Friends of the Shenandoah River Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO MONITOR THE WATER QUALITY OF THE SHENANDOAH RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES
- Income
- $172,886
- Spending
- $158,493
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 71%
- Employees
- 4
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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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.
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 (3)
- $77,087 spent. FOSR MAINTAINS OPERATES & FUNDS A VA DEQ LEVEL III LONG-TERM VOLUNTEER CITIZEN SCIENTIST WATER-QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES IN-HOUSE ANALYSIS OF THE WATER SAMPLES. CURRENTLY, THE PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES ROUTINE SAMPLING AT 99 SITES THROUGH 8 COUNTIES, 59 WATERSHEDS, AND A DRAINAGE AREA OF NEARLY 3,000 SQUARE MILES OF THE SHENANDOAH RIVER WATERSHED. THE WATER SAMPLES ARE COLLECTED BY A TEAM OF 42 DEDICATED VOLUNTEER CITIZEN-SCIENTISTS WHO ARE TRAINED & CERTIFIED BY THE FOSRS LABORATORY STAFF FOLLOWING VA DEQ APPROVED STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
- $51,091 spent. FOSRS ANNUAL SUMMER E.COLI TESTING PROGRAM AT PUBLIC ACCESS & RECREATIONAL SITES ON THE SHENANDOAH RIVER. THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE FREQUENT, REAL-TIME ACCREDITED E.COLI CONCENTRATION RESULTS FOR RIVER RECREATION USERS TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT POTENTIAL ASSOCIATED HEALTH RISKS WHEN RECREATING IN THE AREAS OF THE RIVER TESTED. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES 14 HEAVILY UTILITIZED PUBLIC ACCESS & RECREATIONAL SITES ON THE SHENANDOAH RIVER LOCATED IN CLARKE, WARREN, PAGE & SHENANDOAH COUNTIES & A SITE LOCATED IN FREDERICK COUNTY ON THE OPEQUON CREEK. THE WEEKLY QUANTITATIVE E.COLI CONCENTRATION RESULTS ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON BOTH THE FOSR WEBSITE & FACEBOOK PAGE.
- $12,917 spent. THE FOSR ACTIVELY RESPONDS TO CITIZENS, COMMUNITIES, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CONCERNS RELATED TO WATER-QUALITY ISSUES. THE FOSR DOES THIS BY PROVIDING AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ISSUE, WATER-QUALITY TESTING, SUPPORT IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A MONITORING PLAN AND ACTS AS A LIAISON TO BRING PARTIES TO THE TABLE TO ASSIST IN ADDRESSING AND RESOLVING THE ISSUES OF CONCERN. FOSR PROVIDED GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE TO OTHERS IN DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTATION WATER-QUALITY MONITORING PROJECT(S). CONTINUED TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY TIES AND ENCOURAGE GOOD STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS, AND PRESENTATIONS TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. FOSR PROVIDED(2) ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR K-12 STUDENTS; (5) FOR ADULTS OUTREACH PROGRAMS RELATED TO WATER QUALITY AND GOOD STEWARDSHIP; AND (5) INTERNSHIP/MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS PURSUING AND INTERESTED IN LIMNOLOGY.
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 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 October 13, 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 2024.
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 May 2014.
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 October 21, 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.