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Mill River Collaborative Inc

EIN 06-1507648 · Stamford, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak30 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO RUN A WORLD-CLASS URBAN PARK IN THE HEART OF STAMFORD THAT SERVES AS BOTH AN OASIS IN CITY LIFE AND A VIBRANT, DIVERSE, GREEN-SPACE THAT INSPIRES SOUND ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES AND LEARNING.

Income
$7.0 million
Spending
$23.1 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
-2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 70%
Employees
96
Volunteers
814
Highest pay
$225,203, president & ceo

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

Financial health

Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 147% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 231% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 94% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 25

    25 of 25 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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 June 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 (3)
  1. $20.9 million spent. OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS:1) CONTINUED THE GROWTH OF A CT CERTIFIED AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR ELEMENTARY AGED CHILDREN FOR FAMILIES IN NEED OF CHILDCARE AFTER SCHOOL AND DURING SCHOOL VACATION DAYS2) CONTINUED OUR DOCENTS AND STEWARDS PROGRAM BY HAVING HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AGE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WHERE THEY COMBINED THEIR INTERESTS IN LEARNING ABOUT URBAN ECOLOGY AND NATURAL LANDSCAPE PLANNING WHILE AT THE SAME TIME GAINING JOB READINESS SKILLS3) HOSTED NEARLY 575 VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WHO HELPED OUR LANDCARE STAFF MAINTAIN THE 35+ ACRES OF NATURAL PARK LAND4) COMPLETED A SUMMER, FALL AND SPRING PROGRAMMING SEASON ATTENDED BY OVER 20,000 PEOPLE INTERESTED IN FITNESS, MOVIES, FAMILY PROGRAMMING, STORY TIME, CRAFTS AND MORE AT THE CAROUSEL PAVILION AND WHITTINGHAM DISCOVERY CENTER5) ENJOYED A SUCCESSFUL ICE SKATING SEASON ON OUR RINK6) GREW OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH HENKEL RESEARCHERS WORLD TO SPARK INTEREST IN SCIENCE FOR SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN BY PROVIDING IN PERSON STEM EDUCATION PROGRAMMING TO OVER 2,000 CHILDREN7) HOSTED FIELD TRIPS FOR THE STAMFORD PUBLIC SCHOOL'S ENTIRE 3RD AND 4TH GRADE CLASSES, AS WELL AS OTHER NEIGHBORING SCHOOLS, HAVING SERVED OVER 4,000 STUDENTS DURING THE YEAR8) HELD A SUCCESSFUL SUMMER CAMP SEASON FOR KIDS IN PRE-K THROUGH 8TH GRADE, WITH 104 UNIQUE CAMPERS ATTENDING THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER
  2. $1.2 million spent. OPERATIONS & LAND MANAGEMENT:MANAGE OVER 20 ACRES OF PARK LANDSCAPE AND FEATURES INCLUDING:1) ORGANIC LAWN AND LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT2) INVASIVE PLANT REMEDIATION3) CULTIVATION OF 6 ACRES OF NATIVE PLANT MEADOWS AND ENTRANCE GARDENS4) SNOW REMOVAL, BATHROOM MAINTENANCE, TRASH & LITTER CLEANUP, RIVER CLEANUP, AND OTHER SEASONAL CLEANING5) MAINTENANCE OF HARDSCAPE AREAS, DRAINAGE STRUCTURES, BENCHES, OTHER WOODEN STRUCTURES, AND DRINKING FOUNTAINS6) PARK VISITOR SAFETY
  3. $275,861 spent. PARK DEVELOPMENT:ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR:1) OPENED MIDDLE CORRIDOR WEST, NOW CALLED THE RICHMOND HILL RIVERWALK, WHICH EXTENDS THE PARK'S FOOTPRINT SOUTH OF TRESSER BLVD. TOWARDS THE I95 CORRIDOR. HELD RIBBON CUTTING IN OCTOBER 20242) COMPLETED THE NEW PLAYGROUND RENOVATION, OPENING IN JUNE 20253) CONTINUED EFFORTS TO MOVE THE COMMUNITY COMMONS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT FORWARD THROUGH FUNDRAISING AND DESIGN

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 June 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 1998.

    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.