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Charles River Conservancy Inc

EIN 04-3503656 · Cambridge, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CONSERVANCY WORKS TO AMPLIFY COMMUNITY VOICE AND CATALYZE BOLD SOLUTIONS, TO MAKE THE LOWER CHARLES RIVER AND ITS PARKS MORE VIBRANT, HEALTHY AND WELCOMING NOW AND IN THE FUTURE. OUR WORKS ALIGNS WITH 3 "C"S: CONNECT ORGANIZATIONS, PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES TO EACH OTHER AND THE RIVER AND ITS PARKS. CREATE BOLD, IMPACTFUL SOLUTIONS THAT ELEVATE AND STRENGTHEN THE RIVER AND ITS PARKS AS AN ESSENTIAL ECOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AND CULTURAL ASSET FOR GREATER BOSTON. CELEBRATE THE RIVER AND ITS PARKS AND THE INTERSECTION OF PEOPLE AND NATURE TO INSPIRE INVOLVEMENT.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
15.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
10
Volunteers
2,250
Highest pay
$165,476, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 September 30, 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 (5)
  1. $122,541 spent. CONSERVANCY VOLUNTEERS - THIS PROGRAM ORGANIZES APPROXIMATELY 2,000 VOLUNTEERS ANNUALLY TO STEWARD THE CHARLES RIVER RESERVATION. PROJECTS INCLUDE INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT AND PLANTING OF NATIVE SPECIES (TO BOTH ADDRESS EROSION AND SUPPORT BIODIVERSITY), LITTER REMOVAL (TO SUPPORT A HEALTHIER ECOSYSTEM),LEAF REMOVAL (TO ADDRESS NUTRIENT POLLUTION) AND PAINTING OF BENCHES AND RAILINGS (TO INCREASE THE LIFE OF PARK INFRASTRUCTURE).
  2. $62,815 spent. CHARLES RIVER FLOATING WETLAND - THROUGH THE INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF A HUMAN-MADE ISLAND OF WETLAND PLANTS, THIS PROJECT IS EXPANDING THE TOOLS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT A RESILIENT URBAN RIVER AND IS INCREASING THE COMMUNITY'S UNDERSTANDING OF LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS. THROUGH RESEARCH THAT HAS INCLUDED 3 YEARS OF WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND A FISH CAMERA, THIS FLOATING WETLAND IS PROVIDING INSIGHTS INTO HOW THESE INSTALLATIONS CAN BENEFIT AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS. THROUGH YOUTH PROGRAMMING AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, INCLUDING BUILD-YOUR-OWN-WETLAND KITS AND KAYAK TOURS, THE PROJECT IS ALSO A PLATFORM FOR EXPERIENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.
  3. $148,856 spent. LYNCH FAMILY SKATEPARK ART PROGRAM - AFTER LEADING THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE LYNCH FAMILY SKATEPARK (WHICH OPENED IN 2015 AND IS NOW OWNED AND MANAGED BY THE STATE), THE CRC HAS EMBARKED ON A COMMUNITY-LED DESIGN PROCESS TO SUPPORT THE SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE PARK, WHICH WILL CULMINATE IN PUBLIC ARTWORK THAT CELEBRATES PARK USERS AND INVITES NEW AUDIENCES TO THE RIVERFRONT.
  4. $316,420 spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS - THE CHARLES RIVER CONSERVANCY STRIVES TO MAKE THE CHARLES RIVER AND ITS PARKS A WELL-MAINTAINED NETWORK OF NATURAL URBAN PLACES THAT INVITE AND ENGAGE ALL IN THEIR USE AND STEWARDSHIP. IN ADDITION TO THE PROGRAMS DISCUSSED IN 4A-C, OUR WORK SEEKS TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT WITH, ACCESS TO AND UNDERSTANDING OF THESE PUBLIC NATURAL RESOURCES THROUGH A VARIETY OF OTHER PROGRAMMING, ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH.
  5. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS - THE CHARLES RIVER CONSERVANCY STRIVES TO MAKE THE CHARLES RIVER AND ITS PARKS A WELL-MAINTAINED NETWORK OF NATURAL URBAN PLACES THAT INVITE AND ENGAGE ALL IN THEIR USE AND STEWARDSHIP. IN ADDITION TO THE PROGRAMS DISCUSSED IN 4A-C, OUR WORK SEEKS TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT WITH, ACCESS TO AND UNDERSTANDING OF THESE PUBLIC NATURAL RESOURCES THROUGH A VARIETY OF OTHER PROGRAMMING, ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 November 6, 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 September 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 June 2000.

    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 November 4, 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.