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Amigos De Los Rios

EIN 84-1628453 · Altadena, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE A REGIONAL EMERALD NECKLACE OF SUSTAINABLE OPEN "MULTI-BENEFIT" NETWORK OF OPEN SPACES ALONG URBAN RIVERS CORRIDORS, PARKS AND SCHOOLS TO CONNECT THE "MOUNTAINS TO THE SEA"-PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH WHILE STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY LIFE AND RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE ARE COMMITTED TO DESIGNING QUALITY PUBLIC ENVIRONMENTS THAT REVITALIZE URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS WITHIN ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COMMUNITIES. WE BELIEVE THAT CREATING PARKS AND TRAILS, GREEN SCHOOL CAMPUSES AND IMPROVING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT IN METRO LOS ANGELES IS THE BEST FORM OF PREVENTIVE HEALTH FOR URBAN RESIDENTS: EQUITABLE ACCESS TO RECREATION IS A KEY FACTOR IN PROTECTING THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

Income
$3.3 million
Spending
$3.3 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 82%
Employees
22
Highest pay
$162,224, president

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

Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 71% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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 (1)
  1. $3.2 million spent. IN 2005, WE OUTLINED A VISION FOR A REGIONAL EMERALD NECKLACE OF MULTI BENEFIT PARKS FOR PARK DEFICIENT AREAS OF EAST LOS ANGELES COUNTY. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING NONSTOP TO REALIZE THIS VISION. WE HAVE FORMED AN ALLIANCE OF PUBLIC AGENCIES, 48 IN NUMBER, KNOWN AS THE EMERALD NECKLACE COALITION. WE CONVENE AND COLLABORATE WITH ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND COMMUNITY SECTORS, AND ACT AS A CATALYST, WE CONTINUALLY WORK TO BRING ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH QUALITY NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO BARREN AND NEGLECTED PUBLIC SPACES INCLUDING PARKS, TRAILS, SCHOOL CAMPUSES AND FLOOD CONTROL CHANNELS. OUR PROJECTS IMPACT MANY COMMUNITIES IN EAST LOS ANGELES COUNTY PROVIDING EDUCATION ON THE RICH NATURAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY OF THE AREA. AT ANY GIVEN TIME WE HAVE MULTIPLE LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION, URBAN GREENING AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS IN PROCESS. CURRENTLY, WE HAVE A MAJOR "EMERALD NECKLACE" MULTI OBJECTIVE GREENWAY IN DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE RIO HONDO AND LOWER LOS ANGELES RIVER AND AT WHITTIER NARROW RECREATION AREA. HIGHLIGHTS OF 2024 INCLUDE WORK ON: 1) WATERSHED DISCOVERY CAMPUSES-LIVING SCHOOL YARD WITHIN THE MONROVIA, PASADENA, EL RANCHO AND OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THESE PROJECTS INCLUDE COMMUNITY-BASED PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF MULTI BENEFIT NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS ON VARIOUS PUBLIC SCHOOL ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUSES FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH, PHYSICAL FITNESS, ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE BENEFITS THEY CONFER TO SCHOOL COMMUNITIES. 2) EMERALD NECKLACE MULTI-BENEFIT PARKS & GREENWAY PROJECTS ON THE RIO HONDO,SAN GABRIEL RIVERS AND AT WHITTIER NARROWS- INCLUDING INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL- HABITAT RESTORATION, URBAN FORESTRY,WAYFINDING AND INTERPRETIVE ELEMENTS. 3) SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS/ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST MULTI CULTURAL WAYFINDING AND INTERPRETIVE ELEMENTS AND RELATED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. 4) EMERALD NECKLACE WEEKLY VOLUNTEER STEWARDSHIP EVENTS WORKING WITH OVER 140 SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. AND LOCAL BUSINESSES TO COMPLETE AND CARE FOR THE EMERALD NECKLACE URBAN GREENING PROJECTS. IN 2005, WE OUTLINED A VISION FOR A REGIONAL EMERALD NECKLACE OF MULTI BENEFIT PARKS FOR PARK DEFICIENT AREAS OF EAST LOS ANGELES COUNTY. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING NONSTOP TO REALIZE THIS VISION. WE HAVE FORMED AN ALLIANCE OF PUBLIC AGENCIES, 48 IN NUMBER, KNOWN AS THE EMERALD NECKLACE COALITION. WE CONVENE AND COLLABORATE WITH ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND COMMUNITY SECTORS, AND ACT AS A CATALYST, WE CONTINUALLY WORK TO BRING ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH QUALITY NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO BARREN AND NEGLECTED PUBLIC SPACES INCLUDING PARKS, TRAILS, SCHOOL CAMPUSES AND FLOOD CONTROL CHANNELS. OUR PROJECTS IMPACT MANY COMMUNITIES IN EAST LOS ANGELES COUNTY PROVIDING EDUCATION ON THE RICH NATURAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY OF THE AREA. AT ANY GIVEN TIME WE HAVE MULTIPLE LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION, URBAN GREENING AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS IN PROCESS. CURRENTLY, WE HAVE A MAJOR "EMERALD NECKLACE" MULTI OBJECTIVE GREENWAY IN DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE RIO HONDO AND LOWER LOS ANGELES RIVER AND AT WHITTIER NARROW RECREATION AREA. HIGHLIGHTS OF 2024 INCLUDE WORK ON: 1) WATERSHED DISCOVERY CAMPUSES-LIVING SCHOOL YARD WITHIN THE MONROVIA, PASADENA, EL RANCHO AND OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THESE PROJECTS INCLUDE COMMUNITY-BASED PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF MULTI BENEFIT NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS ON VARIOUS PUBLIC SCHOOL ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUSES FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH, PHYSICAL FITNESS, ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE BENEFITS THEY CONFER TO SCHOOL COMMUNITIES. 2) EMERALD NECKLACE MULTI-BENEFIT PARKS & GREENWAY PROJECTS ON THE RIO HONDO,SAN GABRIEL RIVERS AND AT WHITTIER NARROWS- INCLUDING INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL- HABITAT RESTORATION, URBAN FORESTRY,WAYFINDING AND INTERPRETIVE ELEMENTS. 3) SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS/ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST MULTI CULTURAL WAYFINDING AND INTERPRETIVE ELEMENTS AND RELATED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. 4) EMERALD NECKLACE WEEKLY VOLUNTEER STEWARDSHIP EVENTS WORKING WITH OVER 140 SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. AND LOCAL BUSINESSES TO COMPLETE AND CARE FOR THE EMERALD NECKLACE URBAN GREENING PROJECTS.

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 May 2004.

    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.