Rivanna Conservation Alliance
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO CONSERVE THE RIVANNA RIVER AND ITS WATERSHED THROUGH WATER QUALITY MONITORING, EDUCATION, RESTORATION, AND STEWARDSHIP.
- Income
- $699,088
- Spending
- $642,944
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 88%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 1,000
- Highest pay
- $69,129, 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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 92% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
6 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, 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 (1)
- $545,500 spent. THE RIVANNA CONSERVATION ALLIANCE (RCA) IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE PROGRAMS ARE GUIDED BY THE BELIEF THAT HEALTHY WATERWAYS AND GREEN SPACES ARE ESSENTIAL TO A VIBRANT AND RESILIENT COMMUNITY. RCA FORMED IN 2016 WHEN TWO LONG-STANDING ORGANIZATIONS, THE RIVANNA CONSERVATION SOCIETY AND STREAMWATCH, JOINED TOGETHER. THIS MERGER BROUGHT TOGETHER A SCIENTIFICALLY RIGOROUS VOLUNTEER-SUPPORTED WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM WITH A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY OUTREACH, EDUCATION, WATERSHED STEWARDSHIP, ADVOCACY, AND RESTORATION. TODAY, RCA SERVES AS THE LOCAL VOICE OF THE RIVER AND ITS PROGRAMS ACTIVELY ENGAGE UP TO 1,000 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS EACH YEAR, CONNECTING THEM TO OUR STREAMS AND RIVERS TO PROMOTE AWARENESS, APPRECIATION,AND STEWARDSHIP. RCA IS THE ONLY NONPROFIT IN VIRGINIA TO BE CERTIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AT THE HIGHTEST LEVEL FOR BACTERIA AND BIOLOGICAL WATER QUALITY MONITORING. LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES USE RCAS DATA TO INFORM THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION-MAKING AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS USE IT TO GUIDE THEIR DECISIONS ABOUT SAFE RIVER RECREATION. RCA LEADS A RANGE OF OUTDOOR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING WATERSHED EXPLORATION FIELD TRIPS FOR OVER 1,200 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS EACH YEAR AND THE ANNUAL RIVANNA RIVERFEST. RCA CARRIES OUT RESTORATION PROJECTS TO REDUCE WATER POLLUTION AND RESTORE THE HEALTH OF OUR WATERWAYS AND RIVERSIDE FORESTS. RCA ALSO ORGANIZES VOLUNTEER WORKDAYS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOCUSED ON CLEANING UP STREAMS, MANAGING INVASIVE PLANTS, AND PLANTING NATIVE TREES.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1990.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.