Henrys Fork Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE HENRY'S FORK FOUNDATION IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION WHO'S SOLE PURPOSE IS TO CONSERVE, PROTECT AND RESTORE THE UNIQUE FISHERIES, WILDLIFE AND AESTHETIC QUALITIES OF THE HENRY'S FORK AND IT'S WATERSHED. SPECIFICALLY, HFF WORKS DILIGENTLY TO ENSURE THE FUTURE OF WILD TROUT IN THE HENRY'S FORK.
- Income
- $3.6 million
- Spending
- $3.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 4.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 74%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 10
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 84 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a 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.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 September 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 (2)
- $2.2 million spent. OUTREACH: HFF REACHES IT'S MEMBERSHIP AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE THROUGH NUMEROUS OUTLETS. THE BACKBONE OF HFF OUTREACH PROGRAM IS THE NEWSLETTER AND THE ANNUAL REPORT. HFF ALSO HAS AN ARCHIVE TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH PERTINENT HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND DATA. HFF HAS INVESTED IN A VERY INTERACTIVE WEBSITE WITH BLOGS, SOCIAL MEDIA EXPOSURE AND INFORMATIONAL SIGNAGE AT CRITICAL GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS. HFF ALSO INTERACTS WITH OUR MEMBERSHIP AND OTHER WATERSHED STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH SYMPOSIUMS, FIELD TRIPS, HFF HOSTED EVENTS AND HENRY'S FORK WATERSHED COUNCIL MEETINGS.
- A healthy fishery starts with water. The amount of water and the quality of water in the river have a direct impact on fish and insect health, and our fishing experience.Collaborative Water ManagementTrout do not have water rights, so HFF must find ways to work within a system that affords us neither management authority nor decision-making power. What we do have, is data.HFFs science program collects, analyzes, and distributes data on the scale of a small university lab. It is our reputation as a source for reliable data that gets us a seat at the table where those crucial water management decisions are made. It is through partnerships, the Drought Management Planning Committee, and the Henrys Fork Watershed Council that HFF shares daily water reports and custom, predictive modeling to influence management for the benefit of wild trout.Water QualityHFF has also developed one of the most extensive water-quality monitoring networks run by a nonprofit in Idaho. With 12 sondes (underwater data collectors), a real-time data website, and an extensive water sampling protocol, HFF measures water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and water clarity parameters on a daily and weekly basis. HFF also maintains an annual macroinvertebrate study to track aquatic insect population health.FisheriesHFF has completed or funded well over 100 research, monitoring, and restoration projects throughout the watershed. Since our founding, fisheries health, habitat, and biological research have made up the core of our programmatic work, including monitoring fish passage, implementing gill lice surveys, quantifying macrophyte cover, and conducting stream restoration work.The Value of FishingHFF collaborated with nonprofit, state agency, and university partners on a multi-year assessment of the economic value of recreational fishing in the Henrys Fork Watershed to help decision-makers understand the economic contribution of our fisheries to the region. HFF also conducts assessments of angler attitudes to better understand angler values and prioritize future conservation work.The Upper Snake River Farms and Fish ProgramIn the Upper Snake River Basin, agriculture accounts for 90% of water withdrawals. While fish and farms might not seem like a natural pair, bridging the gap between local agricultural producers and the Henrys Fork fishery can bring benefits to water resources and the health of the river at a more significant scale than ever before.HFF and partners are working with major agricultural producers and landowners in our area through voluntary transactions that compensate irrigators for reducing irrigation demand, thus keeping more water in Island Park Reservoir.On-Farm Water ManagementA key tool HFF can use to influence water use is land-lease agreements, including agreements to not divert water from the river. These agreements are actually simpler and more straightforward legally and administratively than leasing water rights.Alternative CropsThe program also incentivizes farmers to plant alternative crops that use less water, use water outside of peak irrigation demand, improve soil health, reduce wind erosion and sediment runoff, and benefit water quality.Aquifer RechargeGroundwater contributions from the aquifer in late summer provide an important component of baseflows, adding cool, clear water when it is really needed. Recharge of the aquifer has been decreasing with changes in irrigation technology, so HFF is working to support well-timed recharge efforts to benefit flows without significant detrimental impact on the day-to-day fishing experience.MonitoringAll of these methods depend heavily on the capacity of HFF and partners to monitor water use to verify that the objectives will be achieved and to guard against unintended consequences.Creating MarketsTo be successful into the future, the Farms and Fish Program must be self-sustaining by creating markets for crops that use less water. The program will assist local entities in building infrastructure that could create a market for high-value, low-water-use crops, like reduced-irrigation malt barley and quinoa, without further incentives. Improvement and Maintenance of Existing Access SitesHFF is committed to protecting public access to the Henrys Fork and its tributaries. HFF works with partners to maintain and improve facilities such as boat ramps, access roads, parking areas, and toilets at existing sites.Securing Permanent Public AccessBuilding on successful campaigns that secured permanent access at several popular sites on the lower river, HFF will continue to ensure that anglers and river users are able to enjoy the Henrys Fork for generations to come.Long-Term ProtectionIn our role as Voice of the River, HFF monitors water rights applications, stream alteration permit applications, and a variety of other legal or administrative processes to determine when action is required and to ensure the rivers best interest is always represented and protected.Riparian Fencing HFFs riparian fencing program was established as a flagship project in 1984 to protect the banks of the river from degradation. In the last 35 years, HFF has continued to protect the famed Ranch reach by repairing and rebuilding miles of fence and dedicating an intern to monitor and maintain fence line.Youth EducationUnderstanding the critical role the next generation of river stewards will play, HFF enhances watershed education in local schools with Idaho Fish & Games Trout in the Classroom program and our very own Youth on the Fly event. Fifth graders learn appreciation for the wild trout life cycle by raising their own from egg to fingerling in their classroom.Internship ProgramHFFs top-notch internship program continues after three decades with individual projects and professional supervision for each intern joining the HFF team. Interns not only contribute to ongoing research and projects, but make crucial field work possible year after year.Graduate Student ResearchHFFs well-respe
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 September 2025.
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 March 1986.
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.