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Little River Wetlands Project Inc

EIN 35-1809569 · Fort Wayne, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO RESTORE AND PROTECT WETLANDS IN THE HISTORIC WATERSHED OF THE LITTLE RIVER, A MAJOR TRIBUTARY OF THE WABASH RIVER, AND TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT ENCOURAGE GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF WETLANDS AND OTHER NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS.

Income
$404,761
Spending
$362,490
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
11.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
8
Volunteers
928
Highest pay
$61,616, executive di

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.9 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 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $247,906 spent. SEED TO MARSH PROGRAM: LRWP CREATIVELY BLENDS ITS DUAL MISSION OF WETLAND RESTORATION AND EDUCATION THROUGH SEED TO MARSH, A HANDS-ON INITIATIVE WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS COLLECT NATIVE SEEDS, GROW THEM INTO SEEDLINGS, AND TRANSPLANT THEM INTO THE WETLANDS. THESE EFFORTS HELP RESTORE AREAS IMPACTED BY INVASIVE SPECIES. PARTICIPANTS LEARN ABOUT NATIVE FLORA AND RESTORATION PRACTICES, CONTRIBUTING DIRECTLY TO ECOSYSTEM HEALTH. PLANTS GROWN THROUGH THE PROGRAM ARE ALSO SHARED THROUGH FREE PLANT GIVEAWAYS AND SEED LIBRARIES, EXTENDING BENEFITS TO THE BROADER COMMUNITY. EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH: SINCE 2006, LRWP'S FREE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING HAS REACHED MORE THAN 145,000 INDIVIDUALS. PROGRAMS ARE INCLUSIVE AND STEM- BASED, SERVING AUDIENCES FROM PRESCHOOL TO COLLEGE THROUGH FIELD TRIPS, GUIDED HIKES, SENIOR PROGRAMS, AND MAJOR PUBLIC EVENTS LIKE EARTH DAY FORT WAYNE AND THE MONARCH FESTIVAL. IN 2025 ALONE, OVER 8,000 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED, INCLUDING 1,500 CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN FREE SCHOOL FIELD TRIP PROGRAMMING, WITH APPROXIMATELY 35% FROM HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. CITIZEN SCIENCE: EAGLE MARSH SERVES AS A REGIONAL HUB FOR CITIZEN SCIENCE, OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRAINED VOLUNTEERS TO COLLECT AND REPORT DATA ON MONARCHS, NESTING BIRDS, BATS, AND WATER QUALITY TO NATIONAL DATABASES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL UNIVERSITIES, THE PRESERVE ALSO SUPPORTS HERPETOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND PROVIDES REAL-WORLD FIELD EXPERIENCE FOR STEAM STUDENTS. SEED TO MARSH PROGRAM: LRWP CREATIVELY BLENDS ITS DUAL MISSION OF WETLAND RESTORATION AND EDUCATION THROUGH SEED TO MARSH, A HANDS-ON INITIATIVE WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS COLLECT NATIVE SEEDS, GROW THEM INTO SEEDLINGS, AND TRANSPLANT THEM INTO THE WETLANDS. THESE EFFORTS HELP RESTORE AREAS IMPACTED BY INVASIVE SPECIES. PARTICIPANTS LEARN ABOUT NATIVE FLORA AND RESTORATION PRACTICES, CONTRIBUTING DIRECTLY TO ECOSYSTEM HEALTH. PLANTS GROWN THROUGH THE PROGRAM ARE ALSO SHARED THROUGH FREE PLANT GIVEAWAYS AND SEED LIBRARIES, EXTENDING BENEFITS TO THE BROADER COMMUNITY. EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH: SINCE 2006, LRWP'S FREE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING HAS REACHED MORE THAN 145,000 INDIVIDUALS. PROGRAMS ARE INCLUSIVE AND STEM- BASED, SERVING AUDIENCES FROM PRESCHOOL TO COLLEGE THROUGH FIELD TRIPS, GUIDED HIKES, SENIOR PROGRAMS, AND MAJOR PUBLIC EVENTS LIKE EARTH DAY FORT WAYNE AND THE MONARCH FESTIVAL. IN 2025 ALONE, OVER 8,000 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED, INCLUDING 1,500 CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN FREE SCHOOL FIELD TRIP PROGRAMMING, WITH APPROXIMATELY 35% FROM HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. CITIZEN SCIENCE: EAGLE MARSH SERVES AS A REGIONAL HUB FOR CITIZEN SCIENCE, OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRAINED VOLUNTEERS TO COLLECT AND REPORT DATA ON MONARCHS, NESTING BIRDS, BATS, AND WATER QUALITY TO NATIONAL DATABASES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL UNIVERSITIES, THE PRESERVE ALSO SUPPORTS HERPETOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND PROVIDES REAL-WORLD FIELD EXPERIENCE FOR STEAM STUDENTS.

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 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 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 February 1991.

    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.

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.