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Royal River Conservation Trust

EIN 01-0472430 · Yarmouth, ME

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ROYAL RIVER CONSERVATION TRUST (RRCT) IS A REGIONAL LAND TRUST WORKING PRIMARILY IN SEVEN MAINE MUNICIPALITIES. THE TRUST OWNS,CARES FOR, AND STEWARDS LAND AND CONSERVATION EASEMENTS TO PROTECT LAND AND WATER RESOURCES FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

Income
$456,901
Spending
$358,401
Spent on programs
52%
Reserves
-65.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
5
Volunteers
85
Highest pay
$80,769, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 53% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    52% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $35,710 spent. LAND CONSERVATION: RRCT CONTINUES TO WORK WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, MUNICIPALITIES, AND OTHER WHO ARE INTERESTED IN CONSERVING LAND FOR PERPETUITY.
  2. $146,374 spent. STEWARDSHIP: RRCT CONDUCTS ANNUAL ON-SITE MONITORING OF ALL CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, AND EXECUTES STEWARDSHIP PLANS, PROJECTS, AND PROTOCOLS ON TRAIL EASEMENTS AND FEE OWNERSHIP. RRCT STEWARDSHIP POLICIES AND PROTOCOLS ARE GUIDED BY THE LAND TRUST ALLIANCE AND MAINE LAW.
  3. $5,699 spent. EDUCATIONS & OUTREACH: RRCT CONTINUES TO OFFER AN ARRAY OF FREE SERVICES INCLUDING NATURE WALKS, EVENTS, AND OTHER PROGRAMMING. THE TRUST ALSO DISTRIBUTES A FREE MONTHLY INFORMATIONAL ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1993.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.