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Mianus River Gorge Inc

EIN 13-3523329 · Bedford, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MIANUS RIVER GORGE, INC.'S MISSION IS TO PROTECT IRREPLACEABLE NATURAL HABITATS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, WILDLIFE AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Income
$4.5 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
55.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
8
Volunteers
90
Highest pay
$219,700, executive di

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 55.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 72% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 210% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 74% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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 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 (1)
  1. $835,467 spent. LAND PROTECTION: IN 2025 MRG CONTINUED TO WORK ON LAND PROJECTS THAT WE HOPE WILL LEAD TO MORE PROTECTED LAND IN THE FUTURE. MRG ALSO CONTINUED HABITAT RESTORATION WORK ON MANY OF THE LANDS ACQUIRED IN PREVIOUS YEARS INCLUDING INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL, REPLANTING OF NATIVE SPECIES, AND PROTECTION OF RARE PLANT COMMUNITIES. RESEARCH & EDUCATION: RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIP PROGRAM (RAP) OFFERS FUNDING FOR GRADUATE-LEVEL RESEARCH IN THE FIELDS OF ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION. EACH RAP RECIPIENT RECEIVES A YEARLY STIPEND OF 5000 FOR THREE YEARS TOWARD A SPECIFIC PROJECT ADDRESSING AN ECOLOGICAL QUESTION THAT AFFECTS MRG. RAP RECIPIENTS ALSO MENTOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OUR WTP PROGRAM. IN 2025, MRG HOSTED THE RAP STUDENT FROM CORNELL UNIVERSITY, WHO IS IN THE FINAL YEAR OF HIS STUDY, AND ALSO CO-AUTHORED THREE SCHOLARLY PAPERS. COLLEGE INTERN PROGRAM IN SUBURBAN ECOLOGY (CISE) OFFERS INTERNSHIPS TO UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS TO STUDY A VARIETY OF ISSUES FACING SUBURBAN PRESERVES. STUDENTS WORK WITH STAFF AND RAP AND WTP STUDENTS. MRG HOSTED FOUR UNDERGRADUATE INTERNS IN 2025. OUR WILDLIFE TECHNICIAN PROGRAM (WTP) OFFERS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM THE REGION THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONDUCT A 2.5-YEAR (FROM 10TH GRADE TO 12TH GRADE) RESEARCH STUDY UNDER THE MENTORSHIP OF OUR STAFF AND RAP STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO COMPLEMENT THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK SCIENCE RESEARCH IN THE HIGH SCHOOL (SRHS) CURRICULUM AND PROVIDES ACCESS TO SCIENTIFIC MENTORS, HANDS-ON FIELD EXPERIENCE, AND IMMERSION INTO REAL- WORLD CONSERVATION PROBLEMS FACING SUBURBAN ECOSYSTEMS. IN 2025, MRG MENTORED 12 WTP STUDENTS ACROSS 10TH TO 12TH GRADE. PUBLIC PROGRAMS & OUTREACH: IN 2025, MRG STAFF PRESENTED NUMEROUS PUBLIC PROGRAMS ACROSS THE REGION ABOUT CO-EXISTING WITH BEARS, CONSULTED WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT INVASIVE SPECIES BIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT, AND LEAD GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS / NATURE WALKS FOR APPROX. 100 PEOPLE. SPECIFIC TOPICS INCLUDED DEPLOYING WILDLIFE CAMERAS; THE OLD-GROWTH FOREST; BIRDING; OWL BIOLOGY; AND WINTER TREE ID. STEWARDSHIP: IN ONGOING EFFORTS TO IMPROVE TRAIL CONDITIONS FOR AN ESTIMATED 12,000 ANNUAL VISITORS TO THE PRESERVE, MIANUS RIVER GORGE CREATED A STABLE PATH OVER SAFFORD CASCADE ALONG THE RED TRAIL. THEY PLACED LARGE STEPPING STONES IN THE STREAM THAT MADE THE CROSSING SAFER AND IMPROVED THE NATURAL FLOW OF THE STREAM. MIANUS RIVER GORGE SYSTEMATICALLY FOLLOWS A LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT DIVIDES PROTECTED LAND INTO MANAGEMENT UNITS, EACH WITH A SPECIFIC STRATEGY BASED ON PHENOLOGY AND HABITAT TYPE. LAND PROTECTION: IN 2025 MRG CONTINUED TO WORK ON LAND PROJECTS THAT WE HOPE WILL LEAD TO MORE PROTECTED LAND IN THE FUTURE. MRG ALSO CONTINUED HABITAT RESTORATION WORK ON MANY OF THE LANDS ACQUIRED IN PREVIOUS YEARS INCLUDING INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL, REPLANTING OF NATIVE SPECIES, AND PROTECTION OF RARE PLANT COMMUNITIES. RESEARCH & EDUCATION: RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIP PROGRAM (RAP) OFFERS FUNDING FOR GRADUATE-LEVEL RESEARCH IN THE FIELDS OF ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION. EACH RAP RECIPIENT RECEIVES A YEARLY STIPEND OF 5000 FOR THREE YEARS TOWARD A SPECIFIC PROJECT ADDRESSING AN ECOLOGICAL QUESTION THAT AFFECTS MRG. RAP RECIPIENTS ALSO MENTOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OUR WTP PROGRAM. IN 2025, MRG HOSTED THE RAP STUDENT FROM CORNELL UNIVERSITY, WHO IS IN THE FINAL YEAR OF HIS STUDY, AND ALSO CO-AUTHORED THREE SCHOLARLY PAPERS. COLLEGE INTERN PROGRAM IN SUBURBAN ECOLOGY (CISE) OFFERS INTERNSHIPS TO UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS TO STUDY A VARIETY OF ISSUES FACING SUBURBAN PRESERVES. STUDENTS WORK WITH STAFF AND RAP AND WTP STUDENTS. MRG HOSTED FOUR UNDERGRADUATE INTERNS IN 2025. OUR WILDLIFE TECHNICIAN PROGRAM (WTP) OFFERS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM THE REGION THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONDUCT A 2.5-YEAR (FROM 10TH GRADE TO 12TH GRADE) RESEARCH STUDY UNDER THE MENTORSHIP OF OUR STAFF AND RAP STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO COMPLEMENT THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK SCIENCE RESEARCH IN THE HIGH SCHOOL (SRHS) CURRICULUM AND PROVIDES ACCESS TO SCIENTIFIC MENTORS, HANDS-ON FIELD EXPERIENCE, AND IMMERSION INTO REAL- WORLD CONSERVATION PROBLEMS FACING SUBURBAN ECOSYSTEMS. IN 2025, MRG MENTORED 12 WTP STUDENTS ACROSS 10TH TO 12TH GRADE. PUBLIC PROGRAMS & OUTREACH: IN 2025, MRG STAFF PRESENTED NUMEROUS PUBLIC PROGRAMS ACROSS THE REGION ABOUT CO-EXISTING WITH BEARS, CONSULTED WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT INVASIVE SPECIES BIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT, AND LEAD GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS / NATURE WALKS FOR APPROX. 100 PEOPLE. SPECIFIC TOPICS INCLUDED DEPLOYING WILDLIFE CAMERAS; THE OLD-GROWTH FOREST; BIRDING; OWL BIOLOGY; AND WINTER TREE ID. STEWARDSHIP: IN ONGOING EFFORTS TO IMPROVE TRAIL CONDITIONS FOR AN ESTIMATED 12,000 ANNUAL VISITORS TO THE PRESERVE, MIANUS RIVER GORGE CREATED A STABLE PATH OVER SAFFORD CASCADE ALONG THE RED TRAIL. THEY PLACED LARGE STEPPING STONES IN THE STREAM THAT MADE THE CROSSING SAFER AND IMPROVED THE NATURAL FLOW OF THE STREAM. MIANUS RIVER GORGE SYSTEMATICALLY FOLLOWS A LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT DIVIDES PROTECTED LAND INTO MANAGEMENT UNITS, EACH WITH A SPECIFIC STRATEGY BASED ON PHENOLOGY AND HABITAT TYPE.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1993.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.