Grantmakers › District of Columbia
American Rivers Inc
Washington, DC · EIN 23-7305963. Reported 164 grants totalling $8,471,194 to 102 organizations across tax years 2020-2023, on Form 990 Schedule I.
Does this grantmaker accept applications?
Its tax return does not say, and we will not guess. Private foundations file Form 990-PF, which asks outright whether they fund only organizations they select themselves -- 78% say yes, and that one answer is what lets the rest of this site tell you which foundations are worth approaching. Grantmaking charities like this one file a regular Form 990 instead, and the IRS never puts the question to them. Anyone claiming to know the answer from the filing is inventing it.
Three things in the filing do bear on it:
- What kind of organization it is. For American Rivers Inc, by its IRS classification it is an alliance or advocacy organization in environment (NTEE C013).
- How spread out its giving is. 102 distinct organizations, with 10% of the dollars going to the largest single recipient. That is genuinely spread out -- the mark of a funder making many independent decisions rather than underwriting one institution.
- How much its list changes. 49% of one year's grantees are funded again the next, across 3 year-to-year transitions. That is below the 57% median for grantmaking charities, and well below the 67% private foundations manage. A list that turns over this much is one a newcomer can realistically join.
How big are its grants?
The median reported grant is $24,312. Half of what it reported fell between $12,000 and $48,500; the smallest was $5,500 and the largest $830,012. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong organization.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by the EIN the filer reported, not by name, so an organization that was typed differently in two years appears once rather than twice.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hgs LLC | Bellaire, TX | $830,012 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| American Whitewater | Springfield, OR | $585,761 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Oregon Department of Transportation | Salem, OR | $565,509 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| US Dept of Interior-Yosemite National Park | Mariposa, CA | $506,831 | 4 | 3 | 2023 |
| Mountaintrue | Asheville, NC | $470,449 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Littleton Water and Light | Littleton, NH | $426,145 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Kearns & West Inc | San Francisco, CA | $394,918 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Trout Unlimited Inc | Arlington, VA | $283,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| California Sportfishing Protection Alliance | Groveland, CA | $214,585 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| National Hydropower Association Inc | Washington, DC | $206,089 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Connecticut River Watershed Council Inc | Greenfield, MA | $190,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Skagit County Public Works | Mt Vernon, WA | $153,625 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| South Yuba River Citizens League | Nevada City, CA | $152,400 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| University of Kentucky Research Foundation | Lexington, KY | $138,293 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Friends of the River Foundation | Sacramento, CA | $138,112 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| California Trout | San Francisco, CA | $132,868 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Southeastern Association of Fish & Wildlife Agen Ellington Agri Ctr | Aiken, SC | $110,190 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| North Clackamas Urban Watersheds Council | Milwaukie, OR | $94,832 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Gallatin River Task Force | Big Sky, MT | $93,750 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Grand Canyon Trust Inc | Flagstaff, AZ | $92,150 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Johnson Creek Watershed Association | Portland, OR | $86,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Upper Snake River Tribes Foundation Inc | Boise, ID | $85,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Resources Legacy Fund | Sacramento, CA | $83,519 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Corona Environmental Consulting LLC | Braintree, MA | $83,125 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Terra Fuego Resource Foundation | Chico, CA | $83,105 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Idaho Rivers United Inc | Boise, ID | $82,920 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | $80,659 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Milwaukee Water Commons Inc | Milwaukee, WI | $76,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Multiplier | San Francisco, CA | $75,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| W3 Headwaters LLC | Kremmling, CO | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife | Salem, OR | $74,941 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Partnership for the Delaware Estuary Inc | Wilmington, DE | $71,596 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| NAACP Illinois State Conference | Springfield, IL | $71,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Water and Power Law Group Pc | Berkeley, CA | $70,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Low Impact Hydropower Institute | Pittsfield, MA | $63,328 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hispanic Access Foundation | Washington, DC | $62,605 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Unique Places to Save | Asheville, NC | $62,605 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mainspring Conservation Trust Inc | Franklin, NC | $60,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| United States Geological Survey | Reston, VA | $58,470 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Lummi Indian Business Council | Bellingham, WA | $57,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Foothill Conservancy | Sutter Creek, CA | $52,600 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| River Partners | Chico, CA | $51,886 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Pew Charitable Trusts | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Ducks Unlimited Inc | Memphis, TN | $46,640 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Wetland Dynamics LLC | Monte Vista, CO | $45,661 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| US Forest Service | Portland, OR | $44,194 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Bonneville Environmental Foundation | Portland, OR | $41,738 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Junction Coalition | Toledo, OH | $41,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Sarver Ecological LLC | Greenville, DE | $37,200 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Fayette County Board of Commissioners | Fayetteville, GA | $34,500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Delaware Nature Society Inc | Hockessin, DE | $29,482 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| We the People of Detroit | Detroit, MI | $27,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Calvin University | Grand Rapids, MI | $26,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Murray State University | Murray, KY | $25,395 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Amp Insights LLC | Bend, OR | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Clark Fork Coalition | Missoula, MT | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Prairie Rivers Network | Champaign, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency | Yuba City, CA | $24,748 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Land Institute | Salina, KS | $22,800 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Appalachian Mountain Club | Charlestown, MA | $21,901 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| United Congregations of Metroeast | E Saint Louis, IL | $21,250 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Education Economics Environmental & Health Organization Eeecho | Gulfport, MS | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Families Anchored in Total Harmony Inc | Gary, IN | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Local Enviromental Action Demanded Agency Inc | Miami, OK | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| World Wildlife Fund Inc | Washington, DC | $19,760 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Smithsonian Institute | Washington, DC | $17,727 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Grand Valley Metro Council | Grand Rapids, MI | $16,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Alabama Rivers Alliance Inc | Birmingham, AL | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Western Pennsylvania Conservancy | Pittsburgh, PA | $15,900 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Mountain Studies Institute Inc | Silverton, CO | $15,794 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Environmental and Energy Study Institute | Washington, DC | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Kris Bass Engineering | Raleigh, NC | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| River Management Society | Takoma Park, MD | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Stept LLC | Jackson, WY | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Susanville Indian Rancheria | Susanville, CA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Western Resource Advocates | Boulder, CO | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| San Francisco Estuary Institute | Richmond, CA | $14,150 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Community Outreach Worship Center | East Moline, IL | $13,250 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| West Michigan Environmental Action Council Education Foundation | Grand Rapids, MI | $12,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Association for the Betterment of Bucksport | Conway, SC | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest | Pittsburgh, PA | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians | Sacramento, CA | $10,493 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| North Fork Mono Tribe | Clovis, CA | $10,100 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Glenn Canyon Institute | Salt Lake Cty, UT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Global Philanthropy Partnership | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Green River Coalition | Covington, WA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Klamath River Renewal Corporation | Berkeley, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Martin & Mccoy LLC | Phoenix, AZ | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Minnesota Environmental Partnership | Saint Paul, MN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| New Mexico Wilderness Alliance | Albuquerque, NM | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Orion Society | Gt Barrington, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group | Eureka, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| San Miguel Watershed Coalition | Telluride, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cambria County Conservation District | Edensburg, PA | $9,980 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Trout Unlimited | Bay City, MI | $9,068 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Jastech Development Services Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $9,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| River Network | Boulder, CO | $9,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| South River Watershed Alliance | Decatur, GA | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Flint Riverkeeper Inc | Albany, GA | $6,585 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Freeflow Institute LLC | Milltown, MT | $6,500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership | Prt Washingtn, WI | $5,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
35 of 102 (34%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold. Remember the $5,000 floor: an organization funded every year at $3,000 shows up here as never funded at all.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose column of its filings, largest first. This is the closest thing to a statement of what it funds, in its own words.
- Hgs LLC
RESTORE DAMAGED RIVERS AND WATERS - American Whitewater
HYDROPOWER REFORM/RIVER PROTECTION - University of Kentucky Research Foundation
FRESHWATER MUSSELL RESEARCH
What kind of organizations it funds
By each recipient's own IRS classification, for the 65 of 102 recipients we could match to a registered organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses -- Schedule I reports the recipient's EIN, so this is a lookup rather than a name match.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants reported | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 33 | $1,592,218 | $30,000 |
| 2021 | 38 | $936,446 | $17,750 |
| 2022 | 34 | $913,206 | $20,350 |
| 2023 | 59 | $5,029,324 | $26,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- Form 990 arrives about a year after the year it covers, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a grantmaker winding down.
Where its money goes
24% of its giving went to organizations in California. Community foundations and federated funds are usually the most geographically bounded funders there are -- being outside the footprint is normally disqualifying in a way that a weak programme fit is not.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These grantmakers and private foundations gave to organizations this one also funded. Shared grantees are the strongest signal available that two funders have overlapping priorities -- and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this grantmaker
- Look for a published programme first. Unlike most private foundations, organizations of this kind often do run open, deadlined grant cycles with written guidelines. Its own website is the authority on that; this page is the authority on who it has actually paid.
- Check you are its size. The median reported grant is $24,312 -- and because grants under $5,000 need not be reported, it very likely writes smaller cheques than this page can see.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving concentrates in California.
- Read the recipient list for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer and a cheap one to get.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from American Rivers Inc's own Form 990 Schedule I filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2020-2023). Nothing here is scraped, inferred or estimated.
On its most recent return it told the IRS it made grants to 50 section 501(c)(3) organizations and 13 other organizations. That is the filer's own count for one year; the totals above cover every year we hold.
Address of record on the latest return: 1101 14TH Street Nw 1400, Washington, DC, 20005.
EIN 23-7305963 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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