false true false false false X X Mary Catherine Johnston 7572880190 PO Box 1049 Kountze TX 77625 X Ellen Buchanan President 15.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 David Lewis Vice President 1.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Mary Catherine Johnston Treasurer 15.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Josie Gunter Secretary 2.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Sharon Odegar Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Maxine Johnston Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Lane Harrison Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Sheila Gunter Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 0 false false false 0 46458 46458 0 6458 6458 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Miscellaneous Revenue 900099 50 50 50 52966 6508 X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 19000 15200 3800 0 0 0 0 5575 5575 0 0 1214 972 242 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3080 1540 1540 Membership & Dues 875 709 166 Conservation Supplies 670 670 Printing and Publications 252 252 Postage and Shipping 223 179 44 123 99 24 31012 25196 5816 0 39055 54552 40638 42574 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 606236 606236 606236 0 0 0 0 160846 193734 846775 897096 0 0 X 110849 161170 735926 735926 846775 897096 846775 897096 X 21954 10843 17524 X false false false X 88968 380047 52844 17290 46458 585607 0 0 88968 380047 52844 17290 46458 585607 0 585607 17160 17160 0 129656 1955 131611 734378 0.79740 0.54990 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED X X 1 47 1 1 true 8 5000 false 178370 17737 2373 193734 162630 1784 160846 159598 21100 -16477 1591 162630 156610 4584 1596 159598 1.00000 true false false 606236 606236 606236 193734 Part II, Line 5: Summarized Policy BTNHT is responsible for the perpetual enforcement of the restrictions laid out in the conservation easement document. The monitoring and enforcement of the terms of the easement are a cooperative effort between the landowner and BTNHT. Each year, BTNHT schedules a visit to tour the property to assess the current conditions of the property and check that the easement provisions are being followed. If any violations are uncovered, the landowner is notified and appropriate actions are taken according to policies established by BTNHT. Part II, Line 9: Organization Reporting of conservation easements. BTNHT has acquired and holds one conservation easement, which represents a legal interest in the land owned by another person or entity. The easement grants BTNHT the right to protect the land for conservation purposes. Easements donated or purchased by BTNHT are not recognized as assets or revenues because BTNHT holds no affirmative rights except to monitor and enforce the easement. If purchased, the costs of conservation easements are expensed when the easements are acquired. Part V, Line 4: Intended uses of the endowment fund. The Operating Endowment was established to provide distributions of net income for operating purposes. The Stewardship Endowment was established to provide long-term support for the annual stewardship costs and legal defense associated with the Organization's conservation easements. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b A draft of the Form 990 is provided to the Board for review and comment prior to filing. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c Every year each Director is given a copy of the conflict of interest disclosure form to be signed and returned. Directors are required to disclose conflicts prior to each agenda item when meeting. If a potential conflict is disclosed, the other Directors determine whether conflict exists, following the procedures in the organization's conflict of interest policy. If a conflict exists, the Director is excluded from the decision on the relevant issue. If the Directors discover a conflict of interest is not voluntarily disclosed, the Chairman will appoint a committee of Directors to review the conflict and recommend the appropriate action. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 Governing documents, the conflict of interest policy, and financial statements are available to the public upon request. Additionally, the financial statements are available through the Guidestar website. Form 990, Part XI, Line 9 Adjustment for prior year - endowment fund underreported = $17524 Form 990 Header, Section B - Amended Return The organization inadvertently filed Form 990-N for the 2024 tax year before realizing it was not eligible to file that return. This Form 990 is being submitted to report the organization's activities and financial information for the 2024 tax year as an amendment to the previously filed Form 990-N. Schedule A, Part II, Section B, Line 8 The historical support amounts reported on Schedule A reflect the amounts reported on the organization's previously filed 2023 Form 990 and have not been restated for the correction of prior-year investment income. Schedule D, Part V, Line 1 Beginning endowment fund balances were adjusted to correct errors in the reporting of endowment fund balances and related investment income on the organization's previously filed 2023 Form 990. Accordingly, the beginning balance reported on Schedule D, Part V, differs from the ending balance reported on the previously filed 2023 return by $17,524.