About Us

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Redbird Research Foundation (“the Foundation”) is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, scientific, and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation’s mission is to advance environmental and human health research through ethical, science-based investigation rooted in Texas values.

The Foundation is dedicated to the preservation, study, and scientific validation of rare and endangered plants traditionally used by indigenous tribes. In many cases, these botanicals originate from tribal territorial landscapes where long-standing stewardship practices have preserved native ecosystems. As a result, the surrounding soil systems, ecological balance, and plant genetics have remained largely undisturbed, allowing these species to persist in forms that are closely aligned with their native origins, without exposure to modern genetic modification or widespread artificial chemical intervention.

The Foundation’s work extends beyond academic inquiry to include the publication of technical and peer-reviewed research, coordination with qualified third-party laboratories and clinical research organizations, and the development of BAT (Best Available Technology) frameworks. These frameworks are intended to support responsible cultivation, processing, and manufacturing while balancing ecological stewardship with the ability to meet foreseeable public health demand.

The accelerating loss of biodiversity, combined with rising chronic health challenges, underscores the need for research that bridges environmental conservation and human health. Many botanicals with long histories of traditional use remain insufficiently studied within modern scientific, genomic, and regulatory frameworks, limiting their responsible application and broader benefit.

Redbird Research Foundation addresses this gap by combining access to protected plant populations with specialized laboratory environments and advanced analytical tools, including high-resolution imaging, molecular analysis, and genome sequencing capabilities. The Foundation’s research approach allows for detailed characterization of plant genetics, biochemical pathways, and structural or crystallization phenomena influenced by soil composition, ecological conditions, and long-term environmental stability.

The Foundation is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, with a primary focus on South Texas and the greater Texas region, reflecting the area’s ecological diversity and indigenous histories. Research initiatives, educational activities, and collaborations may extend nationally and internationally where appropriate.

Where research results in viable applications, the Foundation may support limited charitable distribution consistent with its exempt purpose, while broader public access may occur through licensed partners or affiliated commercial entities operating independently and in compliance with applicable nonprofit regulations.

Redbird Research Foundation will lead and support programs that include, but are not limited to:

• Scientific research on rare, endangered, and traditionally significant plant species, including biochemical, environmental, genomic, and human health applications.
• Ethical documentation and preservation of indigenous ethnobotanical knowledge through respectful collaboration and culturally informed research practices.
• Laboratory-based and field-based research, including coordination with third-party analytical, preclinical, and clinical research organizations as appropriate.
• Development of BAT (Best Available Technology) frameworks to support responsible cultivation, processing, and manufacturing while maintaining ecological balance and genetic integrity.
• Translation of validated research into applied frameworks that support product development, licensing, or technology transfer consistent with the Foundation’s charitable purpose.
• Educational programming, technical publications, and public dissemination of research findings.
• Strategic partnerships with universities, research institutions, conservation organizations, tribal stakeholders, governmental agencies, and industry-aligned collaborators.

The Foundation is guided by the principle that meaningful health solutions emerge from disciplined research, ethical stewardship, and practical implementation. Redbird Research Foundation was established to identify botanicals with demonstrable benefit and to build the scientific, operational, and ethical pathways necessary to responsibly bring those benefits to the public.

The organization emphasizes scientific rigor, accountability, and long-term impact, recognizing that advancing human health requires both integrity in research and viable mechanisms for real-world application.

Redbird Research Foundation will be governed by a Board of Directors responsible for fiduciary oversight, strategic direction, and compliance with all federal and state nonprofit requirements. The Board of Directors will consist of three to six directors, with expertise spanning science, conservation, finance, and nonprofit governance.

Officers or executive leadership appointed by the Board will manage day-to-day operations. The Foundation will maintain formal conflict-of-interest policies, accurate financial and operational records, and governance practices consistent with nonprofit best standards.

The Foundation will be supported through diversified funding sources, which may include:

• Individual donations and philanthropic contributions
• Foundation, institutional, and research grants
• Corporate sponsorships aligned with the Foundation’s mission
• Program-related funding and educational initiatives
• Licensing revenue or research cost recovery associated with intellectual property developed in furtherance of exempt purposes, where permitted by law

The Foundation will not permit private inurement. All revenue will be applied exclusively toward advancing the organization’s charitable, scientific, and educational objectives.

Given the capital-intensive nature of advanced scientific research, the Foundation anticipates a substantial operating budget relative to early-stage nonprofits. Initial activities may include outsourced laboratory research, specialized equipment, facilities, insurance, professional services, and qualified personnel.

At formation, the Foundation intends to present a good-faith, scalable financial plan rather than a fixed first-year operating budget. Actual expenditures will be driven by research scope, funding availability, and program sequencing.

Redbird Research Foundation is applying for recognition of exemption under Section 501(c)(3) as a public charity. The Foundation affirms that it will:

• Operate exclusively for exempt purposes
• Refrain from political campaign intervention and limit lobbying in accordance with applicable law
• Ensure that no part of its net earnings inures to the benefit of private individuals
• Maintain accurate records and comply with all IRS and state reporting obligations

The Foundation anticipates filing IRS Form 1023 and will remain in good standing with all applicable regulatory authorities.