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Arundel Rivers Federation Inc

EIN 52-2301464 · Edgewater, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE SOUTH, WEST, AND RHODE RIVERS, ARUNDEL RIVERS FEDERATION HEALS AND PROTECTS OUR WATERWAYS AND CHAMPIONS CLEAN WATER ACROSS MARYLAND.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 63%
Employees
13
Volunteers
449
Highest pay
$151,418, executive director

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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

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

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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, 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 (4)
  1. $2.5 million spent. THE ARUNDEL RIVERS RESTORATION PROGRAM WORKS WITH COMMUNITIES, FUNDERS, AND OTHER PARTNERS TO RESTORE OUR LAND AND WATERWAYS. THESE PROJECTS, BOTH SMALL AND LARGE IN SCALE, ACTIVELY TRAP AND FILTER POLLUTANTS FROM STORMWATER, SLOW EROSION, CREATE HABITAT FOR CREATURES IN AND AROUND OUR RIVERS AND MAKE OUR LANDS AND COMMUNITIES MORE RESILIENT.
  2. $248,289 spent. AS A LICENSED MEMBER OF THE WATERKEEPER ALLIANCE, OUR SOUTH, WEST, AND RHODE RIVERKEEPER MONITORS WATER QUALITY ACROSS OUR RIVERS, ADVOCATES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS, RESPONDS TO CITIZEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT POLLUTION, AND IDENTIFIES POLLUTION SOURCES AND REMEDIES TO HEAL OUR RIVERS.
  3. $177,115 spent. THE ARUNDEL RIVERS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM ENGAGES AND EDUCATES COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR WATERSHEDS WITH A GOAL TO TAKE COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM CURIOSITY TO AWARENESS TO ACTION. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TO YOUTH IN SCHOOLS, CAMPS, AND CLUBS AND ORGANIZES VOLUNTEER EFFORTS TO RESTORE OUR LANDS AND RIVERS.
  4. Program Service Expenses 0, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 ARUNDEL RIVERS ALSO ENGAGES HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS AND YOUNG PEOPLE EACH YEAR TO PLANT TREES, CLEAN UP RIVERS, MAP SUBAQUATIC VEGETATION, RAISE YOUNG OYSTERS FOR OYSTER REEF RESTORATION, AND PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

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

  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 2025.

    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 May 2001.

    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.