American Rivers
American Rivers reported $53.4 million in revenue and $41.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $77.01 went to program services, $9.71 to management and general costs and $13.28 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 98.4% of the total. Government grants made up 40.0%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $440,478 (PRESIDENT). 34 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 221% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $41MFor context, the median across 371 covered environment charities: $85.82 programs, $10.80 management, $3.38 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $53MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 77.0% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.7% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 13.3% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.10 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 98.4% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 40.0% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 1.0% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $440,478 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.06% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 34 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 9.4 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 25 of 25 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseNo description in Part III; see the filing.
Mobilize river and water movement: American Rivers has always been known for our willingness and ability to work with everyone, from local partners to government agencies to decision-makers, to do what's best for rivers. We know that the challenges to rivers are increasing dramatically. We need a broad, powerful, non-partisan river movement to face these challenges and drive change that makes rivers healthier, water cleaner, and communities safer. We won't stop until every river has multitudes of champions speaking up for it
Protect healthy rivers: scientists say we must protect one-half of the planet to sustain the web of biodiversity upon which all life depends. By driving federal and state protections, we will safeguard 1 million miles of rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways. To do it, we are working with local partners to protect our healthiest, most remote, and scenic rivers, as well as rivers in urban and suburban areas, through the federal wild and scenic legislation and other approaches
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $387,622 | $0 | $52,856 | $440,478 |
| CFO (THRU 3/14/25) Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $233,263 | $0 | $22,872 | $256,135 |
| SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, ADV Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $231,725 | $0 | $14,427 | $246,152 |
| ASSISTANT SECRETARY Officer, 37.00 hrs/week | $186,499 | $0 | $54,884 | $241,383 |
| SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Key employee, 38.00 hrs/week | $216,565 | $0 | $11,612 | $228,177 |
| VP, CONSERVATION STRATEGIES Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $179,026 | $0 | $46,449 | $225,475 |
| VP, COMMUNICATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $150,251 | $0 | $43,992 | $194,243 |
| VP, PPL JUSTICE & CULTURAL (THRU 1/15/25) Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $179,672 | $0 | $6,396 | $186,068 |
34 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from American Rivers (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.6M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b25 · 25 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5131
- Volunteers Part I, line 625
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| HANFORD APPLIED RESTORATION AND CONSERVA Landscape restoration | $6,712,103 |
| GEOTECHNICAL RESOURCES INC Landscape restoration | $1,720,674 |
| SUMCO ECO CONTRACTING LLC Landscape restoration | $1,040,583 |
| CLARK SCHAEFER HACKETT AND CO Grants management, process discovery, an | $657,006 |
| ECOTONE LLC Landscape restoration | $587,349 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 17 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
130 private foundations reported grants to American Rivers totaling $5.3M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from American Rivers's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for American Rivers, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 American Rivers spent in FY2025, $77.01 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Iowa Natural Heritage FoundationDes Moines, IA · revenue $53M · programs 96.2% · FY2025
- Redwood Forest FoundationFort Bragg, CA · revenue $54M · programs 88.6% · 2024
- Pelican Coast ConservancyMobile, AL · revenue $53M · programs 99.0% · FY2025
- National Wild Turkey FederationEdgefield, SC · revenue $54M · programs 84.3% · FY2025
- Denver Botanic GardensDenver, CO · revenue $52M · programs 88.6% · 2025
All environment charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of American Rivers's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, American Rivers reported that 77.0% of its $41.4 million in expenses went to program services, 9.7% to management and general and 13.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does American Rivers pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation American Rivers reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $440,478, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does American Rivers get its money?
Of $53.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 98.4% came from contributions and grants (including 40.0% from government grants) and 1.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is American Rivers a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 23-7305963 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202610909349301811 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024 (amended), object 202620269349301652 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202430389349300608 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202310379349300906 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202230199349300408 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202120199349300107 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 23-7305963: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.