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HUMANE BORDERS INC
Tucson, AZ · EIN 805033532 · Form 990 · FY2022 · NTEE P60 · Human Services · Small ($100K-$1M) · www.humaneborders.org
revenue
$261K
expenses
$218K
net assets
$331K
employees
0
volunteers
17
program ratio
84%
mission · from form 990

The main purpose of our organization is to provide humanitarian assistance to persons in need in the desert borderlands of the U.S and Mexico, and to work towards a more just environment in the borderlands.

profile · synthesized from sources

Humane Borders Inc. was established in 2000 to prevent migrant deaths along the Arizona-Mexico border. The organization places and maintains water stations in the Sonoran Desert and produces maps of migrant deaths to educate the public and inform water station placement. They also assist families in locating missing migrants.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2022

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $59K
    VEHICLES FLEET: We maintain a fleet of water trucks and auxiliary vehicles. The water trucks have off-road water hauling and dispensing capabilities that include desert rescue and satellite communication equipment. In 2022 we were out in the desert 3 to 5 times a week and drove approximately more than 15,000 miles.
  2. #2 $46K
    OUTREACH, MIGRANTS FOOD AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, AND EDUCATION: We constantly establish and maintain contributor, public, and media contracts. We publish a newsletter, it is distributed by mail and poste on our website. We kept updated our warning posters that warn migrants of the dangers of crossing in the desert. In partnership with the Pima County Medical Examiner, we continue to post on OpenGIS our maps of where deaths are occurring in our area. We respond to those looking for loving ones using our well established (23 years) connections with various U.S. and Mexican public and private organizations. We continue to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants, especially in Mexico, who need water, food, clothes, or medical care.
named programs · 4 · from sources

what they call their work

Arizona Open GIS Initiative for Missing and Deceased Migrants
A collaborative effort with the Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office to raise awareness about migrant deaths, provide closure to families through identification of the deceased, and return remains. Includes an online mapping tool for searching spatial data related to desert migrant deaths.
Migrant Death Mapping
Production of annual maps pinpointing migrant deaths using GIS technology to educate government officials and the public about the consequences of immigration deterrence policies and to inform water station placement.
Missing Migrants Information
Provides guidance and resources to families searching for missing migrants, including contact information for consulates, online detainee locators, and specific agencies like U.S. Marshals and ICE.
Water Station Program
Placement and maintenance of large, refillable 55-gallon water barrels marked with blue flags in the Arizona/Sonoran Desert to provide lifesaving water to crossing migrants.
activities · 6 groups

what they do

  • Migrant Death Documentation and Prevention Mapping 14 activities
    • Border Safety Information Dissemination
      Develops and distributes posters on the south side of the U.S. – Mexico border to warn potential border crossers of dangers, including estimated walking times and sites of migrant deaths.
    • Border Safety Information Dissemination
      Develops and distributes posters on the south side of the U.S. – Mexico border to warn potential border crossers of dangers, including estimated walking times and sites of migrant deaths.
    • Distribute informational posters on border dangers
      Develops and distributes posters on the south side of the U.S.–Mexico border warning potential crossers of dangers, including walking times and locations of migrant deaths; posters covering 1990–2023 are publicly available.
    • Maintain interactive migrant death and missing persons database
      Created and maintains the Arizona OpenGIS Initiative for Deceased and Missing Migrants (launched in 2013), in partnership with the Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office, allowing users to search, view, and download spatial data on migrant deaths and disappearances. Data is updated quarterly from public sources.
    • Maintain interactive migrant death and missing persons database
      Operates the Arizona OpenGIS Initiative for Deceased and Missing Migrants, a publicly accessible, interactive database and mapping tool that allows users to search, view, and download spatial data on migrant deaths, updated quarterly from public sources including the Pima County Medical Examiner.
    • Map and document migrant deaths
      Maintains and updates the Arizona OpenGIS Initiative for Deceased Migrants, an interactive database and mapping tool that logs migrant deaths by location, name, gender, date, and cause, using data from the Pima County Medical Examiner and other sources; produces annual and historical maps and posters of recovered human remains since 2001.
    • Migrant Danger Awareness Posters
      Develops and distributes posters on the south side of the U.S. – Mexico border to warn potential border crossers of dangers, including estimated walking times and sites of migrant deaths. Also creates and makes available posters detailing migrant deaths and water stations from 1990-2023.
    • Migrant Death Data Collection and Mapping
      Maintains and updates a comprehensive migrant death database (Arizona OpenGIS Initiative for Deceased Migrants) with data from medical examiners, allowing users to search for information on deceased migrants and producing interactive maps and posters detailing migrant deaths.
    • Migrant Death Data Collection and Mapping
      Maintains and updates a migrant death database (Arizona OpenGIS Initiative for Deceased Migrants) with data from medical examiners, allowing users to search for information on deceased migrants, and produces interactive maps and posters detailing migrant deaths and water stations in the region from 1990 to the present.
    • Migrant Death Database and Mapping
      Maintains and updates a comprehensive migrant death database, the Arizona OpenGIS Initiative for Deceased Migrants, with data from the Pima County Medical Examiner and other Arizona counties. This initiative includes an interactive online GIS mapping tool that allows users to search, view, and download spatial data related to desert migrant deaths, updated quarterly.
    • Produce and distribute informational posters on border dangers
      Develops and distributes posters on the south side of the U.S.–Mexico border that warn potential crossers of dangers, including walking times and locations of migrant deaths; also produces historical posters detailing deaths and water stations from 1990–2023.
    • Produce annual maps and publications on migrant deaths
      Creates yearly maps and reports, including Recovered Human Remains (RHR) maps from 2001–2003 and annual GIS maps since 2002, to educate officials and support advocacy. Also publishes "Blue Barrel Diaries" sharing field stories.
    • Produce maps and data visualizations of migrant deaths
      Produces annual and interactive maps of migrant deaths in the Arizona/Sonoran Desert region, beginning in 2002, to educate officials and support advocacy and permitting efforts. Includes yearly Recovered Human Remains (RHR) maps from 2001–2003 and ongoing GIS mapping projects.
    • Publish narratives and data on migrant experiences
      Produces the "Blue Barrel Diaries" to share field stories from the desert and creates downloadable posters detailing migrant deaths and infrastructure (e.g. water stations, rescue beacons) from 1990–2023 for public education and advocacy.
  • Desert Water Station Maintenance 10 activities
    • Facilitate donor-supported water station maintenance
      Offers an "Adopt A Water Station" program allowing donors to fund the annual upkeep of specific water barrels, and maintains an Amazon Wishlist to collect supplies for water trucks, heat survival items, and children’s toys for shelters in Northern Mexico.
    • Humanitarian Aid Collection
      Maintains an Amazon Wishlist to collect supplies for water trucks, items for summer heat, and stuffed toys for children in family shelters in Northern Mexico.
    • Operate and maintain desert water stations for migrants
      Deploys and maintains dozens of permitted 55-gallon water stations across the Sonoran Desert, particularly in remote areas near Sasabe, Ajo, Yuma, and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, with regular refilling, quality testing, and rapid deployment of new stations as needed since 2000.
    • Operate and maintain desert water stations for migrants
      Manages a network of dozens of permitted water stations in the Sonoran Desert, using 55-gallon barrels that are regularly refilled and tested for quality. Stations are located in remote areas near Sasabe, Ajo, Yuma, and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, with recent expansions in 2023 and 2024.
    • Operate and maintain desert water stations for migrants
      Operates and maintains dozens of permitted water stations in the Sonoran Desert using 55-gallon barrels, which are regularly refilled and tested for quality. Stations are located in remote areas near Sasabe, Ajo, Yuma, and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, with recent expansions in 2023 and 2024.
    • Operating Desert Water Stations
      Operates and maintains dozens of permitted water stations using 55-gallon barrels in remote areas of the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, including Tucson, Ajo, and Yuma, to provide hydration for migrants. These stations are regularly refilled and tested for quality.
    • Operating Desert Water Stations
      Operates and maintains dozens of permitted water stations, using 55-gallon barrels, in remote areas of the Sonoran Desert (Arizona/Sonoran Desert, Ajo, Yuma, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument) to provide hydration for migrants. This includes regular refilling, quality testing, and expanding operations to new areas.
    • Operating and Maintaining Desert Water Stations
      Operates and maintains dozens of permitted water stations, using 55-gallon barrels, in remote areas of the Sonoran Desert (Arizona/Sonoran Desert, Ajo, Yuma, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument) to provide hydration for migrants, regularly refilling and testing water quality. Donors can adopt a water station to cover annual maintenance costs.
    • Run donor-supported water station adoption and supply programs
      Offers an “Adopt A Water Station” program allowing donors to fund the annual maintenance of a desert water barrel. Also maintains an Amazon Wishlist to collect supplies for water trucks, heat survival items, and toys for children in family shelters in Northern Mexico.
    • Support donor engagement through water station adoption and supply drives
      Runs an "Adopt A Water Station" program allowing donors to fund annual maintenance of a water barrel, and maintains an Amazon Wishlist to collect supplies for water trucks, heat survival items, and toys for children in family shelters in Northern Mexico.
  • Immigrant Rights Advocacy & Legal Challenges 6 activities
    • Advocacy for Border Policy Reform
      Engages in advocacy efforts by signing and endorsing letters to Congress and the President, calling for actions such as rescinding border wall funding, halting land condemnations, ending the use of Title 42, rejecting increased funding for ICE detention, and reforming immigration court processes.
    • Advocacy for Humane Border Policies
      Engages in advocacy efforts by endorsing letters and participating in group calls to action, urging policy changes such as rescinding border wall funding, ending Title 42 expulsions, rejecting increased funding for ICE detention, and reforming immigration court processes.
    • Advocacy for Humane Border Policies
      Engages in advocacy efforts by endorsing letters and participating in group calls to action, addressing issues such as border wall funding, Title 42 expulsions, ICE detention funding, and mass prosecutions under Operation Streamline.
    • Advocate for border policy reform
      Engages in coordinated advocacy by signing and endorsing letters to federal officials and Congress calling for an end to border wall construction and funding, Title 42 expulsions, mass prosecutions, ICE detention expansion, and private prison contracts, while supporting immigration court reform and legal representation for indigent individuals.
    • Advocate for policy changes on border enforcement and migrant treatment
      Engages in coordinated advocacy by signing and endorsing letters to federal officials and Congress calling for an end to border wall construction, rescission of funding, halting of land condemnations, termination of private prison contracts, cessation of Title 42 expulsions, and reform of immigration prosecutions and courts.
    • Advocate for policy changes on border militarization and asylum
      Engages in advocacy by signing and endorsing letters to federal agencies and Congress calling for the end of border wall funding, rescission of legal waivers for barrier construction, termination of Title 42 expulsions, halting of mass prosecutions under Operation Streamline, and rejection of increased ICE detention funding.
  • Missing Migrant Search Support 6 activities
    • Missing Migrant Search Assistance
      Provides information and guidance to families and individuals searching for missing migrants, including contact details for consulates, government agencies, and other organizations like U.S. Marshals, ICE offices, or specific detention centers.
    • Missing Migrant Search Assistance
      Provides guidance and information to families searching for missing migrants, including contacting U.S. Marshals, ICE offices, detention centers, consulates, and other government agencies.
    • Missing Migrant Search Assistance
      Provides guidance and information to families searching for missing migrants, including contact details for consulates, government agencies, and specific detention centers, and assists in contacting U.S. Marshals or ICE offices when other methods fail.
    • Provide search guidance for families of missing migrants
      Provides information and direct guidance to families searching for missing migrants, including contact details for U.S. Marshals, ICE offices, detention centers, consulates, and other relevant agencies when other search methods fail.
    • Provide search guidance for families of missing migrants
      Offers information and direct guidance to families searching for missing migrants, including contact details for U.S. Marshals, ICE offices, detention centers, consulates, and other relevant agencies.
    • Support families searching for missing migrants
      Provides guidance and resources to families seeking missing migrants, including contact information for U.S. Marshals, ICE offices, detention centers, consulates, and other agencies, and supports identification efforts through collaboration with medical examiners and public databases.
  • Immigration Immersion & Education Programs 5 activities
    • Conduct educational desert trips for students
      Hosts one-day educational trips into the desert for high school-level and above students during the school year to raise awareness about migration and humanitarian efforts.
    • Conduct educational desert trips for students
      Hosts one-day educational trips into the desert for high school-level and higher education groups during the school year to raise awareness about migration and humanitarian efforts.
    • Educate the public and students about border conditions
      Hosts one-day educational trips into the desert for high school and higher education students during the school year to raise awareness about migration and humanitarian conditions, and produces informational posters displayed on the U.S.-Mexico border detailing dangers, walking times, and historical migrant deaths.
    • Educational Desert Trips
      Hosts one-day student trips into the desert for high school level and above students during the school year to educate them about the realities of border crossing.
    • Educational Desert Trips
      Hosts one-day student trips into the desert for high school level and above students during the school year to educate them about the realities of the border and migrant journeys.
  • Field Experience Publications & Archives 2 activities
    • Publication of "Blue Barrel Diaries"
      Publishes "Blue Barrel Diaries" to share stories and experiences from the desert, likely related to migrant journeys and the organization's work.
    • Publish narratives and reports on desert humanitarian work
      Publishes “Blue Barrel Diaries” to share field stories from the desert and raises awareness about migrant experiences and humanitarian efforts.
financials · form 990 · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$261K
Contributions & grants$261K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$120%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$218K
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$71K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$331K
Cash$262K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$331K
Liquid reserves14.4 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue -6.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Rebecca Fowler Administrative Manager 25 $35K
Joel Smith Operations Manager 20 $28K
relationships · 35

who they work with

  • American Immigration Lawyers Association Partner — Networked with them to sign a letter regarding immigration court reform.
  • Arizona-California Humanitarian Coalition Partner — Collaborated with to establish a new station in San Luis in the Yuma area.
  • Border Coalition Partner — Signed a letter with them calling on President Biden to stop border wall funding.
  • Center for Disease Control Government — Called upon its Director, Rochelle Walensky, to end the use of Title 42 Order.
  • Customs Border Protection Government — Opposed increased flexibility in its spending that could lead to border militarization.
  • Department of Homeland Security Government — Advocated for joint management of border wall remediation appropriations with the Department of the Interior.
  • Department of Justice Government — Advocated for changes related to immigration courts and prosecutions.
  • Department of the Interior Government — Advocated for joint management of border wall remediation appropriations with the Department of Homeland Security.
  • Derechos Humanos Partner — Called upon faith leaders to bear witness to the migrant crisis, leading to the formation of Humane Borders.
  • Derechos Humanos Partner — Collaborates with Humane Borders in providing guidance for locating missing migrants.
  • Derechos Humanos Partner — Immigrant advocate whose experience informs the advice provided for locating missing migrants.
  • Doctors Without Borders (Medicines Sin Fronteras) Partner — Invited to visit for a four-week assessment of migrant conditions in Arizona.
  • Environmental Systems Research Institute Funder — Donated a license for Arc View 9.1, a sophisticated mapping program.
  • Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Government — Provides an online inmate locator for inquiries about missing family members.
  • Grupos Beta Partner — Historically delivered water for this Mexican state agency in Sasabe, Mexico.
  • ICE Government — Opposed an increase in ICE detention and removals funding.
  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Government — Provides an online detainee locator and direct contact numbers for inquiries about missing family members.
  • Karnes County Residential Center Partner — Can be contacted if a missing loved one is a mother traveling with children through Texas.
  • National Park Service Partner — Supported the establishment of water stations in the Ajo area.
  • No More Deaths Partner — Immigrant advocate whose experience informs the advice provided for locating missing migrants.
  • No More Deaths Partner — Provides a phone resource line for search-and-rescue emergencies for migrants who crossed into Arizona or New Mexico.
  • No Más Muertes Partner — Collaborates with Humane Borders in providing guidance for locating missing migrants.
  • Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Government — Manages the custody of unaccompanied minors and provides a hotline for family members to inquire about them.
  • Pima County Medical Examiner's Office Partner — Partners to produce interactive maps of migrant deaths.
  • Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office Partner — Partnered to create the Arizona OpenGIS Initiative for Deceased Migrants database and updates the information monthly.
  • Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office (PCOME) Partner — Partnered with to launch the Arizona Open GIS Initiative for Missing and Deceased Migrants.
  • Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner Partner — Ongoing partnership to raise awareness about migrant deaths and help identify deceased migrants.
  • Pima County, Arizona Funder — Receives a small grant to save lives and raise awareness of crossing dangers.
  • President Biden Government — Called on him to stop border wall funding and halt land condemnations.
  • Refugees International Partner — Awarded the Richard C. Holbooke Award to Humane Borders.
+ 5 more