Friends of Riversides Hills
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION is to maintain and enhance the quality of life in the greater Riverside area by maximizing the preservation of the regions scenic hills and greenbelt its ridgelines arroyos and wildlife areas and by promoting the establishment of linked natural open space areas for use as wildlife corridors and recreational trails.
- Income
- $20,718
- Spending
- $67,142
- Spent on programs
- 99%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 71%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 12
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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 224% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 56% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1599% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (5)
- $36,056 spent. FRH worked with their legal team to provide comments on CEQA and NEPA documents including Notices of Preparation Negative Declarations Environmental Initial Studies and Environmental Impact Reports for proposed projects in the greater Riverside - Santa Ana River Watershed area. FRH encouraged compliance with conservation policies and local state and federal laws that protect conservation reserves wildlife water and environmental quality. Special focus was given to environmental sustainability fire safety pollution potential and upholding of voter approved initiatives. FRH pursued litigation and legal settlements to uphold environmental laws and quality of life for wildlife and human communities throughout the region involving thousands of residents. FRH negotiated project improvements including the placements of homes native landscaping and open spaces. FRH also worked on setbacks for trails and watercourses the improvement of public trails access noise reduction reduced light pollution improved wildlife corridors and enhanced fire protection for both homes and conservation lands. Settlement funds are sometimes granted to FRH and may be used to support conservation goals legal fees conservation easements public trail improvements habitat restoration wildland preservation and environmental education.
- $25,000 spent. FRH provided a grant to the Riverside County Parks Foundation to improve the nature trail and educational programs at the Hidden Valley Wildlife Area. This facility has the potential to offer field trips and environmental education to many hundreds of students each year. The grant is to fund supplies for improving the trail interpretive signage and educational materials for the programs.
- $2,917 spent. As a part of our work to improve trails in the City and County of Riverside our group funded and completed a project in the Box Springs Park and Reserve in collaboration with Riverside County Regional Parks and the Riverside County Parks Foundation. In the vicinity of Two-Trees Trail: 1 graffiti was removed from very large boulders; 2 a segment of trail was improved and a bench with dedication plaque was installed on a scenic hilltop; and 3 a dedication plaque to those responsible for founding and improving the park was provided and inserted in a large boulder at the entrance to the trail. A grant of $6K was received from PVL funds at the Rivers & Lands Conservancy to fund the tools and materials provided for the project. Labor was accomplished by volunteers and park staff. Hundreds of visitors hike the trail each week weather is good.
- $2,324 spent. FRH funded a project to remove a large stand of the invasive bunch grass Pennisetum setaceum from Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park along its border with Sycamore Highlands Park in the City of Riverside. We partnered with the Rivers & Lands Conservancy RLC and the California Native Plant Society CNPS who recruited volunteers from the community including the Civilian Conservation Corps and two helpers from the Riverside Habitat Conservation Authority to remove about 2,000 pounds of the invasive grass. The plant had invaded from landscaping within Sycamore Highlands Park. FRH and RLC lobbied for the removal of the invasive plant from landscaping and are keeping both areas free of this highly flammable plant. Hundreds of local residents use this park every week.
- $230 spent. Our board funded the supplies for a graffiti removal trial using a nontoxic product called Elephant Snot that softens paint and allows it to be washed off with water from a backpack sprayer. Nic Barth conducted the trial and videoed the process. The trial was successful and the technique was approved for further use within the Riverside County Box Springs Park and Reserve. The areas planned for graffiti removal are visited by hundreds of hikers every week.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2010.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.