Eel River Recovery Project Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To empower communities to collaborate in monitoring the ecological conditions of the Eel River. To share information about the health of the watershed and to work together to formulate a restoration strategy.
- Income
- $2.6 million
- Spending
- $3.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 0.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 99%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 300
- Highest pay
- $70,275, board chair
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
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $2.4 million spent. The Eel River Recovery Project won a CALFIRE Climate Change Initiative grant, the Tenmile Creek Watershed Forest Health Project, which is to thin 975 acres of forest in northern Mendocino County near the community of Laytonville, California. Hand thinning the forest and creating piles for burning or using lop and scatter methods for broadcast burning, with a total of 925 ares planned for prescribed fire. Services are being provided to private landowners and the Cahto Tribe, with forests on the Cahto Rancheria being thinned. The project is creating local jobs, reducing the risk of catastrophic fire, restoring oak woodlands, and improving biodiversity and is expected to also improve stream base flows, as tree evapotransperation is decreased. Outreach and education are also included in this project.
- $564,278 spent. The State Water Resources Control Board awarded ERRP a 319h grant funded with use of US EPA money to abate non-point source pollution. The Tenmile Creek Erosion Control and riparian Restoration Project will repair 620 feet of eroding stream bank, restore the riparian area using living willow and create improved fish habitat for ESA-listed Pacific salmon species.
- $3,793 spent. This grant from the Mendocino County Community Foundation was from their Community Enrichment fund and was for the purpose of getting students from Laytonville and Leggett schools in northern Mendocino County involved in outdoor education, including hands-on science experience monitoring water temperature and riparian air temperature.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2016.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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.