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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 …

Animal Welfare Forest Knolls, CA EIN: 454997526 (IRS) Sign up to see website
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67
Integrity Assessment
Partial transparency
67/100 · methodology

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 …

Founded
Headquarters
Forest Knolls, CA
Foundation type
Publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2))
NTEE code
D20
IRS subsection
501(c)(03)
Ruling date
Size
small

Verified certifications

Confirmed against the issuing authority - not self-reported.

IRS Tax-Deductible since 2012

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 where
Cause tags
SDG alignment The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the global agenda for ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity by 2030. We tag each charity to the goals its work advances.

How it stacks up against peers

· vs. 8 similar animal welfare in United States
Program spending This charity: 88%
Peer average: 91%
CEO comp as % of revenue This charity: 33.15%
Peer average: 0.48%
Integrity Assessment This charity: 67
Peer average: 90

Concerns

· 1 red flag
High Executive Pay
Top executive compensation is 45.2% of total expenses ($80,000 of $176,868).

Where every $1 goes

· FY2024 · IRS 990 (FY2024)
$0.88
Program$0.88
88% to programs beats the Charity Navigator "highly efficient" threshold (75%).

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
GiveRadar has verified
  • government registration
  • financial records (5 filed years)
  • disclosed leadership
  • a website
  • third-party accreditation
Not yet verified by GiveRadar
  • 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 + methodology

River 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.

Annual revenue
$100K-$1M
88% to programs
Source: IRS 990 (FY2024) why this matters
Unlock exact figures

Filing history

5 years on file from IRS 990 (FY2024): revenue, expenses, program spending, assets, and liabilities by fiscal year.

Years on record: FY2024, FY2023, FY2022, FY2021, FY2020.
Financial details are free - with a GiveRadar account

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Taxes

Tax-deductibility for donors

Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United States under local rules. Confirm with the charity directly.

Always confirm tax treatment with the charity directly or your tax advisor before donating.

Staff & volunteers

From filings and published profiles

Employees
2

Leadership

From FY2024 filing

ME
Megan I••••••
Executive Director

Officers & trustees (7)

Source: Public filings

See full names, roles, and stories

7 officers and trustees on file - free with a GiveRadar account.

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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

Form filed
$0.2M revenue
FY2024
IRS 990
Form filed
$0.2M revenue
FY2023
IRS 990
Form filed
$0.1M revenue
FY2022
IRS 990
Form filed
$0.1M revenue
FY2021
IRS 990
Form filed
$0.1M revenue
FY2020
IRS 990

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Cause areas in United States

How many charities work in each area, with this charity's area highlighted.

Human Services 322,679
Education 195,586
Arts & Culture 133,128
Advocacy & Civil Rights 128,026
Religion 114,636
Health 98,862
Community Development 56,086
Youth Development 53,450
Animal Welfare this charity 40,468
See all cause areas in United States

Most common causes in United States

Causes charities work on most.

Community Development 235,146
Education 159,016
Religion 103,741
Arts & Culture 101,203
Human Rights 76,926
Health 65,250
Youth Development 47,775
Animal Welfare 32,425

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

Last updated
Jun 12, 2026
Registry checked
Jun 6, 2026
Profile completeness
90%

What we know and don't know

Exactly which public data we hold on this charity. Our score reflects transparency, not impact.

On record · 10
  • Financial data · FY2024 on record
  • Named leadership · 21 officers on file
  • Executive pay · Disclosed
  • Government registration · Registered with an official registry
  • Mission statement · Published
  • Official website · On record
  • Headquarters address · On file
  • Direct contact · Email or phone published
  • Tax-deductibility · Verified
  • Founding date · 2012
Not available · 1
  • Programs & activities
    No 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.

Read full methodology

Are you the owner or a board member?

If you represent this organization and want to correct or update its data, you can claim this listing to edit details yourself, or email [email protected] with the correct information. We review every request and respond within 30 days.

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