Riverfront Recapture Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Riverfront Recapture' s mission is to connect people with the Connecticut River. This is accomplished through its goal of restoring public access to the Connecticut River and recognizing its potential to improve the quality of life for the region by increasing recreational and economic opportunities.
- Income
- $4.5 million
- Spending
- $4.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 3.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 45%
- Employees
- 78
- Volunteers
- 503
- Highest pay
- $183,361, president & ceo
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2542 of 44 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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)
- $599,181 spent. ENTERTAINMENT AND EVENTS: Riverfront Recapture offers family-friendly entertainment in the parks, ranging from cultural performances to concerts and festivals. Riverfront Recapture produces many events, such as the Riverfront Food Truck Festival, Asian Festival, and numerous music, dance, and arts events. Riverfront also collaborates with other organizations to present a diverse schedule of events, such as the Taste of the Caribbean, which celebrates Caribbean culture, music, dance, and food. 149 free public events were held in 2025, attracting over 40,000 visitors to the Riverfront.
- $885,145 spent. RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS: Riverfront Recapture's parks on both banks of the Connecticut River in Harford and East Hartford and the river provide various land and water recreation venues. Visitors to Riverfront Recapture parks participate in individual activities: walking, birdwatching, running, biking, snowshoeing, fishing, and more, and organized group activities, including cricket, 5K's and free fitness programs such as yoga. Riverfront Recapture's Community Rowing Program operates out of the Boathouse in Riverside Park, offering classes to youth and adults of all skill levels, from Learn to Row, to Masters Racing teams, both on water, and indoor during the winter. The fall rowing season culminates with our annual Head of the Riverfront Regatta, which attracted 13,500 participants and spectators in 2025. Dragon boating is a growing program with paddlers of various skill levels on the water throughout the season. Riverfront also hosts the annual Dragon Boat Race and Asian Festival. The race hosted 60 teams in 2025, including local community and corporate participants as well as clubs from out of state. Public boating is possible from three boat launches. Riverfront partners with a number of schools and groups for our programs. Programs generally involve participant fees, but many youth programs are either free to participants or subsidized by grants. These activities and daily park usage attracted over 1 million people in 2025.
- $2.3 million spent. PARK MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT: Projects are underway to expand the park system north of the Boathouse to connect to the Windsor riverwalk. Funding was secured in 2017 for extending the riverwalk north of the Boathouse. Naming this stretch the "Joe Marfuggi Riverwalk" to honor the memory of Riverfront Recapture's former President & CEO, was authorized by the City of Hartford. A separate private fundraising campaign will fund unique features along the riverwalk to add exhibits to tell the history of the Riverfront. This new stretch of riverwalk will continue into Windsor across land at the Hartford/Windsor line that Riverfront purchased through a controlled entity, Riverfront Land, Inc. The new property will allow for the uninterrupted connection of riverwalk from Charter Oak Landing in Hartford to the Windsor Riverwalk and beyond. The parcel will also provide opportunities for many other activities and potential commercial development, making this location a key attraction on the Riverfront. Several large grants, State and Federal, have been secured since 2021 primarily for the property's environmental remediation, which will begin in January 2026. The master plan for this future park was completed in 2024. The other major ongoing project is a series of improvements to Great River Park in East Hartford. 2025 was spent primarily in the design and permitting phase and construction is expected to begin in 2026. Beginning in 2017, Riverfront Recapture took over the responsibility for park maintenance from the Metropolitan District Commission, which continues to be the major funder. Most park maintenance, such as mowing, tree care, and other landscaping, is performed by subcontractors. Volunteers have been incorporated into the maintenance plan as companies are increasingly looking to engage employees on community projects. Riverfront manages the parks for the City of Hartford and the Town of East Hartford. Walkways on the Founders and Charter Oak Bridges connect the municipalities. The Riverfront has been a catalyst for economic investment with the development of hotels, a convention center, a science center, a dining/entertainment complex, and housing on adjacent land. Rangers provide hospitality and information and create a secure environment for park visitors. Rangers are responsible for opening and closing the parks daily throughout the year. Between May and October, the busy season for the parks, the Rangers have an increased presence. They provide information and directions to park visitors, assist with parking and boat launch activities, open and close the parks, and enforce park rules.
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
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1981.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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