Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Raritan Headwaters Association

EIN 22-1722944 · Gladstone, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE HEADWATERS REGION OF THE RARITAN RIVER BASIN THROUGH SCIENCE, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, LAND PRESERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 42%
Employees
58
Volunteers
1,750

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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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.

  • 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. $2.9 million spent. WATER QUALITY MONITORING EFFORTS INCLUDED THE COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF BIOLOGICAL, CHEMICAL, BACTERIAL, AND STREAM CONDITION DATA FROM 86 MONITORING SITES THROUGHOUT THE RARITAN RIVER HEADWATERS REGION. RHA'S MONITORING PROGRAM SUPPORTED AN ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE NJDEP, EPA, MUNICIPALITIES, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND THE PUBLIC THROUGH RHA'S ONLINE WATERSHED REPORT CARD. RARITAN HEADWATERS ALSO CONDUCTED COMMUNITY WELL TEST EVENTS AND INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLD DRINKING WATER QUALITY TESTING THROUGH ITS WELL TESTING PROGRAM, PROVIDING RESIDENTS WITH IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PRIVATE WELL WATER QUALITY, INCLUDING COMMON REGIONAL CONCERNS SUCH AS BACTERIA, NITRATE, ARSENIC, LEAD, AND PFAS. REAL-TIME STREAM DATA WERE COLLECTED FROM FIVE STREAM-BASED MONITORING STATIONS.CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES ENGAGED VOLUNTEERS, STUDENTS, CORPORATE GROUPS, SCOUTS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN HANDS-ON WORK TO PROTECT AND RESTORE NATURAL RESOURCES. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED TREE PLANTING, RIPARIAN BUFFER MAINTENANCE, TRAIL CLEARING, INVASIVE PLANT MANAGEMENT, AND HABITAT RESTORATION ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CONSERVATION LANDS. THROUGH RHA'S WOODS AND WATERWAYS PROGRAM, RIPARIAN RESTORATION AND TREE PLANTING PROJECTS CONTINUED ACROSS THE WATERSHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES, LANDOWNERS, SCHOOLS, AND CONSERVATION PARTNERS.RHA'S EDUCATION INITIATIVES INCLUDED NATURE-BASED PROGRAMMING FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, SCHOOL GROUPS, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND ADULTS. PROGRAMS INCLUDED NATURE DAYS AT FAIRVIEW FARM WILDLIFE PRESERVE, WATERSHED UNIVERSITY FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, FIELD-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, GUIDED KAYAK EXPERIENCES, SERVICE-LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION EVENTS. WATERSHED TOOLS FOR LOCAL LEADERS SEMINARS AND MUNICIPAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS PROVIDED EDUCATION ON CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS TO CITIZENS, MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS, AND OTHER DECISION-MAKERS.POLICY ADVOCACY FOR WATER PROTECTION WAS UNDERTAKEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE NEW JERSEY COUNCIL OF WATERSHEDS, MUNICIPAL PARTNERS, AND STATEWIDE CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS. RHA ADVANCED ADVOCACY RELATED TO WATER SUPPLY RESILIENCE, DROUGHT MANAGEMENT, LAND PRESERVATION, STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, SOURCE WATER PROTECTION, AND NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION. COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, MUNICIPAL, AND NONPROFIT PARTNERS ALSO SUPPORTED PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RIVER RESTORATION PROJECTS, INCLUDING DAM REMOVAL AND FISH PASSAGE PROJECTS IN THE SOUTH BRANCH WATERSHED.AS AN ACCREDITED LAND TRUST, RHA ACTIVELY PURSUED THE PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE, RIPARIAN AREAS, FORESTS, WETLANDS, AND WILDLIFE HABITAT THROUGHOUT THE HEADWATERS REGION. STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES INCLUDED ANNUAL MONITORING OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND RHA-OWNED PRESERVES, BASELINE DOCUMENTATION, LANDOWNER COMMUNICATION, HABITAT MANAGEMENT, AND LONG-TERM PROTECTION OF CONSERVED LANDS. RHA ALSO COLLABORATED WITH THE NEW JERSEY HIGHLANDS COUNCIL, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY WATER RESOURCES PROGRAM, AND THE NEW JERSEY WATER SUPPLY AUTHORITY TO DEVELOP WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR THREE SUBWATERSHEDS IN THE HIGHLANDS REGION.

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 October 13, 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 November 1960.

    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 October 21, 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.