Truckee River Watershed Council
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE TRUCKEE RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL WAS FOUNDED TO IMPLEMENT LOCALLY DEVELOPED PUBLIC-PRIVATE COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES FOR THE SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC HEALTH OF THE TRUCKEE RIVER WATERSHED.
- Income
- $6.3 million
- Spending
- $5.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 1.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 54%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 400
- Highest pay
- $161,897, executive dir.
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
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 53% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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
7 of 7Has a 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 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)
- $3.7 million spent. Restoration - This year, significant restoration projects continued across the watershed. Large-scale efforts included Euer Valley, Coldstream Instream, Hoke Lower Meadow, and Lacey Lower Meadow, among others.
- $1.5 million spent. Planning - Throughout 2025 we continued to facilitate collaborative watershed management and planning efforts. Key initiatives included Ground Water Ecosystems, DIPS Stewardship, and the Middle Truckee River Watershed Forest Partnership. We continued to prioritize forest health planning with projects such as Sayles, Boca and Hobart Meadows and Forest projects. These initiatives targeted large-scale planning for fuel reduction and ecosystem resiliency, addressing wildfire risks and promoting biodiversity.
- $29,630 spent. Community Education & Outreach - During 2025 we continued our outreach through project showcases and educational events. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram continued to share progress on restoration efforts. Additionally, in-person site tours like the Euer Valley, McIver Dairy, and Truckee Wetlands Restorations brought greater awareness to our work. We provided outreach education and hands-on experience to over 400 volunteers through opportunities like Truckee River Day and Adopt-A-Stream.
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
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 December 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 June 1998.
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.