River Heritage Conservancy
River Heritage Conservancy reported $16.7 million in revenue and $3.1 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $70.34 went to program services, $18.37 to management and general costs and $11.29 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 96.6% of the total. Government grants made up 90.0%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $290,108 (CEO). 3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 1845% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $3.1MFor context, the median across 237 covered recreation & sports charities: $88.05 programs, $10.89 management, $1.06 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $17MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 70.3% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 18.4% | 10.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 11.3% | 1.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.02 | $0.05 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 96.6% | 25.2% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 90.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 61.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $290,108 | $365,322 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 9.23% | 2.14% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 181.2 | 14.9 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 12 of 12 | 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseFounded in 2016, River Heritage Conservancy, inc. (the organization) is an indiana based nonprofit corporation formed to create, improve, and sustain exceptional parks with natural and historic resources unique to the falls of the ohio area, advancing the region's quality of life and environment through public/private partnerships. Origin park is the centerpiece project for this initiative, for which the organization has acquired development control of 340 acres of the planned 430 acre park and produced a master plan.the organization's primary source of support has been provided by the local…
The organization continued development of wildwater at origin park, the facility originally referred to as an "outdoor adventure park" in the organization's 1023. The purpose of wildwater at origin park is providing an inland whitewater recreational experience with kayaking, rock climbing, ziplining and water safety integrated within the larger park structure. Wildwater at origin park is intended to pay honor to our region's historical vantage point at the nearby falls of the ohio river with all excess revenue proceeds from its operations to be used for maintenance of the facility, education…
Highest reported compensation
2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $241,500 | $0 | $48,608 | $290,108 |
| DIRECTOR OF PARK OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $134,550 | $0 | $37,542 | $172,092 |
| DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $124,200 | $0 | $23,095 | $147,295 |
3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from River Heritage Conservancy (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $290K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · 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–1b12 · 12 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 15aNo
- 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 511
- Volunteers Part I, line 612
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| DEAN BUILDS INC Construction contractor | $10,824,015 |
| CALIBRE ENGINEERING INC Engineering services | $1,075,548 |
| CONSTRUCTION SOLUTIONS SALES AND SERVI Construction services | $674,186 |
| SME Environmental engineers | $616,768 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 16 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
4 private foundations reported grants to River Heritage Conservancy totaling $1.7M 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 River Heritage Conservancy's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for River Heritage Conservancy, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 River Heritage Conservancy spent in 2025, $70.34 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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All recreation & sports charities · Largest charities in Indiana
Questions people ask
How much of River Heritage Conservancy's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, River Heritage Conservancy reported that 70.3% of its $3.1 million in expenses went to program services, 18.4% to management and general and 11.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does River Heritage Conservancy pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation River Heritage Conservancy reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $290,108, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does River Heritage Conservancy get its money?
Of $16.7 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 96.6% came from contributions and grants (including 90.0% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is River Heritage Conservancy a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 81-4538349 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, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202602549349301760 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202502169349301345 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202413209349322556 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202303319349301055 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202233199349317578 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202113149349306106 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202031899349300228 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 81-4538349: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.