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Friends of the Owyhee

EIN 83-2527575 · Ontario, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FRIENDS OF THE OWYHEE EXISTS TO PROMOTE CONSERVATION ADVOCACY, STEWARDSHIP, AND RECREATION IN THE OWYHEE REGION.

Income
$284,938
Spending
$298,183
Spent on programs
55%
Reserves
10.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
3
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$86,418, executive director

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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    55% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
  1. $114,912 spent. RECREATION CLUB - THE OWYHEE RECREATION CLUB, ESTABLISHED BY FRIENDS OF THE OWYHEE, IS A DYNAMIC INITIATIVE AIMED AT CONNECTING INDIVIDUALS TO THE DIVERSE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE IN THE OWYHEE REGION. THE CLUB ENCOMPASSES A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING HIKING, BACKPACKING, KAYAKING, BIKING, AND MORE. BY ENGAGING WITH THIS CLUB, PARTICIPANTS NOT ONLY EXPERIENCE THE NATURAL BEAUTY AND ADVENTURE THE OWYHEE HAS TO OFFER BUT ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING THE IMPACTS OF RECREATIONAL USE. THIS PROGRAM HELPS IDENTIFY AREAS FOR FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND ENSURES THAT RECREATION ALIGNS WITH CONSERVATION GOALS.
  2. $30,216 spent. CONSERVATION ADVOCACY - FRIENDS FOR THE OWYHEE CONSERVATION ADVOCACY TRIPS ARE THE CORNERSTONE PROGRAM OF FRIENDS OF THE OWYHEE. THESE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES, OFFERED THROUGH BOTH SINGLE- AND MULTI-DAY EXCURSIONS, TAKE PARTICIPANTS INTO THE STUNNING LANDSCAPES OF THE OWYHEE REGION. EACH TRIP COMBINES EXPLORATION OF NATURALIST TOPICS WITH IN-DEPTH DISCUSSIONS ON CONSERVATION NEEDS AND THREATS FACING THE AREA. THE PURPOSE OF THESE TRIPS IS TO DEEPEN PARTICIPANTS' UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE OWYHEE'S ECOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE. BY CONNECTING INDIVIDUALS TO THEIR PUBLIC LANDS, RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT CRITICAL CONSERVATION ISSUES, AND ENGAGING THEM IN ADVOCACY EFFORTS, WE AIM TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE OWYHEE'S NATURAL BEAUTY AND INTEGRITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
  3. $889 spent. STEWARDSHIP - FRIENDS OF THE OWYHEE'S FIRST SATURDAY STEWARDSHIP AND STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO ACTIVELY ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND FOSTER A SENSE OF STEWARDSHIP FOR THE OWYHEE REGION. THE FIRST SATURDAY STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM, HELD ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH, INVITES VOLUNTEERS TO PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING HABITAT RESTORATION, INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL, LITTER CLEAN-UPS, AND PLANTINGS. THE BROADER STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES ONGOING INITIATIVES THAT SUPPORT THE PRESERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF THE OWYHEE'S NATURAL RESOURCES.
  4. $17,939 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS: PROTECT, RESTORE & EXPAND, FRIENDS GRASSROOTS NETWORK, PARTNERS FOR THE NATIONAL CONSERVATION LANDS, AND CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT.

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 November 6, 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 October 2019.

    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 November 4, 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.