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Willamette Riverkeeper

EIN 93-1212629 · Eugene, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WILLAMETTE RIVERKEEPER'S GUIDING PRINCIPLE IS: "WE BELIEVE A RIVER WITH EXCELLENT WATER QUALITY, ABUNDANT NATURAL HABITAT, SAFE FOR FISHING AND RECREATION IS A BASIC PUBLIC RIGHT." FOR 27 YEARS, WILLAMETTE RIVERKEEPER (WRK) HAS ACTED AS THE EYES, EARS, AND VOICE OF THE WILLAMETTE RIVER BY ADVOCATING, EDUCATING, INVESTIGATING, RESTORING, AND MOBILIZING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE WATERSHED. IN 2024, WRK EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS, INCLUDING THE DEPARTURE OF ITS LONG-SERVING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF 24 YEARS, TRAVIS WILLIAMS AND THE PASSING OF LONG-TIME BOARD MEMBER AND FRIEND BOB SALLENGER. DESPITE THESE CHALLENGES, WRK STAFF, BOARD, AND PARTNERS DEMONSTRATED RESILIENCE AND UNITY, MAINTAINING FOCUS ON OUR MISSION TO PROTECT AND RESTORE THE WILLAMETTE RIVER.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$913,553
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 48%
Employees
8
Volunteers
326
Highest pay
$89,252, executive director

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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, 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 (4)
  1. $417,948 spent. RESTORATION:IN 2024, WILLAMETTE RIVERKEEPER (WRK) MANAGED 19 ACTIVE RESTORATION GRANTS AND PARTNER FUNDING CONTRACTS ACROSS THE WILLAMETTE BASIN, ADVANCING AQUATIC AND RIPARIAN HABITAT RECOVERY WHILE ENGAGING COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION, VOLUNTEERISM, AND COLLABORATIVE SCIENCE.KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:- GAIL ACHTERMAN WILDLIFE AREA - COMPLETED PHASES 1 & 2: SITE PREPARATION, PLANTING, INTERPLANTING, AND PLANT ESTABLISHMENT.- WILLAMETTE MISSION STATE PARK - COMPLETED PHASES 4 & 5: EXPANDED SITE PREPARATION, PLANTING, INVASIVE SPECIES TREATMENT (ESPECIALLY IN MISSION LAKE), AND RIPARIAN EDGE RESTORATION.- AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES (AIS) PROGRAM - SIXTH YEAR OF OREGON STATE WEED BOARD GRANTS,INTENSIFYING SURVEY AND EARLY-RESPONSE EFFORTS FOR LUDWIGIA AND OTHER PRIORITY SPECIES.- SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT - IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RIVERBEND MATERIALS, IMPLEMENTED TWO PADDLE & PULL EVENTS AND LUDWIGIA TREATMENTS AT WILLAMETTE SLOUGH UNDER A $10,000 AGREEMENT.- PRIVATE LANDOWNER ENGAGEMENT - INAUGURATED A PRIVATE-FUNDED AIS TREATMENT VIA THE COURTNEY FAMILY, REPRESENTING A GROWING MODEL OF CO-INVESTMENT IN RIVER HEALTH. COLLECTIVELY, WRK LEVERAGED $423,484 IN OWEB FUNDING, PLUS $107,000 IN MATCHING FUNDS, YIELDING A TOTAL $530,514 INVESTMENT IN WATERSHED RESTORATION. WRK WAS HONORED WITH THE OUTSTANDING PARTNER IN CONSERVATION AWARD (YAMHILL SWCD) AND THE OREGON NOXIOUS WEED AWARD (OREGON DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE).VOLUNTEER AND OUTREACH ENGAGEMENTEDUCATION AND OUTREACH REMAINED CENTRAL TO WRK'S RESTORATION WORK, PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES (AIS) THROUGH DIRECT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING.VOLUNTEER PARTICIPATION: 78 VOLUNTEERS AND 27 COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS CONTRIBUTED TO AIS REMOVAL AND PLANTING EVENTS.- PADDLE & PULL (BENTON SWCD): 2 EVENTS / 28 VOLUNTEERS- PADDLE & PULL (CITY OF SALEM + ELDERBERRY WISDOM FARM): 2 EVENTS / 32 VOLUNTEERS- MISSION LAKE WAPATO PLANTING DAY: 18 VOLUNTEERS- AIS COMMUNITY OUTREACH TABLING DAY: 27 PARTICIPANTSWRK PRESENTED AT MAJOR PROFESSIONAL GATHERINGS, INCLUDING "LET'S PULL TOGETHER" (PORTLAND), THE MISSOULA AIS SHORT COURSE (MT), WAIN STRATEGIES (JACKSON & JOSEPHINE COUNTIES), AND THE OREGON INTERAGENCY NOXIOUS WEED SYMPOSIUM (CORVALLIS) - REACHING 50 TO 200 ATTENDEES PER EVENT AND EXPANDING REGIONAL COORDINATION ON AIS CONTROL.AQUATIC HABITAT RESTORATIONTHROUGH AGGRESSIVE AIS MANAGEMENT - PARTICULARLY TARGETING LUDWIGIA - WRK REOPENED SLOUGHS, RESTORED FLOW CONNECTIVITY, AND SUPPORTED THE RESURGENCE OF NATIVE AQUATIC VEGETATION SUCH AS WAPATO.KEY STATS: - AQUATIC WEEDS REMOVED BY HAND: 80 BAGS (33-GALLON) - TOTAL LUDWIGIA AREA TREATED: 169.5 ACRES - OXBOW SLOUGH - 45 ACRES - WINDSOR SLOUGH - 85 ACRES - GAIL ACHTERMAN WILDLIFE AREA - 13.2 ACRES - WILLAMETTE SLOUGH - 6.7 ACRES - ELDRIDGE BAR - ~7.4 ACRES - BLACK DOG LANDING - 12.1 ACRES - PRIVATE LANDOWNERS - 0.1 ACRESEARLY DETECTION & RAPID RESPONSE (EDRR)UNDER THE OREGON STATE WEED BOARD, YAMHILL SWCD, AND BENTON SWCD GRANTS, WRK SURVEYED AND TREATED 37 GROSS ACRES ACROSS 128 RIVER MILES OF MAINSTEM HABITAT TO DETECT AND SUPPRESS NEWLY EMERGING A-LISTED INVASIVE SPECIES. - MAINSTEM COVERAGE: 76.5 RIVER MILES (OSWB GRANT) - SUPPLEMENTAL COVERAGE: 51.5 RIVER MILES (YSWCD + BSWCD GRANTS)TERRESTRIAL HABITAT RESTORATIONWRK ADVANCED RIPARIAN RESTORATION AT TWO KEY WILLAMETTE BASIN SITES:- GAIL ACHTERMAN WILDLIFE AREA - 52 ACRES RESTORED; 26,067 NATIVE BAREROOT PLANTS INSTALLED.- WILLAMETTE MISSION STATE PARK - 65 ACRES RESTORED; 39,500 NATIVE BAREROOT PLANTS INSTALLED.TOGETHER, THESE EFFORTS CONTRIBUTED TO REOPENING CRITICAL AQUATIC CHANNELS, RE-ESTABLISHING NATIVE PLANT COMMUNITIES, AND IMPROVING LONG-TERM ECOSYSTEM RESILIENCE THROUGHOUT THE BASIN.
  2. $216,756 spent. RIVER CLEANUPS:IN 2024, WRK COORDINATED 39 RIVER CLEANUPS VIA THE RIVER GUARDIANS PROGRAM, INVOLVING 538 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTING 1,678 SERVICE HOURS - VALUED AT APPROXIMATELY $58,377. VOLUNTEERS REMOVED 164 CUBIC YARDS OF GARBAGE (~65,600 LBS, OR 32.8 TONS), AND ENSURED PROPER DISPOSAL OF HYPODERMIC WASTE AND OTHER HAZARDOUS DEBRIS.
  3. $85,393 spent. RECREATION & SPECIAL EVENTS:WRK FOSTERS PUBLIC CONNECTION TO THE RIVER VIA RECREATION, CULTURAL PROGRAMMING, AND RIVER EDUCATION:- WILLAMETTE RIVER FESTIVAL 2024 - IN EUGENE, WRK PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF EUGENE AND OREGON PADDLE SPORTS TO HOST A FESTIVAL BLENDING PADDLING RACES, INDIGENOUS CULTURAL PERFORMANCES, EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS, AND WATERSHED STORYTELLING.- PINOT PADDLE 2024 - ATTRACTED 127 PARTICIPANTS (AND 17 VOLUNTEERS) FOR A SCENIC PADDLING TOUR PAIRED WITH LOCAL FOOD AND WINE, ENRICHED BY HABITAT INTERPRETATION STOPS.- WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL - HELD IN PORTLAND, THE FESTIVAL SERVED AS BOTH FUNDRAISER AND PUBLIC EDUCATION EVENT.- RIVER DISCOVERY EVENTS - TWO COMMUNITY CANOE TRIPS (IN SALEM AND PORTLAND) INTRODUCED NEW PARTICIPANTS TO THE WILLAMETTE'S ECOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL NARRATIVES.- MUSSEL SURVEYS - CONTINUED BASIN-WIDE FRESHWATER MUSSEL MONITORING, WITH A FULL REPORT AND STORY MAP EXPECTED IN 2025.
  4. $3,226 spent. LEGAL & LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY:WRK CONTINUED ROBUST POLICY AND LEGAL ENGAGEMENT IN 2024 TO PROTECT RIVER HEALTH AND PUBLIC ACCESS:- LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY - SUPPORTED FUNDING FOR THE OREGON INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL; DEFENDED RECREATIONAL IMMUNITY PROPOSALS; OPPOSED ROLLBACK OF WAKE RESTRICTIONS IN THE NEWBERG POOL.- LITIGATION & LEGAL ACTIONS - CONTINUED LITIGATION AGAINST FEMA, FILED NOTICE TO SUE ODFW FOR CLEAN WATER ACT VIOLATIONS AT THE LEABURG HATCHERY, AND ENGAGED IN THE J-S RANCH CAFO CASE LEADING TO PROTECTIVE LOCAL ORDINANCES. MAINTAINED FOIA LITIGATION WITH THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND NEGOTIATED BLM WITHDRAWAL OF THE BIG LEAGUE TIMBER PROJECT. - EMERGING ISSUES - ADDRESSED 6PPD-Q RUNOFF TOXICITY IMPACTS AND OPPOSED ZENITH ENERGY'S OPERATIONS IN PORTLAND HARBOR.WRK'S CONSTITUENT MOBILIZATION RESULTED IN HUNDREDS OF PUBLIC COMMENTS INFLUENCING STATEWIDE POLICY DECISIONS. WRK ALSO PARTICIPATED ON TWO STATE RULEMAKING ADVISORY COMMITTES, REPRESENTING ENVIRONMENTAL AND RIVER HEALTH INTERESTS.

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

  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 2024.

    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 June 1997.

    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.