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Deschutes River Alliance

EIN 46-3538750 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceGood79 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 54 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

ADVOCACY AND STEWARDSHIP FOR THE LOWER 100 MILES OF THE DESCHUTES RIVER IN OREGON

Income
$505,975
Spending
$579,849
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
6
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$116,200, 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: 67 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 54 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: 79 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    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

    0 of 5

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

  • 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 (3)
  1. $105,980 spent. THE DESCHUTES RIVER ALLIANCE IMPLEMENTS A RIGOROUS SCIENCE PLAN, LED BY RETIRED AGENCY SCIENTISTS, TO EXPLORE THE CAUSES AND EXTENT OF ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE TO THE DESCHUTES RIVER. THE WORK INCLUDES WATER QUALITY SAMPLING, AQUATIC INSECT POPULATION STUDIES, AND DETAILED SURVEYS OF LONG-TIME RIVER USERS SUCH AS OUTFITTERS AND FISHERMEN. ALL SCIENCE IS PERFORMED SUBJECT TO ESTABLISHED QUALITY CONTROL METHODS. DATA COLLECTED IS ANALYZED AND REPRODUCED IN A SERIES OF WRITTEN REPORTS THAT ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC VIA THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE.
  2. $174,579 spent. DURING THE YEAR, DESCHUTES RIVER ALLIANCE CONTINUED ADVOCACY TO ENFORCE WATER QUALITY STANDARDS AT THE PELTON-ROUND BUTTE HYDROELECTRIC COMPLEX. THE WATER QUALITY STANDARDS WERE FORMULATED PURSUANT TO PROVISIONS OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT AND ARE INTENDED TO PROTECT AQUATIC LIFE IN THE RIVER.
  3. $98,997 spent. THE DESCHUTES RIVER ALLIANCE WORKS DILIGENTLY TO INFORM ITS SUPPORTS, DESCHUTES RIVER BASIN STAKEHOLDERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF FINDINGS FROM ITS ONGOING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. THIS OUTREACH IS CONDUCTED IN THE FORM OF MAILINGS, MEETINGS WITH CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS, AND PRODUCTION OF A DOCUMENTARY FILM.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2014.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.