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Gunpowder Riverkeeper Inc

EIN 27-1517453 · Monkton, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROTECTION, CONSERVATION & RESTORATION OF THE GUNPOWDER AND BUSH RIVER WATERSHEDS

Income
$431,484
Spending
$421,429
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
3
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$65,721, 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: 51 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 79% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 92% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    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, 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 (7)
  1. $141,575 spent. GUNPOWDER RIVERKEEPER STAFF WORKED ON ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS ALONG THE LOWER GUNPOWDER TO DISCUSS THE SOURCES OF SEDIMENT IN THE TIDAL GUNPOWDER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES. NAMELY; BOTH FOSTER AND TAYLOR BRANCH ARE EXPERIENCING SEDIMENT AND BACTERIA POLLUTION FROM IMPROPERLY REGULATED UPSTREAM SOURCES. GUNPOWDER RIVERKEEPER UNDERTOOK SIGNIFICANT LEGAL RESEARCH TO ADVOCATE FOR SOLUTIONS TO NONCOMPLIANT UPSTREAM CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES. IF POLLUTION IS DIMINISHED, RECREATIONAL, ECONOMIC AND AESTHETIC VALUE OF THIS SECTION OF THE LOWER GUNPOWDER RIVER COULD BE RESTORED. WE ARE STILL IN LITIGATION AS AN INTERVENOR IN THE STATE COMPLAINT AGAINST RIDGELEYS RESERVE THAT WAS PROMPTED BY OUR NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUE FILED UNDER THE CLEAN WATER ACT IN ORDER TO PROTECT AND RESTORE THE TIDAL GUNPOWDER AND FOSTER BRANCH FROM ALLEGED SEDIMENT POLLUTION FROM THE SITE. THIS PROJECT IS ONGOING. 35% OF TOTAL PROJECTS.
  2. $80,900 spent. WATER QUALITY MONITORING IN THE GUNPOWDER RIVER. E. COLI SAMPLES WERE COLLECTED TO INFORM THE PUBLIC WHERE IT WAS SAFE TO SWIM IN BALTIMORE AND HARFORD COUNTIES THROUGH SWIM GUIDES AND SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS BASED ON EPA SAFE SWIMMING CRITERIA. AS PART OF THE CHESAPEAKE WATER WATCH PROGRAM, WE MONITORED WATER QUALITY DOWNSTREAM IN THE TIDAL GUNPOWDER: TURBIDITY, INVIVO CHLOROPHYLL A, AND COLORED DISSOLVED ORGANIC MATTER LEVELS WERE MEASURED TO ASSIST SMITHSONIAN ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTER (SERC) IN GROUND-TRUTHING NASA SATELLITE ALGORITHMS. A YSI WAS USED TO CAPTURE WATER QUALITY INDICATORS SUCH AS DISSOLVED OXYGEN, TEMPERATURE, TURBIDITY, PH, AND CONDUCTIVITY. THIS PROJECT IS ONGOING. 20% OF TOTAL PROJECTS.
  3. $60,675 spent. DAYS COVE RUBBLE LANDFILL DISCHARGE PERMIT: WE UNDERTOOK RESEARCH ON THE RENEWAL OF AN ADMINISTRATIVELY CONTINUED DISCHARGE PERMIT THAT EXPIRED IN 2018 THAT WOULD, IF APPROVED ALLOW AN ADDITIONAL 12,500 GALLONS PER DAY OF TREATED LEACHATE TO ENTER THE BIRD AND GUNPOWDER RIVER BASIN. AFTER IDENTIFYING VIOLATIONS OF THE DISCHARGE PERMIT FOR ALPHA-TERPINOL, TRIVALENT ARSENIC, BIOLOGICAL OXYGEN DEMAND, COPPER, NITROGEN, ZINC AND PH WE ENGAGED WITH MDE TO ASK FOR STRONGER PERMIT CONDITIONS. THIS PROJECT IS ONGOING. 15% OF TOTAL PROJECTS.
  4. $40,450 spent. INDUSTRIAL DISCHARGES: THE LOWER GUNPOWDER AND BUSH RIVER ARE BEING IMPACTED BY INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES THAT ARE NONCOMPLIANT WITH STORMWATER DISCHARGE PERMITS. IN THE GUNPOWDER AND BUSH RIVERS THERE ARE 119 FACILITIES UNDER THE STORMWATER PERMIT COVERAGE THAT HAS A 25% COMPLIANCE RATE STATEWIDE. RIVERKEEPER APPEALED THE ISSUANCE OF THE NEW STORMWATER PERMIT AND WON A PARTIAL REMAND BECAUSE THE DRAFT PERMIT DID NOT ACCOUNT FOR CLIMATE CHANGE, RAINFALL DATA, AND NO EXPOSURE CERTIFICATION REGULATED BY NATIONAL POLLUTION ELIMINATION DISCHARGE (NPDES). INDUSTRIAL DISCHARGE PERMITS IDENTIFY THE PERMIT CONDITIONS AND ASSESS COMPLIANCE OF THESE CONDITIONS AND THEIR IMPACTS TO LOCAL AND DOWNSTREAM WATER QUALITY IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THIS PROJECT IS ONGOING. 10% OF TOTAL PROJECTS.
  5. $40,450 spent. MARYLAND PIEDMONT RELIABILITY PROJECT: WE HAVE BEEN GRANTED INTERVENOR STATUS BY THE MARYLAND PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION IN THE PSEG APPLICATION FOR PUBLIC NEED AND NECESSITY TO ALLOW FOR EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEEDINGS FOR THE MARYLAND PIEDMONT RELIABILITY PROJECT. GUNPOWDER RIVERKEEPER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE 70 MILE LONG, 500,000 VOLT INTERSTATE TRANSMISSION LINE POTENTIAL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS TO PRESERVED LANDS, CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, PRIME AGRICULTURAL LANDS, FORESTS, WETLANDS, COLD, DRINKING WATER SUPPLY STREAMS AND SENSITIVE SPECIES LIKE TROUT AND ENDANGERED SPECIES LIKE BOG TURTLES. THIS PROJECT IS ONGOING. 10% OF TOTAL PROJECTS.
  6. $20,225 spent. GUNPOWDER RIVERKEEPER STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS MAINTAINED 10 WADER WASH STATIONS ACROSS 18 MILES OF THE COLDWATER SECTION OF THE RIVER TO CONTAIN DIDYMO ALGAE AND COORDINATED OUTREACH ON A NEW INVASIVE SPECIES-NEW ZEALAND MUDSNAILS IN THE UPPER RIVER. THIS WORK IS ONGOING. 5% OF TOTAL PROJECTS.
  7. $20,225 spent. GUNPOWDER RIVERKEEPER STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WORKED ON ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH THROUGH THE UPPER WATERSHED WITH COMMUNITY, OFFICE, SCHOOL GROUPS, AND SCOUT AND BROWNIE TROOPS ON FOREST TO FAUCET STREAMWALKS AND SERVICE PROJECTS ALONG THE RIVER AND AT SPARKS NATURE CENTER TO DISCUSS THE SOURCES OF CITY DRINKING WATER AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTED PARK AND RESERVOIR LANDS WILD TROUT AND COLDWATER HABITAT. THE WORK IS ONGOING 5% OF TOTAL PROJECTS.

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 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 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 August 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.

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