Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

River Legacy Foundation

EIN 75-2215558 · Arlington, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceGood89 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURPOSE OF THE RIVER LEGACY FOUNDATION IS TO PROVIDE EXTROARDIANRY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND AUTHENTIC NATURE EXPERIENCES TO STUDENTS IN NORTH TEXAS. STATE SCIENCE STANDARDS FOR ALL GRADE LEVELS PLACES INCREASED EMPHASIS ON HANDS-ON AND OUTDOOR INVESTIGATIONS WHICH MAKE THE RIVER LEGACY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. THE RIVER LEGACY FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE LAND ALONG THE TRINITY RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES AS AN EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE.

Income
$992,477
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
10.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 37%
Employees
40

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

Good: 72 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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: 89 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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, 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. $874,698 spent. THE RIVER LEGACY FOUNDATION SERVES 14,700 NORTH TEXAS FAMILIES AND CHILDREN ANNUALLY THROUGH ITS FIELD INVESTIGATION PROGRAMS AND MORE THAN 40,000 NORTH TEXANS VISIT THE LIVING SCIENCE CENTER EACH YEAR. NOT ONLY DO WE CONSERVE OUR SURROUNDING NATURAL WONDERLAND, BUT WE CONSIDER RIVER LEGACY PARKS A "CLASSROOM WITHOUT WALLS" TO EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE ON THE ENVIRONMENT, WATER, WILDLIFE AND HABITATS. OUR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOSTER SENSITIVITY TO, AND AN APPRECIATION FOR, THE NATURAL WORLD. OUR ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS, FESTIVALS, SUMMER CLASSES, PRE-SCHOOL, HOME SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS OFFER A RICH CURRICULUM TO STUDENTS OF ALL INCOME LEVELS IN NORTH TEXAS. RESEARCH SUGGESTS CHILDREN WHO LEARN IN NATURE CAN INCREASE THEIR SCIENCE TESTING BY 27%. SCIENCE IS NOW PROVING WHAT THE RIVER LEGACY FOUNDATION KNEW ALL ALONG ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION HELPS KIDS LEARN SCIENCE AND IMPROVE THEIR TEST SCORES. THE RIVER LEGACY FOUNDATION SERVES 14,700 NORTH TEXAS FAMILIES AND CHILDREN ANNUALLY THROUGH ITS FIELD INVESTIGATION PROGRAMS AND MORE THAN 40,000 NORTH TEXANS VISIT THE LIVING SCIENCE CENTER EACH YEAR. NOT ONLY DO WE CONSERVE OUR SURROUNDING NATURAL WONDERLAND, BUT WE CONSIDER RIVER LEGACY PARKS A "CLASSROOM WITHOUT WALLS" TO EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE ON THE ENVIRONMENT, WATER, WILDLIFE AND HABITATS. OUR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOSTER SENSITIVITY TO, AND AN APPRECIATION FOR, THE NATURAL WORLD. OUR ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS, FESTIVALS, SUMMER CLASSES, PRE-SCHOOL, HOME SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS OFFER A RICH CURRICULUM TO STUDENTS OF ALL INCOME LEVELS IN NORTH TEXAS. RESEARCH SUGGESTS CHILDREN WHO LEARN IN NATURE CAN INCREASE THEIR SCIENCE TESTING BY 27%. SCIENCE IS NOW PROVING WHAT THE RIVER LEGACY FOUNDATION KNEW ALL ALONG ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION HELPS KIDS LEARN SCIENCE AND IMPROVE THEIR TEST SCORES.
  2. SAME AS FIRST ACCOMPLISHMENT DESCRIPTION.
  3. SAME AS FIRST ACCOMPLISHMENT DESCRIPTION.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1988.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Hemp Legacy Foundation Inc (Surprise, AZ), EIN 46-4998097. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.