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Three Rivers Rowing Association

EIN 25-1544798 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The mission of Three Rivers Rowing Association is to develop and deliver safe, sustainable and inclusive programs and events that promote the benefits of rowing and paddling to a diverse, growing membership.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
-3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 72%
Employees
22
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$72,707, executive director

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

Fair: 54 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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.

  • 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

    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 (3)
  1. $855,190 spent. TRRA, based in Pittsburgh, PA has a broad base of rowing and dragon boating program opportunities and experiences for youth and adults. TRRA is one of the largest community rowing and paddling boathouses in the nation.
  2. $267,511 spent. TRRA establishes rowing programs for youth in area high schools. Two local high schools have established programs that call TRRA their home during the academic year. TRRA also operated its own Juniors programs which accept participants from all local schools. TRRA offers summer rowing opportunities in which students are able to refine their skills and continue to develop as athletes, leaders, and young adults. Many Pittsburgh area youth have developed their skills enough to earn college scholarships, some extending their talent to the National Team Level including two Olympic gold medalists. Another youth program that TRRA offers is First Row 2.0, a land based program in which TRRA brings rowing TO the community, particularly middle schools and community centers, to raise awareness of the sport, increase access to rowing and showcase opportunities the sport provides. Another program operating out of TRRA is the Hearts of Steel Dragon Boat Team. Hearts of Steel empowers breast cancer survivors to strengthen the mind, body and spirit through camradarie and the sport of dragon boat paddling. TRRA also continued to grow its rowing program for Veterans with over 10 Veterans participating in our Summer Rowing League program and raced at the Highmark Challenge Regatta.
  3. $53,009 spent. TRRA has offered an Adaptive Rowing program for over 20 years. It was one of the first adaptive rowing programs in the nation. Rowing clubs across the country have modeled their own adaptive programs on ours. The sport of adaptive rowing has grown in the 20 years to now include a US Rowing Adaptive National Team that competes internationally. Rowing is a sport that allows freedom on water to individuals with disabilities. The TRRA program offers weekly practices to individuals with disabilities including physical disabilities, limited mobility, cognative disabilities, and visual impairments. The Adaptive rowing programs provide participants with the ability to compete in multiple regattas including the Bayada in Philadelphia, the Head of the Charles in Boston, and the Head of the Ohio in Pittsburgh. The program is offered at a very low cost to participants by scholarship so that financial circumstances do not impede access. About twenty individuals with disabilities participate in the program annually. The Director of Adaptive & Para Rowing coordinates the program and organizes about 50 individual volunteers. These volunteers have offered significant hours of volunteer service over the summer.

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 2024.

    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 1987.

    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.

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