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Passes our checks

Friends of Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge and Management Are

EIN 27-1085892 · Oakland City, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 1% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE PATOKA RIVER NWR & MA AND LESSEN THE BURDENS OF GOVERNMENT BY ASSISTING THE REFUGE FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD.

Income
$267,998
Spending
$220,489
Spent on programs
1%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
25

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 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 18% of income.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    1% 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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $2,830 spent. PROVIDED EDUCATION SERVICES THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH. EXAMPLOES INCLUDED PROGRAMS ON BARN OWL, RIVER OTTER, INSECTS, AND FIELD TRIPS. PROVIDED VOLUNTEER SERVICES TO SUPPORT PATOKA RIVER NWR INITIATIVES THROUGH TREE PLANTING, INVASIVES CONTROL, TRAIL AND SIGN MAINTENANCE, BUILDING BENCHES, REBUILDING TREE TRAIL ENTRY STRUCTURE, AND OTHER ONGOING PROPERTY RESTORATION. ALSO, SUPPORTED CHAINSAW TRAINING FOR A VOLUNTEER AND PAID FOR VAULT TOILET CLEANING. PROVIDED VOLUNTEER SERVICES TO SUPPORT PATOKA RIVER NWR INITIATIVES THROUGH TREE PLANTING, INVASIVES CONTROL, SIGNS, AND TRAIL MAINENANCE, BUILDING BENCHES, REBUILDING TREE TRAIL ENTRY STURCTURE AND ONGOING PROPERTY RESTORATION. ALSO SUPPORTED CHAINSAW TRAINING FOR A VOLUNTEER AND PAID FOR VAULT TOILET CLEANING

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 November 6, 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 April 2010.

    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 November 4, 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.