Friends of the River Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FRIENDS OF THE RIVER PROTECTS AND RESTORES THE RIVERS OF CALIFORNIA BY INFLUENCING PUBLIC POLICY AND INSPIRING CITIZEN ACTION. WE WORK TO RESTORE RIVER FLOWS, REDUCE ADVERSE IMPACTS OF HYDROPOWER, PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE WATER AND FLOOD MANAGEMENT, UPHOLD LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR RIVERS, AND BUILD PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN RIVER CONSERVATION. FOR HAS BEEN PROTECTING CALIFORNIA RIVERS FOR OVER 50 YEARS. FOR IS A LEADER IN OPPOSING THE MOST DAMAGING WATER PROJECTS IN CALIFORNIA, ESPECIALLY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE DROUGHT AND FLOOD RISKS POSED BY ACCELERATING CLIMATE CHANGE.
- Income
- $895,752
- Spending
- $784,569
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 10.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 86%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 25
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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 98% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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.
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, 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 (1)
- $606,984 spent. RESTORING FLOWS TO CALIFORNIA RIVERS.FRIENDS OF THE RIVER WORKED TO RETURN WATER TO DRY AND DEPLETED RIVERS. FOR LED EFFORTS TO RESTORE FLOWS AND FISHERIES IN THE DEWATERED SECTIONS OF THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER. FOR OPPOSED THE HARMFUL DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT, ENGAGED IN PROTESTING THE WATER RIGHTS, AND PARTICIPATED IN EXTENSIVE PUBLIC PLANNING AND DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES TO LIMIT HARMFUL IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT. FOR REPRESENTED ENVIRONMENTAL INTERESTS FOR THE AMERICAN RIVER THROUGH THE SACRAMENTO WATER FORUM WHICH WILL RESULT IN A HISTORIC WATER FORUM 2050 AGREEMENT. FOR LED EFFORTS TO RESTORE RIVER CONNECTIVITY IN THE MERCED WATERSHED AND ENSURE THE LOWER MERCED RIVER DOES NOT RUN DRY AGAIN. FOR PARTNERED WITH OVER 50 LOCAL AND REGIONAL GROUPS AND TRIBES WORKING TO RESTORE RIVERS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA, INCLUDING THREATS TO THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY DELTA ESTUARY, REWATERING THE KERN RIVER, RESTORING THE STANISLAUS, TUOLUMNE, MERCED, SAN JOAQUIN, ENSURING FLOWS ON THE AMERICAN, SACRAMENTO, AND YUBA RIVERS.PROTECTING RIVERS FROM WASTEFUL AND DESTRUCTIVE DAMS AND RESERVOIRS.FRIENDS OF THE RIVER MONITORED WATER POLICY FOR OVER 100 DAMS AND RESERVOIRS, ENGAGED IN PUBLIC PROCESSES FOR FUNDING, PERMITTING, WATER RIGHTS, OR ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE, TO IDENTIFY AND OPPOSE HARMFUL AND COSTLY IMPACTS FOR OVER 40 PROJECTS. OUR WORK FOCUSED ON PROJECTS SUCH AS THE PROPOSED SITES RESERVOIR, SHASTA DAM RAISE, DEL PUERTO RESERVOIR, AND PACHECO RESERVOIR, FOR LEADS A MULTI-STAKEHOLDER COALITION OF OVER 200 LEADERS IN CALIFORNIA WATER POLICY THAT TRACKS, SHARES INFORMATION, AND ORGANIZES JOINT ACTION ON SURFACE WATER RESERVOIR PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. FOR ANALYZED THE ENDANGERED SPECIES PERMITS FOR EXISTING RESERVOIRS IN THE FEDERAL CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT AND STATE WATER PROJECT, AND ENGAGED WITH DECISION-MAKERS TO IMPROVE COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS.PROMOTING LOW IMPACT HYDROPOWER.HYDROPOWER AND PUMPED STORAGE PROJECTS CAN HAVE A TREMENDOUS NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL, RECREATION, AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS ON RIVERS. HYDROPOWER DAM PROJECTS ARE RELICENSED ONCE A GENERATION, EVERY 30 TO 50 YEARS. FOR WORKED TO BALANCE THE NEEDS OF HYDROPOWER GENERATION WITH ENVIRONMENTAL, FISH PASSAGE, AND RECREATIONAL NEEDS. FOR SUPPORTED CLEAN WATER ACT SECTION 401 COMPLIANCE FOR RELICENSING DAMS ON THE YUBA AND TUOLUMNE RIVERS. FRIENDS OF THE RIVER PROVIDED LEADERSHIP ON OROVILLE DAM OPERATIONS AND FLOOD SAFETY ON THE FEATHER RIVER, AND FOCUSED EFFORTS ON AMERICAN RIVER LICENSE IMPLEMENTATION, RELICENSING FOR HYDROPOWER DAMS ON THE TUOLUMNE, YUBA, STANISLAUS, AND KERN RIVERS, AS WELL ADDRESSING THE RISKS OF PROPOSED PUMPED STORAGE PROJECTS ON THE MOKELUMNE AND OTHER RIVERS. BUILDING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR RIVERS.FRIENDS OF THE RIVER INSPIRES, BUILDS AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR RIVER PROTECTION THROUGH EDUCATION, COMMUNICATION AND OUTDOOR PROGRAMS, PRODUCING MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS, SOCIAL MEDIA AND PRODIGIOUS DATA AND INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE. FOR HOSTED 7 RIVER TRIPS FOR OVER 100 PEOPLE TO SUPPORT NATIVE TRIBES IN RECONNECTING TO THEIR ANCESTRAL WATERS, AND INSPIRE AND EDUCATE DECISION-MAKERS, INFLUENCERS, AND OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN CONNECTING TO THE RIVERS WE ARE ALL WORKING TO SAVE.
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
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 2024.
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 May 1977.
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.
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