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Rogue River Watershed Council

EIN 11-3823736 · Central Point, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ENHANCE RESILIENCE IN ROGUE RIVER WATERSHEDS THROUGH ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION AND ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 85%
Employees
10
Volunteers
90
Highest pay
$110,537, 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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 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 (4)
  1. $2.4 million spent. STREAM RESTORATION: THE COUNCIL IDENTIFIES CONDITIONS IN AND ALONG STREAMS THAT LIMIT HABITAT QUALITY FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE, AND WATER QUALITY. THE COUNCIL ENGAGES WITH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LANDOWNERS AND LAND MANAGERS TO DISCUSS THESE LIMITING FACTORS, DEVELOP APPROACHES TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THE IMPACT, AND IMPLEMENT ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PROJECTS TO ADDRESS THEM. RESTORATION ACTIONS INCLUDING LARGE WOOD INSTALLMENT AND SIDE-CHANNEL RECONNECTION HELP RESTORE NATURAL STREAM PROCESSES.ADDITIONALLY, AQUATIC ANIMAL PASSAGE AND MOVEMENT ARE IMPROVED THROUGH PRIORITIZED BARRIER REMOVAL AND SUBSEQUENT IRRIGATION SYSTEM CONVERSION WHEN NECESSARY. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O. STREAMSIDE RESTORATION, INCLUDING RIPARIAN REHABILITATION, USES INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO HELP RECOVER NATIVE PLANT COMMUNITIES, PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON EXCLUDING LIVESTOCK AND SUPPRESSING NOXIOUS WEEDS. ADDITIONAL EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE NATIVE PLANT SURVIVAL ARE INCLUDED IN FUTURE STEWARDSHIP. WHEN NECESSARY, NATIVE PLANT SPECIES ARE PLANTED TO CONTRIBUTE SHADE TO THE STREAM AND INCREASE SLOPE STABILITY TO HELP PREVENT EROSION. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, HOWEVER, WE ALLOW NATIVE SPECIES TO RECRUIT NATURALLY AT OUR STREAMSIDE RESTORATION PROJECTS. THESE ACTIONS RESTORE NATURAL PROCESSES THAT IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND SUSTAIN HIGH-QUALITY AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL HABITATS THAT BUILD A RESILIENT ECOSYSTEM AND ROBUST FISH, PLANT, AND ANIMAL POPULATIONS.
  2. $141,480 spent. ENGAGEMENT: THE COUNCIL USES A VARIETY OF STRATEGIES TO COMMUNICATE AND ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT STREAM PROCESSES, FUNCTIONING WATERSHEDS, RESILIENT COMMUNITIES, AND COUNCIL ACTIVITIES. ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES INCLUDE ACTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS, A REGULARLY UPDATED WEBSITE, SHORT VIDEO PRODUCTIONS, AND VIDEO LIBRARY, AS WELL AS SHORT NEWSLETTERS (EVERY OTHER MONTH) AND LENGTHIER NEWSLETTERS (BIANNUAL). ENGAGEMENT ACTIONS SUPPLEMENT AND PROMOTE THE COUNCIL'S RESTORATION EFFORTS.
  3. $98,252 spent. WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT: THE COUNCIL WORKS TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT POLLUTE AND WARM UP THE STREAMS IN OUR REGION. THE COUNCIL HAS DEVELOPED A COLLABORATIVE WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM THAT WILL HELP ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF CLEANER WATER. SPECIFICALLY, THE INTENT OF THE PROGRAM IS TO ADDRESS PERSISTENT WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS THAT INCLUDE HIGH TEMPERATURE, LOW DISSOLVED OXYGEN LEVELS, SEDIMENTATION, BACTERIA PRESENCE, AND NUTRIENT LOADING. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O. PROJECTS SUCH AS SIDE-CHANNEL RECONNECTION, STREAMSIDE REHABILITATION, CONVERTING FROM FLOOD TO SPRINKLER IRRIGATION, AND REDUCING STORMWATER RUNOFF IN URBAN AREAS PROVIDE WATER QUALITY BENEFITS INCLUDING DECREASED STREAM BANK EROSION, INCREASED SHADING, AND DECREASED NUTRIENT BACTERIA ENTERING THE STREAM.THE COUNCIL ALSO WORKS WITH DRINKING WATER PROVIDERS TO STRATEGICALLY LOCATE ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PRACTICES AND ON FARM AGRICULTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO BENEFIT SOURCE WATER PROTECTION EFFORTS.
  4. $24,157 spent. MONITORING: THE COUNCIL USES MONITORING INFORMATION TO ASSESS ACTIONS, GUIDE DECISIONS, DETERMINE ECOLOGICAL LIMITING FACTORS, AND MEASURE THE SUCCESS OF THE COUNCIL'S ACTIVITIES. CURRENTLY, THE COUNCIL MONITORS WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS IN BEAR, LITTLE BUTTE, AND ELK CREEKS AS THEY RELATE TO WILDFIRE, THE UPPER ROGUE COHO STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN, AND A LARGE-SCALE IRRIGATION SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT.

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 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 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 August 2008.

    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.