Amigos Bravos Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Amigos Bravos is a river protection and restoration advocacy organization guided by social justice principles, and working to preserve the ecological and cultural integrity of the Rio Grande watershed. The work is accomplished through public outreach and education, technical and capacity-building support, and on-the-ground restoration initiatives.The mission of Amigos Bravos is:To return New Mexicos rivers and the Rio Grande watershed to drinkable quality wherever possible, and to contact quality everywhere elseTo see that natural flows are maintained and where those flows have been disrupted by human intervention, to see that they are regulated to protect and reclaim the river ecosystem by approximating natural flowsTo preserve and restore the native riparian and riverine biodiversityTo support the environmentally-sound, sustainable traditional ways of life of indigenous culturesTo ensure that environmental justice and social justice go hand-in-hand
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 35.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 68%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $102,447, exec director
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
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 35.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 59% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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
Strong: 93 out of 100.
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
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 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 (3)
- $860,677 spent. Restoring watershed health: Healthy watersheds are critical to the health and wellbeing of all New Mexicans people, plants, and animals. Amigos Bravos works with volunteers and community organizations to restore the natural hydrology and resiliency of wetlands, forests, high mountain meadows and aquatic ecosystems. Amigos Bravos also works to develop proactive policies that counter impacts from climate change-driven drought and large storm events. In addition, Amigos Bravos works to protect special places and restore native aquatic species (including Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout and River Otters) and their habitats.
- $319,314 spent. Build a river protection movement: Through this program area Amigos Bravos is building the capacity of individuals and communities to protect waters in their own backyards by providing technical assistance, workshops and trainings. Moreover, through the arts and activism initiative, Amigos Bravos is creating opportunities to positively influence people's relationship to water.
- $99,826 spent. Holding polluters accountable: Key to protecting New Mexicos waters for future generations is holding polluters and government agencies accountable for stopping water contamination and the cleanup of hazardous waste. Current areas of concern to Amigos Bravos include impacts from the mining industry, Los Alamos National Laboratory, municipal and industrial storm water discharges, concentrated dairy farms, and the oil and gas industry.
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 November 6, 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 October 1989.
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 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.