River Otter Ecology Project
OUR MISSION is to create lasting protections for local waterways using community science, research, education, and advocacy. Our ambassador is the North American River Otter - an indicator …
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Visit www.riverotterecology.o…About River Otter Ecology Project
There is much to learn about the ecology and current status of river otters /(Lontra canadensis)/ in Central California. Our project works to fill this gap in understanding about the status, range, reproduction, diet, health and general ecology of the species in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. This information helps inform conservation strategies, including restoration projects and toxic spill response, and may well shed light upon climate change effects on both otters and their food web. Because river otters are an indicator species, meaning their presence and health offer us information about the health of their watersheds, information we gather about their populations helps us better manage our shared watersheds. Since 2012, we have used crowd-sourcing, participatory science …
Verified certifications
Confirmed against the issuing authority - not self-reported.
Mission
OUR MISSION is to create lasting protections for local waterways using community science, research, education, and advocacy. Our ambassador is the North American River Otter - an indicator of healthy waters. We are committed to making our work accessible, inclusive, and equitable, recognizing that environmental justice and the participation of every voice are essential for meaningful and lasting change.
Focus areas & reach
· What they work on and whereHow it stacks up against peers
· vs. 8 similar animal welfare in United StatesConcerns
· 1 red flagWhere every $1 goes
· FY2024 · IRS 990 (FY2024)GiveRadar Analysis
Original analysis from GiveRadar's dataset of comparable organizations
GiveRadar's verified records show River Otter Ecology Project with a complete profile, cross-referenced across 3 independent sources including the IRS.
- It has more complete governance disclosure than nearly all comparable charities, because GiveRadar has verified leadership, executive compensation, a mission statement and a founding date. See national comparisons
- It has more complete contact information than 72% of comparable charities, with a verified website, phone and address on record. See national comparisons
- GiveRadar's profile for River Otter Ecology Project draws on its financial disclosures and its governance, in line with the typical animal welfare charities in the United States it tracks. View this cohort
- government registration
- financial records (5 filed years)
- disclosed leadership
- a website
- third-party accreditation
- a contact email
- a donation page
- an owner-submitted profile claim
Analysis based on GiveRadar's benchmark dataset of 2026-07-03. It describes what GiveRadar has verified, not a judgment of the organization itself.
Common questions
· Auto-generated from filings + methodologyRiver Otter Ecology Project is a registered animal welfare nonprofit based in Forest Knolls, CA, United States. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It was founded in 2012 and has been operating for 14 years. Its EIN is 454997526. According to GiveRadar's records, it holds active tax-deductible status on the IRS Publication 78 list, which means donations are tax-deductible and the organization is in good standing with the IRS. GiveRadar's Integrity Assessment for the organization is 67/100, which reflects how much public information is available, not whether the charity is legitimate. The organization reports $241K in annual revenue. 21 officers and directors are publicly disclosed. GiveRadar has identified 1 potential concern.
River Otter Ecology Project's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 454997526. This is the organization's IRS tax identification number; you can use it to verify tax-exempt status and to look up its Form 990 filings with the IRS.
River Otter Ecology Project has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 67/100. This score combines five components: Registration (20 pts), Financial Transparency (30 pts), Governance (20 pts), Contact Availability (10 pts), and Data Recency (20 pts), with negative adjustments for any red flags. A score of 67 ('Partial transparency') means some public data is on file but key signals are missing - worth a closer look before donating. The charity allocates 88% of expenses to programs, which contributes positively to its score. For comparison, the average integrity assessment for animal welfare charities in United States is 90/100.
River Otter Ecology Project is located in Forest Knolls, CA, United States. The organization was established in 2012 and has been active for 14 years.
Based on official tax filings, River Otter Ecology Project has $241K in annual revenue. It allocates 88% of expenses to programs and services. This is in line with the average of 91% for animal welfare charities in United States. Its revenue is below the peer average of $1M. Create a free GiveRadar account to view the complete financial breakdown with year-over-year trends.
River Otter Ecology Project is classified as an Animal Welfare organization, registered in United States. It operates as a Publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)). By size, it is categorized as a small organization. It has $241K in annual revenue. The organization has 21 disclosed officers and directors.
GiveRadar has identified 1 potential concern for River Otter Ecology Project. Red flags are automatically detected from official data and may include high executive compensation relative to budget, low program spending, or missing financial filings. Red flags do not necessarily mean wrongdoing but indicate areas that may warrant further review before donating.
According to GiveRadar's records, River Otter Ecology Project holds active tax-deductible status on the IRS Publication 78 list, which means donations are tax-deductible and the organization is in good standing with the IRS. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It reports that 88% of expenses go to programs (the peer average is 91%). GiveRadar provides data for research and does not endorse any organization. A GiveRadar Integrity Assessment reflects how much public data is available, not whether an organization is safe to donate to, so it is always smart to do your own research before giving.
There is much to learn about the ecology and current status of river otters /(Lontra canadensis)/ in Central California. Our project works to fill this gap in understanding about the status, range, reproduction, diet, health and general ecology of the species in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. This information helps inform conservation strategies, including restoration projects and toxic spill response, and may well shed light upon climate change effects on both otters and their food web. Because river otters are an indicator species, meaning their presence and health offer us information about the health of their watersheds, information we gather about their populations helps us better manage our... River Otter Ecology Project is classified as an animal welfare organization registered in United States. The organization was founded in 2012.
Among animal welfare charities registered in United States: It allocates 88% of expenses to programs, in line with the peer average of 91%. Its annual revenue of $241K is below the peer average of $1M.
Yes, donations to River Otter Ecology Project are generally tax-deductible in the United States. River Otter Ecology Project is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Its EIN is 454997526, which you can use for tax filing purposes. Donors can typically deduct contributions on their federal income tax return if they itemize deductions. Consult a tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.
Filing history
5 years on file from IRS 990 (FY2024): revenue, expenses, program spending, assets, and liabilities by fiscal year.
See 5 years of revenue, expense breakdowns, and balance sheet.
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Tax-deductibility for donors
Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United States under local rules. Confirm with the charity directly.
RIVER OTTER ECOLOGY PROJECT is registered in United States. Donations from the Netherlands to charities outside the EU/EEA are generally not tax-deductible for Dutch donors unless the charity is listed on the Dutch ANBI register with foreign-recognized status.
Always confirm tax treatment with the charity directly or your tax advisor before donating.
Staff & volunteers
From filings and published profiles
Leadership
From FY2024 filing
Officers & trustees (7)
Source: Public filings
7 officers and trustees on file - free with a GiveRadar account.
Latest news
From global news sources
No recent news coverage found
News coverage will appear here when articles mention this organization.
Activity timeline
Filings and press mentions, merged
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How many charities work in each area, with this charity's area highlighted.
Most common causes in United States
Causes charities work on most.
Sources and verification
- Registration and legal identity
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search
- Financial filings
- IRS Form 990 filings - Fiscal year 2024 most recent on file.
- Officers and trustees
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search - 21 disclosed in the public registry.
- Supplementary verification
- Charity Navigator
Data freshness
What we know and don't know
Exactly which public data we hold on this charity. Our score reflects transparency, not impact.
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Financial data · FY2024 on record
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Named leadership · 21 officers on file
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Executive pay · Disclosed
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Government registration · Registered with an official registry
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Mission statement · Published
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Official website · On record
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Headquarters address · On file
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Direct contact · Email or phone published
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Tax-deductibility · Verified
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Founding date · 2012
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Programs & activitiesNo named programs listed by the charity
Methodology
GiveRadar builds each profile primarily from official government charity registries, supplemented where available by third-party nonprofit databases and news archives, and combines it into a single 0-100 integrity assessment. The exact sources for this charity are listed above. We don't take a cut of any donation, ever.
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Quick facts about River Otter Ecology Project
- What is River Otter Ecology Project?
- River Otter Ecology Project is a animal welfare publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)) based in Forest Knolls, United States. There is much to learn about the ecology and current status of river otters /(Lontra canadensis)/ in Central California. Our project works to fill this gap in understanding about the status, range, reproduction, diet, health and general ecology of the species in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. This information helps inform conservation strategies, including restoration projects and toxic spill response, and may well shed light upon climate change effects on both otters and their food web. Because river otters are an indicator species, meaning their presence and health offer us information about the health of their watersheds, information we gather about their populations helps us better manage our shared watersheds. Since 2012, we have used crowd-sourcing, participatory science and a combination of technologies we adapted to help gather data and educate participants to document river otter presence in the San Francisco Bay Area and to monitor the recovering population of river otters in a focal study area in Marin County. Camera trapping is a relatively inexpensive method of collecting information on the abundance and pup emergence of river otters, because it can be done with trained volunteers, unlike genetic techniques, which require sophisticated labs and highly-trained technicians. We're dedicated to community science, and offer extensive training in field and lab techniques, habitat surveying, field sign and documentation to help our volunteers provide us with the data and samples we need to accomplish our research goals. Hands-on Science is a program that brings together students, scientists, and teachers to explore conservation concepts while working toward common research goals. The program goals are to expose students to conservation, field science and lab science in a real-world setting. Ideally, the work will demystify the fields of conservation and biology and inspire students to continue their education in the sciences with the goal of pursuing
- When was River Otter Ecology Project founded?
- River Otter Ecology Project was founded in 2012.
- Who leads River Otter Ecology Project?
- Megan Isadore serves as Executive Director.
- Where is River Otter Ecology Project located?
- Headquartered in Forest Knolls, CA, United States.
- What is River Otter Ecology Project's annual budget?
- Annual revenue for fiscal year 2024 is approximately $100K-$1M. 88% of expenses go to program services.
- Is River Otter Ecology Project trustworthy?
- River Otter Ecology Project has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 67 out of 100 (Partial transparency). The score reflects public-data transparency: registration, financial disclosure, governance, contact details, and how recently data was refreshed. It does not measure program impact.
- What is River Otter Ecology Project's registration number?
- IRS EIN: 454997526.
- What is River Otter Ecology Project's website?
- http://www.riverotterecology.org