Riverwood Nature Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
RIVERWOOD NATURE CENTER PLANS TO OWN, MAINTAIN, PRESERVE, AND PROTECT THE PROPERTY CONSISTING OF PRIME UPLAND AND AQUATIC WILDLIFE HABITAT AS AN INTERPRETIVE NATURE CENTER AND PRESERVE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. AVAILABLE ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE WALKING TRAILS, CROSS COUNTRY SKIING, FISHING, PERMITTED HUNTING, WILDLIFE OBSERVATION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND OUTDOOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMING.
- Income
- $223,054
- Spending
- $183,926
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- -34.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 48%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $18,862, 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
Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 29% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 65% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (1)
- $155,905 spent. MAINTAIN, PRESERVE, AND PROTECT PRIME UPLAND AND AQUATIC WILDLIFE HABITAT AS AN INTERPRETIVE NATURE CENTER AND PRESERVE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. AVAILABLE ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE WALKING TRAILS, CROSS COUNTRY SKIING, FISHING, PERMITTED HUNTING, WILDLIFE OBSERVATION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND OUTDOOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMING.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2020.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.