Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Friends of the Mississippi River

EIN 41-1763226 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FRIENDS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER (FMR) ENGAGES PEOPLE TO PROTECT, RESTORE, AND ENHANCE THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND ITS WATERSHED IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION.

Income
$4.6 million
Spending
$4.2 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
27
Volunteers
1,957
Highest pay
$174,994, executive di

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% 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 48% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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: 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 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 (5)
  1. $1.9 million spent. LAND CONSERVATION - FMR WORKS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND CONCERNED CITIZENS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE CRITICAL LANDS BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, PLANNING, LAND MANAGEMENT AND HANDS-ON NATURAL RESOURCES RESTORATION SERVICES.
  2. $300,571 spent. LAND USE AND PLANNING - FMR WORKS WITHIN RIVER COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE THE LEADERSHIP, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND EXPERTISE IN GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY REQUIRED TO RESPECT THE VALUES OF PUBLIC ACCESS, SCENIC VIEWS, EQUITY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.
  3. $591,470 spent. STEWARDSHIP, VOLUNTEERING & EDUCATION - FMR WORKS WITH INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES TO HARNESS AND INSPIRE AN ETHIC OF RIVER STEWARDSHIP AND CONSERVATION, ENGAGING THOUSANDS ANNUALLY IN HANDS-ON EDUCATIONAL AND VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES THAT PROTECT, ENHANCE AND CELEBRATE OUR METRO MISSISSIPPI.
  4. $655,658 spent. WATER PROTECTION - FMR WORKS WITH CITIZENS AND REPRESENTATIVES TO INFLUENCE PUBLIC POLICY TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE METRO MISSISSIPPI'S WATER, WHICH CURRENTLY FAILS TO MEET FEDERAL WATER QUALITY STANDARDS. WE AIM TO MAKE THE TWIN CITIES A MODEL FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING THAT IMPROVES AND PROTECTS WATER QUALITY.
  5. WATER PROTECTION - FMR WORKS WITH CITIZENS AND REPRESENTATIVES TO INFLUENCE PUBLIC POLICY TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE METRO MISSISSIPPI'S WATER, WHICH CURRENTLY FAILS TO MEET FEDERAL WATER QUALITY STANDARDS. WE AIM TO MAKE THE TWIN CITIES A MODEL FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING THAT IMPROVES AND PROTECTS WATER QUALITY.

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 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 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 1994.

    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.