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Foundation for Ohio River Education

EIN 30-0231858 · Cincinnati, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EDUCATION EMPOWERS COMMUNITIES TO VALUE AND PROTECT THEIR WATERSHEDS. THE FOUNDATION FOR OHIO RIVER EDUCATION TEACHES PEOPLE OF ALL AGES IN THE OHIO RIVER BASIN TO BECOME ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS THROUGH HANDS-ON PROGRAMS THAT GET PEOPLE ON THE WATER AND ENGAGED IN PRESERVING THE CULTURAL, ECOLOGICAL, AND ECONOMIC VALUE OF OUR RIVERS.

Income
$173,463
Spending
$226,102
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
5.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
0
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$101,487, secretary

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 51% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (4)
  1. $173,598 spent. RIVER REACH IS A FLOATING CLASSROOM PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES HANDS-ON ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND STEM LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOCUSED ON THE OHIO RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH RIVERBOAT OPERATORS, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN IMMERSIVE FIELD-BASED LEARNING ABOARD RIVERBOATS AND CANOE EXCURSIONS, TRANSFORMING THE RIVER INTO A LIVING LABORATORY FOR SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY AND STEWARDSHIP.
  2. $38,937 spent. THE OHIO RIVER SWEEP IS A BASINWIDE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND LITTER PREVENTION PROGRAM THAT MOBILIZES THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS ANNUALLY TO REMOVE LITTER AND DEBRIS FROM THE OHIO RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES. THROUGH COORDINATED COMMUNITY CLEANUP EVENTS CONDUCTED ALONG NEARLY 3,000 MILES OF SHORELINE, THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS PROTECTION OF WATER QUALITY, AQUATIC HABITAT, RECREATION, AND PUBLIC HEALTH WHILE PROMOTING LONG-TERM ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, POLLUTION PREVENTION, RECYCLING, AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGHOUT THE OHIO RIVER BASIN.
  3. RIVER WATCHERS IS A CLASSROOM-BASED CITIZEN SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT ENGAGES STUDENTS IN HANDS-ON WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT THROUGHOUT THE OHIO RIVER BASIN. PARTICIPATING STUDENTS USE SCIENTIFIC TESTING EQUIPMENT TO MEASURE WATER QUALITY INDICATORS AND STUDY AQUATIC ORGANISMS, INCLUDING MACROINVERTEBRATES, WHILE CONTRIBUTING DATA TO REGIONAL MONITORING EFFORTS COORDINATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY WATER SANITATION COMMISSION (ORSANCO). THE PROGRAM PROMOTES STEM EDUCATION, SCIENTIFIC LITERACY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP BY CONNECTING STUDENTS DIRECTLY TO THE HEALTH AND PROTECTION OF LOCAL WATERWAYS AND THE OHIO RIVER SYSTEM.
  4. LIFE BELOW THE WATERLINE IS A MOBILE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAM FEATURING A 2,200-GALLON TRAVELING AQUARIUM THAT SHOWCASES LIVE FISH SPECIES NATIVE TO THE OHIO RIVER BASIN. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES HANDS-ON EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES AT SCHOOLS, FESTIVALS, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE REGION, INCREASING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY, WATER QUALITY, AND ECOSYSTEM HEALTH WITHIN THE OHIO RIVER SYSTEM. THROUGH DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH SCIENTISTS AND EDUCATORS, THE PROGRAM PROMOTES ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND ENHANCES PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE ECOLOGICAL AND DRINKING WATER IMPORTANCE OF THE OHIO RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 March 2004.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Riverwalk Education Foundation Inc (San Antonio, TX), EIN 01-0758906. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.