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Western Rivers Conservancy

EIN 93-1326405 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

WESTERN RIVERS CONSERVANCY'S MISSION IS TO PROTECT OUTSTANDING RIVER ECOSYSTEMS IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.WE ACQUIRE LAND TO CONSERVE CRITICAL HABITAT, PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCESS FOR COMPATIBLE USE AND ENJOYMENT, AND COOPERATE WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES TO SECURE THE HEALTH OF WHOLE RIVER ECOSYSTEMS.

Income
$11.4 million
Spending
$11.1 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
-5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
24
Volunteers
29
Highest pay
$288,491, president

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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 55% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 13 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (1)
  1. $9.1 million spent. WESTERN RIVERS CONSERVANCY (WRC) IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION THAT FOCUSES SOLELY ON PROTECTING OUTSTANDING RIVERS AND STREAMS ACROSS THE WEST THROUGH LAND ACQUISITION. BY PURCHASING RIVERLANDS WITH HIGH CONSERVATION VALUES, WRC CREATES SANCTUARIES FOR IMPERILED FISH AND WILDLIFE, BUFFERING THE IMPACTS OF WATER USE, LOGGING, MINING AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT. WRC'S PROJECTS IMPROVE HABITAT CONNECTIVITY IN SOME OF THE WEST'S MOST BIOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT REGIONS. OUR PROJECTS ALSO ENHANCE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE BY OPENING ACCESS TO EXTENSIVE REACHES OF OUR MOST TREASURED WESTERN STREAMS. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O. FOUNDED IN 1988 AND INCORPORATED AS AN INDEPENDENT 501(C)(3) IN 2001, WRC USES A MARKET-BASED APPROACH OF BUYING RIVERLANDS FROM CORPORATE AND INDIVIDUAL WILLING SELLERS. WE BRING TO BEAR CREATIVE REAL ESTATE TECHNIQUES AND UNIQUE APPROACHES TO CONSERVATION FINANCE AND GET MAXIMUM LEVERAGE FROM PRIVATE CAPITAL AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. WRC IS HEADQUARTERED IN PORTLAND, OREGON, HAS TWENTY-THREE STAFF MEMBERS AND IS GOVERNED BY A THIRTEEN-MEMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS. WE WORK ACROSS THE ELEVEN WESTERN STATES TO ENSURE A FUTURE OF HEALTHY RIVERS, WHERE FISH AND WILDLIFE CAN THRIVE AND PEOPLE CAN ENJOY THE BENEFITS AND BEAUTY OF CLEAN, FUNCTIONING STREAMS.IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, WRC HAD 32 ACTIVE PROJECTS IN EIGHT STATES. WRC PERMANENTLY PROTECTED 2,551 ACRES OF LAND ALONG 11 OF THE FINEST RIVERS AND STREAMS IN OREGON, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, IDAHO AND MONTANA. IN ADDITION, WRC PURCHASED 3,059 ACRES ALONG 10 WESTERN RIVERS AND STREAMS. WRC HELD AN ADDITIONAL 9,372 ACRES ALONG 17 RIVERS AND STREAMS AND WORKED TO PLACE THESE LANDS INTO PERMANENT PROTECTIVE STEWARDSHIP. AT THE END OF FY25, WRC HAD AGREEMENTS IN PLACE TO CONSERVE 59,631 ACRES OF LAND IN FUTURE YEARS.

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

  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 September 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 February 2002.

    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.