River Partners
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
RIVER PARTNERS MISSION IS TO BRING LIFE BACK TO RIVERS BY CREATING WILDLIFE HABITAT FOR THE BENEFIT OF PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT. WE ENVISION INTERCONNECTED, THRIVING FLOODPLAINS THAT SUSTAIN ABUNDANT WILDLIFE, SUPPORT PRODUCTIVE FARMLAND, PRESERVE FRESHWATER RESOURCES.
- Income
- $41.2 million
- Spending
- $26.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- -10.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 54%
- Employees
- 126
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $193,577, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 44% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 June 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)
- $22.6 million spent. PERFORMED RIVER AND FLOODPLAIN-RESTORATION PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION, AND MANAGEMENT PROJECTS WITH STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS SUCH AS THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER, CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE, WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD, U.S. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION, AND U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. INITIATED THE ACQUISITION OF FLOODPLAIN LANDS FOR FUTURE RESTORATION ON HUNDREDS OF ACRES IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, THE CENTRAL VALLEY, AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. RIVER PARTNERS CONTINUED THE ACTIVE RESTORATION OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES STATEWIDE ALONG MAJOR CALIFORNIA WATERWAYS SUCH AS THE SACRAMENTO, FEATHER, SAN JOAQUIN, TUOLUMNE, STANISLAUS, KERN RIVERS. DOZENS OF IMPERILED AND ENDANGERED WILDLIFE SPECIES BENEFITTED FROM OUR WORK, INCLUDING ICONIC SALMON, MIGRATORY AND RESIDENT BIRDS SUCH AS THE LEAST BELL'S VIREO, AND MAMMALS SUCH AS THE RIPARIAN BRUSH RABBIT. NUMEROUS COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE WORKED THIS YEAR BENEFITTED FROM INCREASED JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND RESTORATION FUNDS GOING TO LOCAL ECONOMIES, REDUCED FLOOD RISK, RECHARGED GROUNDWATER, AND INCREASED RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. RIVER PARTNERS ALSO SERVED LOCAL COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA BY PARTICIPATING IN MULTIPLE PUBLIC FORUMS AT SCHOOLS, CONFERENCES, FESTIVALS, AND SIMILAR EVENTS. RIVER PARTNERS' WILLOW BEND PRESERVE ALONG THE SACRAMENTO RIVER IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WILL RESTORE CRITICAL FLOODPLAIN HABITAT AND PROVIDE IMPERILED SALMON ACCESS TO PRIME FOOD SOURCES, HELPING BOOST POPULATIONS OF THIS ICONIC FISH. OUR EFFORTS INCLUDE DESIGNING A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND FISH GATE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AN INCREDIBLE TEAM OF SUPPORTERS, INCLUDING THE NOAA RESTORATION CENTER, IRRIGATION TRAINING AND RESEARCH CENTER AT CAL POLY, SAN LUIS OBISPO, AND UC DAVIS CENTER FOR WATERSHED SCIENCES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 December 1998.
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.