Skutik River Restoration Trust
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Skutik Trust works to restore the health of the Skutik River and its watershed working in cooperation with the Passamaquoddy Tribe, its members and all people who benefit from a restored and vital watershed.
- Income
- $149,102
- Spending
- $69,740
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 12.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 4
- Highest pay
- $54,282, executive director
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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.3 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 78% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 53% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6296% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
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, 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 (1)
- $55,608 spent. Skutik Trust monitored progress and consistently engaged with public and private entities including organizations, individuals, businesses and tribal, state, regional and governmental entities to ensure successful sea-run fish passage in the Skutik River watershed. Skutik Trust contributed extensive river and sea-run fish restoration expertise to help ensure the success of projects currently being planned or implemented at dams on the lower Skutik River to ensure sea-run fish effectively pass dam barriers to successfully migrate to and from historic habitat.Stukik Trust advocates for effective monitoring of fish passage projects in process to ensure they provide safe, timely and effective passage of all native fish throughout the watershed for the benefit of the Passamaquoddy tribe and all people throughout the watershed. On-going research and discussion with governmental and non-governmental partners concerning existing and planned monitoring efforts on the Skutik River, including international, state, tribal and academic efforts as foundation for a collaborative monitoring approach for the river. Working closely with partners including the Passamaquoddy Tribe, we continued to assessed restoration opportunities watershed wide. We also continued to monitor and participate in licensing proceedings and other public venues impacting dam management. We worked on strategic plan development to maximize positive impacts of Skutik River restoration to benefit the Passamaquoddy Tribe and all people of the watershed.Outreach: Skutik Trust engaged with hundreds of citizens, groups and leaders throughout and beyond the watershed to raise awareness and collaborate on Skutik River restoration. We secured resources to advance our web site for release in 2026, and identified and developed materials for use across electronic and print platforms.We worked with partners to organize events to foster awareness of Skutik River restoration with broad audiences, including planning a first-time event showcasing how art and artists can support Skutik River watershed restoration. We connected with people from throughout the watershed at Passamaquoddy Days, an annual multi-day event held each August since the 1970s by the Passamaquoddy Tribe for the entire community and attended by hundreds of people. We shared information and, to guide our work, listened to community members' input on Skutik River restoration efforts and on the cultural, economic, ecological and other benefits of a restored Skutik River. We also helped organize and participated in a long-distance run highlighting the upstream migration of alewives to promote support for Skutik restoration. We engaged with people watershed-wide and beyond through presentations and discussions with organizations, citizens, funders, community groups and others to build long-term support and collaboration to restore the Skutik River.
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 January 2025.
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.