BBB Wise Giving Report for
American Rivers

BBB Wise Giving Report issued January 2011
BBB Wise Giving Report expires January 2013


Does not meet one or more standards
This charity does not meet one or more of the 20 standards for Charity Accountability. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: American Rivers
Address: 1101 14th Street NW,
Suite 1400
  Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202-347-7550
877-347-7550
Web Address: www.americanrivers.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1974, District of Columbia
Affiliates: None

Stated Purpose: "to protect and restore America's rivers for the benefit of people, wildlife, and nature."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

American Rivers (AR) does not meet the following Standard for Charity Accountability.

Standard 19: Cause Related Marketing - Clearly disclose how the charity benefits from the sale of products or services (i.e., cause-related marketing) that state or imply that a charity will benefit from a consumer sale or transaction. Such promotions should disclose, at the point of solicitation: (a) the actual or anticipated portion of the purchase price that will benefit the charity (e.g., 5 cents will be contributed to abc charity for every xyz company product sold), (b) the duration of the campaign (e.g., the month of October), (c) any maximum or guaranteed minimum contribution amount (e.g., up to a maximum of $200,000).

AR does not meet this Standard because, in the past year the organization participated in promotions for the sale of consumer goods that indicates that the organization will benefit from these purchases. The promotions, however, did not specify:

  • The actual or anticipated amount of the purchase price that will benefit the organization.
AR meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

AR works to restore rivers and floodplains in order to protect and enhance local communities and to support fish and wildlife. It restores rivers by removing obsolete and unsafe dams and improves the operations of dams, levees and other river infrastructure. AR is focused on preventing harmful and destructive projects such as logging, mining, drilling or damming near rivers. It also strives to protect watersheds and brings attention to threatened rivers. Furthermore, AR works to ensure that urban and suburban water supplies are safe for drinking, fishing, and boating.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, AR's program expenses were:

  
River restoration 6,395,603
Clean water 970,418
River protection 848,639
Water supply 324,213
Total Program Expenses: $8,538,873
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Rebecca R. Wodder, President
Compensation*:
$176,235

Chair of the Board: Edward B. Whitney
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Retired

Board Size: 21

Paid Staff Size: 73

*July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
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Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, telemarketing, special events, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, cause-related marketing, and membership appeals.
Fund raising costs were 15% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $12,720,496, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
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Tax Status

              

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
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Financial

              

The following information is based on AR's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 5,685,782
Government grants 2,577,041
Foundation grants 1,510,859
Other grants 1,268,531
Membership 840,562
Corporate donations 837,721
Unrealized gain on investments 815,080
Interest and dividends 67,032
Other 32,287
Realized loss on sales of investments -670,254
Total Income $12,964,641


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 72%  Fund Raising: 17%  Administrative: 11% 

Total income   $12,964,641
  Program expenses $8,538,873
  Fund raising expenses 1,967,066
  Administrative expenses 1,305,569
 
Total expenses   $11,811,508
Income in Excess of Expenses   1,153,133
Beginning net assets   6,761,179
Ending net assets   7,914,312
Total liabilities   1,133,303
Total assets   $9,047,615


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An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

This report is not to be used for fund raising or promotional purposes.

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