Western Rivers conservancy's mission is to protect outstanding river ecosystems in the Western united states. Continued on schedule o.we acquire land to conserve critical habitat, provide public access for compatible use and enjoyment, and cooperate with other organizations and agencies to secure the health of whole river ecosystems.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
95¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.2M paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2021 · 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
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $24K a year · under 1% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
95%
of spending
Looks good: 95% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.2M
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
11 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $18.2M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 10.9 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
4
named funders · $151K
Looks good: 4 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$15.8M
27% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 27% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
12
of 12 voting members
Looks good: 12 of 12 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$12.1M
+34% vs prior year
Spent
$19.0M
To programs
95%
Net assets
$43.2M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$12.1M
FY2021▲ +34%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$9.0M
FY2021$12.1M
FY2022$6.1M
FY2023$16.8M
FY2024$25.2M
FY2025$11.4M
Expenses
$19.0M
FY2021▲ +214%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$6.1M
FY2021$19.0M
FY2022$14.7M
FY2023$14.3M
FY2024$15.6M
FY2025$11.1M
Net assets
$43.2M
FY2021▲ +12%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$38.7M
FY2021$43.2M
FY2022$48.1M
FY2023$48.7M
FY2024$58.4M
FY2025$37.3M

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending September 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Feb 2002.

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

Where the money goes

95 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 95% · $18.0M Management & general 3% · $503K Fundraising 2% · $470K

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

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

22 people listed on the 990; $1.2M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
President
$217,474Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$175,205Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Government Affairs
$152,930Pt VII · Sec A
Corporate Counsel
$150,358Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary/Treasurer/Dir. of Finance & Admin.
$136,839Pt VII · Sec A
Project Manager
$127,056Pt VII · Sec A
Conservation Director
$126,893Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Donor Relations
$121,494Pt VII · Sec A

Nelson Mathews’s $240K as President is at the 46th 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
Sue Doroff—$279,129$259,152$254,613$217,474$223,935
Nelson Mathews$240,293$200,036$180,335$173,661$175,205$174,127
Juliette Harding$165,707$158,001$153,122$140,057$136,839$128,816
R Willis Yarberry———$120,017$152,930$152,420
Daniel Palmerlee$150,695$138,448$124,286———
Julia Turrini$150,647—————
Sara Sandford————$150,358$117,251
Josh Kling$143,002$136,795$133,365$125,179$126,893$121,919

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 Western Rivers Conservancy executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

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 outstanding river ecosystems in the Western United States.

Questions for Western Rivers Conservancy

Tap to ask. Western Rivers Conservancy sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Western Rivers Conservancy answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

1 program · $18.0M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Western rivers conservancy (WRC) is the only organization in the western united states that focuses solely on riverland protection along outstanding western streams. By acquiring riverlands with high conservation values, WRC creates sanctuaries for imperiled fish and wildlife, buffering the impacts of water use, logging, mining and other…

$18.0Mprogram 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 4 funders →
Grants paid · 8 grants · $3.6M · 2019–2024
The York Tribe a Federally Recognized Indian TribeFY2024$3,328,000
Esselen Tribe of Monterey CountyFY2024$75,000
Individual RecipientFY2023$60,187
The Confederated Tribes of the Colville ReservationFY2022$84,337
The Yurok TribeFY2021$8,959
Nisqually Land TrustWA · FY2019$10,000
The Yurok TribeFY2019$6,880

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$12.1M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$9.9M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$625K
Money outPt IX
$19.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$18.0M
Managementcol C$503K
Fundraisingcol D$470K
Owns and owesPt X
$43.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$17.2M
Total assetsLn 16$59.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$15.8M
PeoplePt VI, VII
22
listed · VII A
PaidVII A8
Voting boardVI 1a12
IndependentVI 1b12
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$9.9M
Government grantsLn 1e$5.0M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$253K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$625K
Investment incomeLn 3$1.2M
Other incomeLn 4–11$361K
Gains on assetsLn 7$1.0M
Total revenueLn 12$12.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$315K
SavingsLn 2$16.9M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$17.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$18.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$22.8M
Total assetsLn 16$59.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$15.8M
Net assetsLn 32$43.2M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 524
VolunteersI 629
Fiscal year endsHeaderSeptember
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$17.2M$17.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$15.2M$18.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$22.8M$22.8M
Total assetsLn 16$56.0M$59.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$17.3M$15.8M
Net assetsLn 32$38.7M$43.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$4.0M$4.0M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$692K$523K$146K$24K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.7M$1.3M$124K$243K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$159K$125K$11K$23K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$271K$214K$20K$37K
Payroll taxesLn 10$168K$130K$18K$19K
Legal feesLn 11b$79K$79K$4$2
Accounting feesLn 11c$30K$30K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$78K$78K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$560K$512K$37K$11K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$54K$54K$15$100
Office expensesLn 13$171K$113K$13K$45K
OccupancyLn 16$235K$179K$28K$29K
TravelLn 17$44K$41K$864$2K
InterestLn 20$150K$150K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$13K$12K$636$654
InsuranceLn 23$36K$30K$5K$1K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$10.3M$10.3M
All other expensesLn 24e$204K$98K$71K$35K
Total functional expensesLn 25$19.0M$18.0M$503K$470K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $11.4M$11.1M$325K$37.3M 990 PDF
FY2024 $25.2M$15.6M$9.6M$58.4M 990 PDF
FY2023 $16.8M$14.3M$2.5M$48.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 $6.1M$14.7M−$8.7M$48.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $12.1M$19.0M−$6.9M$43.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 $9.0M$6.1M$3.0M$38.7M 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $12,098,253 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $7,082,162$9,892,968
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$625,000
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,355,644$1,219,256
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $590,667$361,029
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $9,028,473$12,098,253
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $266,880$4,007,202
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $3,031,928$2,992,349
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,751,432$11,981,119
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $6,050,240$18,980,670
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $2,978,233−$6,882,417
Part VI · Governance 12 of 12 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body12
VI-1b Independent voting members12
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 $12,098,253 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1d Related organizations$1,545,509
VIII-1e Government grants$4,996,627
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$3,350,832
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$253,065
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$9,892,968
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $625,000$625,000
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $152,934 · Excluded from tax $31,322$184,256
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $1,035,000$1,035,000
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $361,029$361,029
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,173,963 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $31,322$12,098,253
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $18,980,670 across 19 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $4,007,202$4,007,202
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $522,814 · Management $145,506 · Fundraising $24,065$692,385
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,335,944 · Management $124,204 · Fundraising $242,760$1,702,908
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $124,726 · Management $11,450 · Fundraising $22,605$158,781
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $214,026 · Management $20,066 · Fundraising $36,594$270,686
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $130,340 · Management $18,002 · Fundraising $19,247$167,589
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $78,861 · Management $4 · Fundraising $2$78,867
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $29,600$29,600
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $78,166$78,166
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $511,669 · Management $37,188 · Fundraising $10,922$559,779
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $54,144 · Management $15 · Fundraising $100$54,259
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $113,451 · Management $12,903 · Fundraising $44,834$171,188
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $178,806 · Management $27,572 · Fundraising $29,048$235,426
IX-17 TravelPrograms $40,879 · Management $864 · Fundraising $2,287$44,030
IX-20 InterestPrograms $149,594$149,594
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $12,136 · Management $636 · Fundraising $654$13,426
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $29,790 · Management $4,574 · Fundraising $1,279$35,643
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $10,327,344$10,327,344
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $97,736 · Management $70,820 · Fundraising $35,241$203,797
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $18,007,628 · Management $503,404 · Fundraising $469,638$18,980,670
Part X · Balance sheet $58,994,549 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $211,903$314,891
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $16,955,307$16,853,891
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $234,234$529,099
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $455,974$154,153
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $163,116$139,690
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $22,815,138$22,806,796
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $2,548$0
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $15,167,231$18,196,029
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $56,005,451$58,994,549
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $423,998$300,441
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$113,798
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $25,000$46,661
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$26,554
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $17,308,938$15,798,254
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $27,123,036$31,506,503
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $11,573,477$11,689,792
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $38,696,513$43,196,295
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $56,005,451$58,994,549
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $43,196,295 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$12,098,253
XI-2 Total expenses$18,980,670
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$6,882,417
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$38,696,513
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$2,381
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$11,379,818
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$43,196,295

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.