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Friends of Bass River Inc

EIN 88-1972334 · Yarmouth Port, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceWeak48 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION, THROUGH ACTIVE MONITORING, COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL, STATE & FEDERAL ENTITIES, AND DIRECT RESTORATION MANAGEMENT, IS TO HELP PRESERVE AND PROTECT BASS RIVERS DELICATE ECOSYSTEM.

Income
$468,744
Spending
$386,176
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
8.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 55%
Employees
1
Volunteers
15

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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, 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)
  1. $100,027 spent. COLLABORATE: THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE TOWNS OF YARMOUTH AND DENNIS, THE YARMOUTH WATER RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND THE FORMER DHY PARTNERSHIP WE ARE MOVING THE NEEDLE ON A COMPREHENSIVE WASTEWATER PLAN THAT IS CRITICAL TO THE HEALTH OF THE RIVER.
  2. $222,433 spent. RESTORE: THE UPPER BASS RIVER RESTORATION PROJECT WILL TRANSFORM OVER 57 ACRES OF ABANDONED CRANBERRY BOGS BACK TO WETLANDS. CULVERT REPLACEMENT AND RESTORATION ENGINEERING WILL CREATE AN IMPROVED HABITAT AND ACCESS FOR ANADROMOUS SPECIES, IMPROVE COASTAL RESILIENCY, AND CREATE A SIGNIFICANT CARBON SINK TO CONTROL NITROGEN LOADING IN THIS HEAVILY POPULATED AREA.
  3. $20,419 spent. EDUCATE: FRIENDS OF BASS RIVER WORKS TO EDUCATE ALL AGES ABOUT TOPICS PERTINENT TO THE HEALTH OF THE RIVER - FROM EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE DY SCHOOL SYSTEM TO OUR SEASONAL WATER TESTING PROGRAM WITH THE STONEHILL COLLEGE ECOLOGY DEPARTMENT. WE WORK TO EDUCATE OUR SUPPORTERS VIA DOWN-TO-EARTH ARTICLES ABOUT ESTUARY-RELATED SCIENCE IN OUR NEWSLETTERS & VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.

    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 July 2022.

    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.