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Riverbend Environmental Education Center Inc

EIN 23-7455526 · Gladwyne, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RIVERBEND'S PURPOSE IS TO FOSTER AN AWARENESS, APPRECIATION, AND UNDERSTANDING OF OUR TOTAL ENVIRONMENT THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. BY GROWING BOTH THE LOVE OF NATURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY, WE AIM TO INSPIRE ACTION THAT CONTRIBUTES TO A HEALTHIER PLANET FOR ALL. AT RIVERBEND, WE WORK TO DEVELOP ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY USING TESTED EDUCATION TOOLS GROUNDED IN SCIENCE. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS ESSENTIAL TO LIVE IN AND CARE FOR OUR NATURAL WORLD. RIVERBEND'S NATURE-BASED STEM EDUCATION PROGRAMS ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY, APPRECIATION OF THE NATURAL WORLD AND OUR PLACE IN IT. THROUGH INQUIRY BASED LEARNING STUDENTS HAVE DIRECT EXPERIENCES WITH NATURE AND THE RELEVANT LEARNING THAT ADVANCES CURIOSITY, CRITICAL THINKING, CREATIVE APPROACHES, AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
9.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 45%
Employees
66
Volunteers
769
Highest pay
$113,525, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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

    14 of 14 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, 2024, 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 (2)
  1. $687,925 spent. WE DELIVERED NATURE EDUCATION LESSONS TO 11,708 STUDENTS, WITH 61% OF OUR PROGRAM HOURS GOING TO TITLE 1 SCHOOLS. NATURE-BASED STEM PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS - WE DELIVERED HIGH-QUALITY, CUSTOMIZED SCHOOL PROGRAMS (PRE-K THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL) IN SCHOOLS ACROSS THE REGION THAT TOOK PLACE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS AND CULTIVATES HANDS-ON, MINDS-ON INVESTIGATIONS AND CREATES A GREATER CONNECTION TO NATURE ALONG WITH THE SKILLS AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO MAKE GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL DECISIONS. THE CURRICULUM ALIGNS WITH THE PA SCIENCE CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK AND NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS (NGSS). A MAJORITY OF STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED REPORTED AN INCREASE IN CONNECTION TO NATURE, AND AN INDICATION OF INCREASED ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY. 6,440 STUDENTS IN NORRISTOWN, PHILADELPHIA, AND UPPER DARBY LEARNED ABOUT PENNSYLVANIA'S ECOSYSTEM AND THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER WATERSHED. OF THOSE STUDENTS, 100% ATTENDED TITLE 1 SCHOOLS, LACKING RESOURCES AND ACCESS TO NATURE. 19 TEACHERS RECEIVED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT VIA RIVERBEND PROGRAMS. COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE - WE RAN A PROGRAM THAT WE CO-DESIGNED WITH TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS IN THREE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES TEACHERS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND LITERACY TO TEACH ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. THE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF A THREE DAY SUMMER WORKSHOP FOR TEACHERS, A TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT GIVES YEARLONG SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS THROUGH MONTHLY MEETINGS, CLASSROOM VISITS FROM RIVERBEND EDUCATORS THREE TIMES A YEAR, AND A CUMULATIVE ACTION PROJECT, SUCH AS A STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITY. TREE PLANTING - 769 VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED OVER 2,000 HOURS OF LABOR PLANTING TREES AND NATIVE SHRUBS. HABITAT INTERNS PROGRAM- RIVERBEND HOSTS UP TO FOUR HABITAT INTERNS EACH SUMMER. THIS OPPORTUNITY ALLOWS INTERNS TO GAIN MEANINGFUL HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE, CONTRIBUTING VALUABLE IMPROVEMENTS AND MAINTENANCE OF RIVERBEND'S PRESERVE, AS WELL AS INFUSE NEW SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE INTO THE INTERN'S PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT. THE PRESERVE REMAINED OPEN 365 DAYS OF THE YEAR. THE 30 ACRE PRESERVE SERVES AS AN OUTDOOR CLASSROOM FOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING FOR SCHOOL-BASED GROUPS AND SUMMER PROGRAMMING. IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC YEAR-ROUND AND ENCOMPASSES THE SNIDER BARN, AN AQUAPONICS GREENHOUSE, NUMEROUS HIKING TRAILS, OUTDOOR LEARNING CLASSROOMS, A BIRD OBSERVATION AREA, AND ACRES OF OPEN SPACE. WE DELIVERED NATURE EDUCATION LESSONS TO 11,708 STUDENTS, WITH 61% OF OUR PROGRAM HOURS GOING TO TITLE 1 SCHOOLS. NATURE-BASED STEM PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS - WE DELIVERED HIGH-QUALITY, CUSTOMIZED SCHOOL PROGRAMS (PRE-K THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL) IN SCHOOLS ACROSS THE REGION THAT TOOK PLACE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS AND CULTIVATES HANDS-ON, MINDS-ON INVESTIGATIONS AND CREATES A GREATER CONNECTION TO NATURE ALONG WITH THE SKILLS AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO MAKE GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL DECISIONS. THE CURRICULUM ALIGNS WITH THE PA SCIENCE CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK AND NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS (NGSS). A MAJORITY OF STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED REPORTED AN INCREASE IN CONNECTION TO NATURE, AND AN INDICATION OF INCREASED ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY. 6,440 STUDENTS IN NORRISTOWN, PHILADELPHIA, AND UPPER DARBY LEARNED ABOUT PENNSYLVANIA'S ECOSYSTEM AND THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER WATERSHED. OF THOSE STUDENTS, 100% ATTENDED TITLE 1 SCHOOLS, LACKING RESOURCES AND ACCESS TO NATURE. 19 TEACHERS RECEIVED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT VIA RIVERBEND PROGRAMS. COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE - WE RAN A PROGRAM THAT WE CO-DESIGNED WITH TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS IN THREE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES TEACHERS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND LITERACY TO TEACH ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. THE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF A THREE DAY SUMMER WORKSHOP FOR TEACHERS, A TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT GIVES YEARLONG SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS THROUGH MONTHLY MEETINGS, CLASSROOM VISITS FROM RIVERBEND EDUCATORS THREE TIMES A YEAR, AND A CUMULATIVE ACTION PROJECT, SUCH AS A STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITY. TREE PLANTING - 769 VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED OVER 2,000 HOURS OF LABOR PLANTING TREES AND NATIVE SHRUBS. HABITAT INTERNS PROGRAM- RIVERBEND HOSTS UP TO FOUR HABITAT INTERNS EACH SUMMER. THIS OPPORTUNITY ALLOWS INTERNS TO GAIN MEANINGFUL HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE, CONTRIBUTING VALUABLE IMPROVEMENTS AND MAINTENANCE OF RIVERBEND'S PRESERVE, AS WELL AS INFUSE NEW SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE INTO THE INTERN'S PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT. THE PRESERVE REMAINED OPEN 365 DAYS OF THE YEAR. THE 30 ACRE PRESERVE SERVES AS AN OUTDOOR CLASSROOM FOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING FOR SCHOOL-BASED GROUPS AND SUMMER PROGRAMMING. IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC YEAR-ROUND AND ENCOMPASSES THE SNIDER BARN, AN AQUAPONICS GREENHOUSE, NUMEROUS HIKING TRAILS, OUTDOOR LEARNING CLASSROOMS, A BIRD OBSERVATION AREA, AND ACRES OF OPEN SPACE.
  2. $372,174 spent. SUMMER CAMP - IN 2024, WE OPERATED SUMMER NATURE CAMP AT 3 LOCATIONS. OUR WEEKLY CAMPS ARE FOR CHILDREN AGES 4 TO 14 AND RUN FOR 12 WEEKS. IN 2024, WE ENROLLED 889 CHILDREN IN CAMP AND PROVIDED 25 SCHOLARSHIPS. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT WHEN CHILDREN SPEND TIME IN NATURE, THEY ARE NOT ONLY MORE RECEPTIVE TO LEARNING ABOUT THE TASK AT HAND BUT ALSO LEARNING IN GENERAL. RIVERBEND EDUCATORS USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE CAMPERS TO PRACTICE 21ST CENTURY SKILLS LIKE RESILIENCY, SELF-REFLECTION, AND GRIT. MOST IMPORTANTLY, RIVERBEND CAMPERS FALL IN LOVE WITH NATURE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 1974.

    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.