American Rivers INC

Tax-deductible

Washington, DC501(c)(3)Since 1974EnvironmentEIN 23-7305963Revenue $53.4M in FY2025

On file with the IRSamericanrivers.org1101 14th Street Nw1400, 20005-5601 · Washington, DCTax-exempt since Sep 1984Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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American Rivers is championing a national effort to protect and restore all Rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways. Healthy Rivers provide people and nature with clean, abundant water and natural habitat. For 50 years, American Rivers staff, supporters, and partners have shared a common belief: life depends on Rivers. American Rivers is the only national organization dedicated entirely to protecting and restoring the Rivers all life depends on. With a half-century of experience addressing river threats from coast-to-coast, we've protected more Rivers and removed more dams than any other organization. In 2025, we worked in 50 states to protect healthy Rivers, restore damaged ones, and champion a powerful river movement. We removed 108 dams, reconnected over 2,500 river miles, protected 1,165 miles from pollution and development, safeguarded 212,000 acres of riverside land, and supported 148 communities to ensure clean water and safety.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
77¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 25 volunteers and 131 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $3.0M a year · 11% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
77%
of spending
Looks good: 77% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$2.2M
to officers and key staff · 5% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 80% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 5% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.7 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
10
named funders · $203K
Looks good: 10 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$7.7M
19% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 19% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
25
of 25 voting members
Looks good: 25 of 25 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$53.4M
+46% vs prior year
Spent
$41.4M
To programs
77%
Net assets
$32.3M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$53.4M
FY2025▲ +46%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$16.7M
FY2021$19.3M
FY2022$18.6M
FY2023$21.8M
FY2024$36.6M
FY2025$53.4M
Expenses
$41.4M
FY2025▲ +22%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$16.4M
FY2021$19.3M
FY2022$16.3M
FY2023$20.8M
FY2024$34.0M
FY2025$41.4M
Net assets
$32.3M
FY2025▲ +62%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$13.3M
FY2021$13.8M
FY2022$15.6M
FY2023$16.9M
FY2024$20.0M
FY2025$32.3M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Sep 1984.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

77 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 77% · $31.9M Management & general 10% · $4.0M Fundraising 13% · $5.5M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

36 people listed on the 990; $2.2M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
$387,622Pt VII · Sec A
CFO (thru 3/14/25)
$233,263Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Vice President, Adv
$231,725Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Vice President
$216,565Pt VII · Sec A
Assistant Secretary
$186,499Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Ppl Justice & Cultural (thru 1/15/25)
$179,672Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Conservation Strategies
$179,026Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Communications
$150,251Pt VII · Sec A

Thomas Kiernan’s $388K as President is at the 80th percentile of top reported officer pay among 324 $10–100M environment nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Thomas Kiernan$387,622$372,290$314,575$264,598——
Wm Robert Irvin————$244,632$240,452
Kristin May$233,263$187,073$175,548$167,955$164,196$160,247
Paula Wolferseder Yabar$231,725$219,939$197,840$186,481$182,591—
Heather Taylor-Miesle$216,565$193,751$150,715———
Jennifer Marshall$186,499$163,307$170,992$166,259$162,229$146,820
Melissa Lewis$179,672$165,432$146,033———
Jennifer Hoffner$179,026$170,685$156,116$126,124$114,911$106,494

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See American Rivers INC executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Protects and restores rivers nationwide by removing dams, conserving riverside land, and securing federal and state protections to ensure clean water and healthy habitats.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $31.9M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

See schedule o

$28.0Mprogram expense
02

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.

$2.4Mprogram expense
03

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.

$1.5Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
See all 10 funders →
Grants paid · 260 grants · $16.6M · 2019–2024
Oregon Department of TransportationFY2024$1,223,328
Mountain TrueNC · FY2024$1,007,776
US Dept of Interior-Yosemite National ParkFY2024$491,600
Hgs LLCFY2024$451,894
Kearns & West INCFY2024$263,370
American WhitewaterOR · FY2024$177,197
Kris Bass Engineering PllcFY2024$73,000
Unique Places to SaveNC · FY2024$72,440
Trout Unlimited INCVA · FY2024$62,500
University of Wisconsin MadisonFY2024$56,033
MultiplierCA · FY2024$50,000
See all 260 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$53.4M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$52.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$536K
Investment incomeLn 3$262K
Money outPt IX
$41.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$31.9M
Managementcol C$4.0M
Fundraisingcol D$5.5M
Owns and owesPt X
$32.3M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$12.8M
Total assetsLn 16$40.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$7.7M
PeoplePt VI, VII
36
listed · VII A
PaidVII A11
Voting boardVI 1a25
IndependentVI 1b25
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$52.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$21.4M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$503K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$536K
Investment incomeLn 3$262K
Other incomeLn 4–11$83K
Gains on assetsLn 7$32K
Total revenueLn 12$53.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$9.3M
SavingsLn 2$3.4M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$12.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$4.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$32K
Other assetsLn 15$671K
Total assetsLn 16$40.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$7.7M
Net assetsLn 32$32.3M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5131
VolunteersI 625
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$8.7M$12.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$4.4M$4.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$71K$32K
Total assetsLn 16$26.4M$40.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$6.4M$7.7M
Net assetsLn 32$20.0M$32.3M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$6.6M$6.6M
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$38K$38K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.6M$1.0M$251K$369K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$7.7M$4.8M$1.2M$1.7M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$331K$201K$33K$97K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$3.3M$2.0M$330K$959K
Payroll taxesLn 10$827K$500K$83K$243K
Legal feesLn 11b$27K$27K
Accounting feesLn 11c$138K$138K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$30K$30K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$396K$396K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$17.1M$15.4M$1.1M$557K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$490K$57K$2K$430K
Office expensesLn 13$903K$187K$298K$418K
Information technologyLn 14$62K$10K$45K$7K
OccupancyLn 16$718K$207K$312K$199K
TravelLn 17$736K$597K$25K$113K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$288K$176K$73K$39K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$38K$26K$7K$5K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$140K$14K$111K$16K
Total functional expensesLn 25$41.4M$31.9M$4.0M$5.5M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $53.4M$41.4M$12.0M$32.3M 990 PDF
FY2024 $36.6M$34.0M$2.6M$20.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 $21.8M$20.8M$975K$16.9M 990 PDF
FY2022 $18.6M$16.3M$2.3M$15.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 $19.3M$19.3M−$22K$13.8M 990 PDF
FY2020 $16.7M$16.4M$296K$13.3M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $53,419,167 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $35,675,231$52,538,378
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $456,552$536,454
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $239,871$261,801
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $271,552$82,534
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $36,643,206$53,419,167
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $5,131,460$6,657,921
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $11,842,340$13,735,400
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $476,575$396,190
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $16,572,102$20,654,736
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $34,022,477$41,444,247
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $2,620,729$11,974,920
Part VI · Governance 25 of 25 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body25
VI-1b Independent voting members25
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $53,419,167 across 12 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$12,267
VIII-1b Membership dues$1,593,867
VIII-1e Government grants$21,380,907
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$29,551,337
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$503,482
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$52,538,378
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $536,454$536,454
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $229,834$229,834
VIII-5 RoyaltiesExcluded from tax $42,262$42,262
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $31,967$31,967
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Unrelated business $709 · Excluded from tax $39,563$40,272
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $536,454 · Unrelated business $709 · Excluded from tax $343,626$53,419,167
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $41,444,247 across 20 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $6,620,310$6,620,310
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $37,611$37,611
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $1,017,599 · Management $251,212 · Fundraising $368,987$1,637,798
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $4,788,026 · Management $1,234,466 · Fundraising $1,655,006$7,677,498
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $200,533 · Management $33,465 · Fundraising $97,398$331,396
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,972,869 · Management $329,805 · Fundraising $959,262$3,261,936
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $500,291 · Management $83,491 · Fundraising $242,990$826,772
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $27,487$27,487
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $138,161$138,161
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $30,101$30,101
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $396,190$396,190
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $15,448,800 · Management $1,078,953 · Fundraising $556,542$17,084,295
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $57,318 · Management $1,971 · Fundraising $430,426$489,715
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $187,475 · Management $297,538 · Fundraising $418,104$903,117
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $10,023 · Management $45,185 · Fundraising $6,859$62,067
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $206,524 · Management $312,285 · Fundraising $198,708$717,517
IX-17 TravelPrograms $596,964 · Management $25,198 · Fundraising $113,377$735,539
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $176,174 · Management $73,147 · Fundraising $38,736$288,057
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $26,455 · Management $7,078 · Fundraising $4,830$38,363
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $13,917 · Management $110,666 · Fundraising $15,734$140,317
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $31,918,477 · Management $4,022,621 · Fundraising $5,503,149$41,444,247
Part X · Balance sheet $40,075,409 assets, 19 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $4,316,243$9,348,921
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $4,426,322$3,448,667
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $5,272,602$12,848,651
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $6,440,952$8,429,674
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $30,089$49,959
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $282,680$505,744
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $70,668$32,076
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $3,223,013$3,426,762
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $1,171,496$1,313,812
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,165,523$671,143
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $26,399,588$40,075,409
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $4,320,304$6,415,973
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $536,435$345,707
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $1,556,442$967,002
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $6,413,181$7,728,682
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $5,311,620$4,010,078
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $14,674,787$28,336,649
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $19,986,407$32,346,727
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $26,399,588$40,075,409
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $32,346,727 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$53,419,167
XI-2 Total expenses$41,444,247
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$11,974,920
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$19,986,407
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$385,403
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$3
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$32,346,727

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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