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American River Parkway Foundation Incorporated

EIN 94-2881344 · Carmichael, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 48% of its spending went to programs.

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

What it says it does

Lead and inspire the community to conserve and nurture the American River Parkway as a unique and accessible resource for everyone to enjoy.

Income
$867,715
Spending
$803,614
Spent on programs
48%
Reserves
23.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
10
Volunteers
6,122
Highest pay
$206,732, 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 23.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    48% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    6 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, 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 (8)
  1. $106,333 spent. MILE STEWARD PROGRAM - MILE STEWARDS ADOPT EACH OF THE 23 MILES OF PARKWAY ALONG BOTH BANKS OF THE RIVER TO CLEAN AND CONSERVE THE AMERICAN RIVER PARKWAY. THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF MILE STEWARDS - VOLUNTEER AND FINANCIAL. VOLUNTEER MILE STEWARDS MAKE A TWO-YEAR COMMITTMENT TO SERVE 20 VOLUNTEER HOURS ON THEIR MILE EACH QUARTER CONDUCTING CLEAN-UP, TRAIL MAINTENANCE, AND WEED REMOVAL. FINANCIAL MILE STEWARDS MAKE A TWO-YEAR COMMITTMENT TO CONTRIBUTE $1,500 ANNUALLY TO COVER THE HARD COSTS OF THE VOLUNTEER MILE STEWARDSHIP.
  2. $104,775 spent. CLEAN-UPS - THE REMOVAL OF TRASH AND DEBRIS PREVENTS POLLUTANTS FROM ENTERING THE WATERSHED, HARMING THE WILDLIFE, OR CREATING HAZARDS FOR RECREATIONAL USERS. ADDITIONALLY, KEEPING THE PARKWAY CLEAN PROTECTS OCEAN LIFE BY PREVENTING TRASH FROM BEING WASHED DOWNSTREAM DURING THE WINTER RAINS. EACH YEAR THE FOUNDATION FACILITATES TWO LARGE-SCALE, PARKWAY-WIDE CLEAN-UPS AND MONTHLY, SITE-SPECIFIC CLEAN-UPS.
  3. $54,119 spent. INVASIVE PLANT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM - REMOVAL OF INVASIVE PLANTS AND WEEDS OVER THE 23 MILES OF THE AMERICAN RIVER PARKWAY. WITH OVER 40 SPECIES OF FISH, HUNDREDS OF PLANT SPECIES, AND 220 SPECIES OF MAMMALS, THE AMERICAN RIVER PARKWAY IS AN IMPORTANT NATURAL OASIS IN THE GROWING METROPOLITAN AREA, AND ONE OF THE THREATS FACING THE PARKWAY IS INVASIVE, NON-NATIVE PLANS THAT CAUSE HARM TO THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT.
  4. $51,022 spent. RIVER BEND OUTDOOR EDUCATION SITE - MANAGING ON-GOING MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RIVER BEND SITE WHICH PROVIDES SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM) EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO STUDENTS.
  5. $45,843 spent. TRAIL MAINTENANCE PROGRAM - MAINTENACE OF THE MULTI-USE DIRT TRAIL THAT RUNS THE LENGTH OF THE 23-MILE AMERICAN RIVER PARKWAY AND IS USED BY EQUESTRIANS, HIKERS, AND RUNNERS. ANNUALL MAINTENANCE INVOLVES MOWING GRASS AND NOXIOUS WEEDS, CLEARING BACK ENCROACHING BRUSH, REPLACING VANDALIZED SIGNAGE, AND REMOVING DOWNED TREES.
  6. $14,290 spent. PUPS IN THE PARK PROGRAM - SPONSORED BY DONORS AND MANAGED BY THE AMERICAN RIVER FOUNDATION, THE PUPS IN THE PARK PROGRAM PROVIDES MUTT MITTS AT SEVENTEEN STATIONS ON THE AMERICAN RIVER PARKWAY. THE PROGRAM IS ESSENTIAL TO ENCOURAGE POSITIVE DOG OWNER BEHAVIOR AS WELL AS ENSURE THE WATERWAYS ARE CLEAN AND FREE OF WASTE.
  7. $7,089 spent. NATIVE PLANT GARDEN - LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE AMERICAN RIVER PARKWAY FOUNDATION OFFICE (THE "STRENG VOLUNTEER CENTER"), OUR NATIVE PLANT DEMONSTRATION GARDEN WAS TRANSFORMED IN 2019. AS THE RESULT OF THE WORK OF HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS, OLD VEGETATION WAS REMOVED, A NEW SPRINKLER SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED, NEW DIRT WAS SPREAD, AND NEW PLANTS WERE PLACED IN 6 ZONES.
  8. $3,764 spent. FIRE SAFE COUNCIL - A COALITION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE MISSION OF WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND CONSERVATION OF THE PARKWAY, ITS INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE SURROUNDING HOMES AND BUSINESSES. THE COUNCIL UPDATES AND IMPLEMENTS THE FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN, INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EFFECTIVE PLAN FOR EACH OF THE PARKWAY'S REGIONAL PARKS.

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

  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 October 13, 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 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 January 1984.

    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 October 21, 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.