Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Friends of the Colorado River Foundation Inc

EIN 74-2631397 · Austin, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CHAMPION THE LONG-TERM VITALITY OF THE TEXAS COLORADO RIVER THROUGH EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT AND ENCOURAGE THOUGHTFUL STEWARDSHIP OF THIS IRREPLACEABLE NATURAL RESOURCE.

Income
$725,169
Spending
$679,684
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
7
Volunteers
1,060
Highest pay
$137,679, 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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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 94% 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

    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 (3)
  1. $157,105 spent. TEXAS COLORADO RIVER MOBILE LEARNING EXPERIENCE: LAUNCHED IN 2015, THE TEXAS COLORADO RIVER MOBILE LEARNING EXPERIENCE PROVIDES A HIGH-QUALITY STEM FIELD-TRIP EXPERIENCE TO MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF TEXAS WATER STEWARDS. HOUSED IN A 40-FOOT TRAILER, THE IMMERSIVE, MUSEUM-QUALITY LEARNING EXPERIENCE IS A WATERY WORLD WHERE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MERGE TO ENCOURAGE CRITICAL THINKING AND REFLECTION REGARDING OUR PRECIOUS RESOURCE - WATER. INTERACTIVE MODELS ENGAGE AND INSTRUCT, INSPIRING STUDENTS TO TAKE PERSONAL ACTION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN CONSERVING WATER QUANTITY AND QUALITY.
  2. $253,557 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: THE COLORADO RIVER ALLIANCE CONVENES AND ENGAGES STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE RIVER BASIN IN MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE, VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES, AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO UNDERSTAND AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE RIVER AND OUR COMMUNITY. THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE WATERWAY CLEANUPS AND RESTORATION WORK SUCH AS THE ANNUAL LAKE TRAVIS CLEAN-UP, SPRING CLEANUP, AND QUARTERLY CREEK CLEANUPS; THE EDUCATORS' INSTITUTE GROUNDWATER TO GULF; AND SPEAKER SERIES PROGRAM RIVER RESILIENCE.
  3. $82,194 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT REDBUD CENTER: THE COLORADO ALLIANCE LEADS TOURS AND YOUTH PROGRAMMING AT THE WILKERSON CENTER FOR COLORADO RIVER EDUCATION AT REDBUD CENTER IN WEST AUSTIN. OWNED BY LCRA, THE FIVE-ACRE RIVERSIDE GROUNDS FEATURES EXHIBITS THAT DEMONSTRATES THE HISTORY AND IMPORTANCE OF THE TEXAS COLORADO RIVER. INTERACTIVE WATER FEATURES REVEAL HOW FLOODING AND WATER SUPPLY IS MANAGED BY THE HIGHLAND LAKES AND DAM SYSTEM. RAINWATER CAN BE CONSERVED AND PROTECTED. THE GROUNDS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FREE OF CHARGE. YOUTH PROGRAMMING AND FIELD TRIPS FOR STUDENTS FROM TITLE 1 SCHOOLS PROVIDED BY THE COLORADO RIVER ALLIANCE INCLUDE EXHIBIT AND GROUNDS EXPLORATION, DOCENT LED TEKS ALIGNED ACTIVITIES, AND KNOWLEDGE GAIN ANALYSIS.

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 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 June 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 September 1992.

    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.