Riverwoods Durham
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF RIVERWOODS DURHAM (RWD) IS TO ESTABLISH, OWN, AND MAINTAIN A CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY (CCRC) WHICH PROVIDES HOUSING, HEALTH CARE SERVICES, FOOD SERVICES, SECURITY, AND OTHER ANCILLARY SERVICES TO ELDERLY PERSONS.
- Income
- $25.2 million
- Spending
- $24.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- -54.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 85%
- Employees
- 296
- Volunteers
- 35
- Highest pay
- $548,637, ceo
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
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 117% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 44% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 17 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 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 (1)
- $19.1 million spent. RIVERWOODS DURHAM (RWD) HAS ONE PRIMARY PROGRAM SERVICE, TO ESTABLISH, MANAGE AND MAINTAIN A CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY WHICH PROVIDES HOUSING, HEALTH CARE SERVICES, FOOD SERVICES, SECURITY, AND OTHER ANCILLARY SERVICES TO OLDER ADULTS OVER AGE 62. ON JUNE 30, 2025, THE COMMUNITY HOUSED APPROXIMATELY 200 RESIDENTS IN INDEPENDENT APARTMENTS AND 62 RESIDENTS IN OUR HEALTH CARE CENTER. OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR THE HEALTH CARE CENTER SERVED APPROXIMATELY 78 RESIDENTS ON A PERMANENT, TEMPORARY OR PER DIEM BASIS AT A SUBSTANTIALLY DISCOUNTED RATE. THE CONTRACTUAL ALLOWANCE (I.E. WRITE-OFF) RELATED TO THE LEVEL OF CARE PROVIDED FOR LIFECARE CONTRACT RESIDENTS WAS $4,083,486 FOR FY25. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O. AS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT CCRC, RWD HAS A BENEVOLENCE FUND TO HELP RESIDENTS WHO HAVE OUTLIVED THEIR ASSETS OR HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES UNABLE TO MAKE THEIR FINANCIAL COMMITMENT, THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN. IF NEEDED, A RESIDENT CAN TURN TO THE RIVERWOODS BENEVOLENCE FUND, RATHER THAN PLACING FINANCIAL BURDEN ON SENIOR ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OUTSIDE THE RIVERWOODS COMMUNITY.WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF OUR FOUNDING PRINCIPLES IS A COMMITMENT TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY: "TO BE A RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY THAT PARTICIPATES IN THE LIFE OF THE LARGER COMMUNITY AROUND IT." WE CONSIDER OURSELVES NEIGHBORS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE DEDICATED TO SERVING THE NEW HAMPSHIRE SEACOAST AREA BOTH WITH OUR TIME, KNOWLEDGE, AND THROUGH OUR RESOURCES. IN FY25, BOTH STAFF AND RESIDENTS FOUND MANY WAYS TO GIVE BACK, SERVE OTHERS, AND SUPPORT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY BY VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME ON LOCAL NOT-FOR-PROFIT BOARDS, VOLUNTEERING HOURS IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND COLLECTING PHYSICAL DONATIONS FOR TOY, FOOD, AND CLOTHING DRIVES. PART OF OUR MISSION IS NOT ONLY TO HELP IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCE OF AGING FOR AS MANY ADULTS AS POSSIBLE, BUT ALSO TO SHARE THAT KNOWLEDGE WITH OTHERS, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNGER GENERATION. EMPLOYEES REGULARLY SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE BY INVITING STUDENTS INTO THE RWD COMMUNITY WHO CAN LEARN FROM THE VAST KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF THE STAFF. OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE HOSTED STUDENTS FROM A VARIETY OF SCHOOLS AND PROVIDED INTERNSHIPS IN A VARIETY OF COURSEWORK, FROM MARKETING TO FINANCE TO SOCIAL WORK AND HEALTH CARE. SINCE RIVERWOODS OPENED ITS DOORS, A KEY OBJECTIVE HAS NOT ONLY BEEN TO SHARE OUR EXPERIENCES WITH OTHERS, BUT TO LEARN FROM OTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY AT THE SAME TIME. IN THIS WAY WE CONTINUE TO INNOVATE, TO REMAIN AT THE FOREFRONT OF NEW TRENDS IN OUR INDUSTRY, AND TO RESPOND TO CHANGING CONSUMER PREFERENCES, WHILE ALSO ADVANCING THE SENIOR LIVING INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE. OUR LEADERS REGULARLY ATTEND INDUSTRY SEMINARS, PARTICIPATE IN STUDY GROUPS, AND PRESENT ON NATIONAL AND INTERNALTIONAL PANELS WITHIN OUR INDUSTRY, AS WELL AS DRAFT ARTICLES FOR LEADING PUBLICATIONS. RWD IS A STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNER AND IN ADDITION TO RESIDENT AND STAFF TIME SPENT VOLUNTEERING, RWD HAS HELPED A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY-WIDE EVENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS WITH FINANCIAL SUPPORT. RWD HAS ALSO PROVIDED SMALL HONORARIUMS/DONATIONS TO A NUMBER OF GROUPS WHO HAVE PROVIDED SPEAKERS FOR OUR ON-CAMPUS EDUCATION PROGRAMS.EDUCATION IS A VALUE HIGHLY PRIZED BY RWD RESIDENTS. IN FY22, SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS WERE ESTABLISHED FOR RWD STAFF. IN FY25 $25,500 OF SCHOLARSHIPS WERE DISTIBUTED TO 11 EMPLOYEES.C.A.R.E. STANDS FOR CARING, AIDING, AND RESPONDING TO EMPLOYEE'S FINANCIAL NEEDS. THE C.A.R.E. FUND WAS ESTABLISHED BY EMPLOYEES TO ASSIST EMPLOYEES OF RIVERWOODS WHO DEMONSTRATE A FINANCIAL EMERGENCY BEYOND THEIR CONTROL AND PROVIDE THEM WITH LIMITED ASSISTANCE.
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
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 June 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 July 2017.
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.
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