Maine Rivers
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Maine Rivers is a statewide advocacy organization. Our mission is to protect, restore and enhance the ecological health of Maine's river systems. We support and direct efforts to conserve and improve the health of Maine's rivers and waters. We work both independently and in conjunction with like-minded individuals, groups, organizations and other entities to protect and restore Maine's rivers.
- Income
- $853,379
- Spending
- $746,803
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 4.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 60%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $95,250, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 353% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 (2)
- $48,493 spent. Maine Rivers advocates for the health of Maine's rivers with policy-makers at all levels. We focus on water quality and fish passage, and take great interest in the impacts of climate change. We work with community members, land trusts, tribes, state and federal agencies. We review permits and coordinate meetings. We draft and submit letters, as well as technical review materials, to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, and Bureau of Environmental Protection.We share scientific information as well as relevant news regarding local, state and national river milestones via social media, newsletters and email. We spoke about the value of river health to the Sebasticook Regional Land Trust, Washington Lakes Watershed Association, and the Webber Pond Association. We advise and coordinate with the Royal River Alliance, Mousam and Kennebunk Rivers Alliance, the Webber Pond Association, Megunticook Riverkeepers, Friends of the Presumpscot, Cobbossee Upstream and others. We offer technical support for the removal of the Stroudwater Dam in Portland. We are an active member of the Kennebec Coalition. We co-chair the Maine Stream Connectivity Working Group. We were invited to Quebec City in May, 2024 to receive the "Distinguished Project Award" at the international Fish Passage Conference organized by ASCE Environmental & Water Resources Institute and AFS Bioengineering Section. We received the award for the successful China Lake Alewife Restoration Initiative.
- $652,787 spent. Maine Rivers is active directing and supporting on-the-ground restoration efforts to improve the health of waters in the Kennebec River watershed.This includes tributaries to the Sebasticook River flowing from Threemile Pond, Seaward Mills Stream and Webber Pond, as well as China Lake. Our efforts include attention to the Medomak River watershed where two impassible dams and improperly sized road culverts block fish passage for native sea-run fish species. We negotiated agreements for the rights to remove a high priority dam in Sabattus Stream and another high priority dam on Lemon Stream in the Sandy River watershed. Additionally we finalized an award for federal funding from NOAA that will bring +$12M for river restoration efforts in Maine's Merrymeeting Bay watersheds over three years.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2003.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.