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Friends of the Rouge

EIN 38-2672879 · Plymouth, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO RESTORE, PROTECT, AND ENHANCE THE ROUGE RIVER WATERSHED THROUGH STEWARDSHIP, EDUCATION, AND COLLABORATION.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
-0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
31
Volunteers
2,733
Highest pay
$57,447, 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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 46% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (2)
  1. $1.0 million spent. 1. THE ROUGE EDUCATION PROJECT (REP) IS A 37-YEAR-OLD, NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MODEL WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM THAT ENGAGES THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS EACH YEAR IN HANDS-ON SCIENCE EDUCATION AND PLACE-BASED LEARNING WHILE PROVIDING MEANINGFUL SERVICE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO GET FURTHER INVOLVED WITH STEWARDING THEIR HOMETOWN RIVER.2. WATERSHED MONITORING ENGAGES HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS IN IMMERSIVE SCIENCE EDUCATION WHILE THEY OBSERVE, LISTEN, AND STUDY BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES (AQUATIC INSECTS), FROGS AND TOADS, FISH POPULATIONS, AND HABITAT THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED. LOCAL RESIDENTS BECOME CITIZEN SCIENTISTS AND COLLECT CRITICAL DATA THAT FRIENDS OF THE ROUGE PROVIDES TO A VARIETY OF ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THE RIVER OVER TIME.3. RIVER RESTORATION WORK ACROSS THE WATERSHED INCLUDES RIPARIAN CORRIDOR AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT TRAINING FOR RESIDENTS AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS HANDS-ON IMPLEMENTATION AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INSTALLATION SUCH AS RAIN GARDENS.4. THE EXPANDING TRAILS PROGRAM AIMS TO DEVELOP A 29-MILE WATER TRAIL ALONG THE LOWER AND MAIN STEMS OF THE ROUGE RIVER ALONG WITH PARALLELED GREENWAY (BIKE/WALK TRAILS) ACCESS WITH SHARED TRAILHEADS. UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE KAYAK LAUNCHES CREATE EQUITABLE ACCESS ESPECIALLY IN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED, MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
  2. $128,434 spent. RAIN BARREL AND NATIVE MICHIGAN PLANT SALES FOR WATERSHED RESIDENTS TO MANAGE STORMWATER ON THEIR PROPERTIES. RAIN GARDEN INSTALLATIONS REDUCE RAINWATER RUNOFF (AND CONTAMINANTS) BY PROVIDING TEMPORARY STORMWATER STORAGE WHERE IT WILL BE CLEANED, COOLED, INFILTRATED INTO THE GROUND, AND TRANSPIRED BY THE NATIVE PLANTS. RAIN GARDENS HELP TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF FLOODING AND THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT. MANY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS RESULT FROM THE EXISTENCE OF RAIN GARDENS INCLUDING HABITAT CREATION FOR INSECTS AND POLLINATORS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (ESPECIALLY IN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED, MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES), AND IMPROVEMENTS TO QUALITY OF LIFE FOR URBAN RESIDENTS. THE GARDENS ALSO RESTORE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN LAND AND WATER. RAIN BARRELS PROVIDE THE SAME STORMWATER MANAGEMENT BENEFITS OF RAIN GARDENS BY COLLECTING RAINWATER, KEEPING IT OUT OF STORM DRAINS, AND PROVIDING A SOURCE OF WATER FOR FLORA AND FAUNA.

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 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 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 June 1987.

    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.