Home Countries United States Environment River Project
RI

River Project

To realize a regenerative, equitable, just, and climate-resilient Los Angeles through radical curiosity, evidence-based watershed planning, and positive action. Through our work we provide local government and communities …

The River Project

Environment Studio City, CA EIN: 954858263 (IRS) Sign up to see website
Claim this charity
Ready to give?
100% goes to River Project

GiveRadar doesn't take a cut. We couldn't find a direct donate page, so visit their site.

Visit www.theriverproject.org
70
Integrity Assessment
Strong transparency
70/100 · methodology

About River Project

The River Project serves as an ongoing resource for local government, academia, organizations, and community members interested in watershed management, native habitats, land use, and climate resiliency. We participated in the City's Community Plan Updates and the safety element of the City's General Plan, the County Climate Adaptation Plan, and the US Army Corps LA River Disposition Study. We served on numerous technical advisory and steering committees, including: the USEPA Groundwater Modeling Technical Committee for the San Fernando Valley Superfund Site; the Steering Committee for the Upper Los Angeles River Watershed's Integrated Regional Water Management Group; the Science Advisory Board of Woodbury University;the Southland 30X30 Regional Advisory Group; the Advisory Committee for the City's Biodiversity Index; the Technical Advisory Committee …

Founded
Headquarters
Studio City, CA
Foundation type
Publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2))
NTEE code
C30
IRS subsection
501(c)(03)
Ruling date
Size
small

Verified certifications

Confirmed against the issuing authority - not self-reported.

IRS Tax-Deductible since 2004

Mission

To realize a regenerative, equitable, just, and climate-resilient Los Angeles through radical curiosity, evidence-based watershed planning, and positive action. Through our work we provide local government and communities with the tools to safely adapt to rapidly changing conditions and co-create a climate-resilient future.

Focus areas & reach

· What they work on and where

How it stacks up against peers

· vs. 8 similar environment in United States
CEO comp as % of revenue This charity: 23.32%
Peer average: 0.48%
Integrity Assessment This charity: 70
Peer average: 90

Concerns

· 1 red flag
High Executive Pay
Top executive compensation is 23.8% of total expenses ($22,506 of $94,557).

Where every $1 goes

· FY2024 · IRS 990 (FY2024)
$0.38
Program$0.38

GiveRadar Analysis

Original analysis from GiveRadar's dataset of comparable organizations

Based on the records currently verified by GiveRadar, River Project has a complete profile, cross-referenced across 3 independent sources including the IRS.

  • It has more complete contact information than nearly all similar organizations, with a verified website, email, phone and address on record. See national comparisons
  • It has more complete governance disclosure than nearly all similar organizations, because GiveRadar has verified leadership, executive compensation, a mission statement and a founding date. See national comparisons
  • GiveRadar's profile for River Project draws on its financial disclosures and its governance, in line with the typical environment charities in the United States it tracks. View this cohort
GiveRadar has verified
  • government registration
  • financial records (5 filed years)
  • disclosed leadership
  • a website
  • a contact email
  • third-party accreditation
Not yet verified by GiveRadar
  • 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 Project is a registered environment nonprofit based in Studio City, CA, United States. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It was founded in 2000 and has been operating for 26 years. Its EIN is 954858263. 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 70/100, which reflects how much public information is available, not whether the charity is legitimate. The organization reports $97K in annual revenue. 10 officers and directors are publicly disclosed. GiveRadar has identified 1 potential concern.

River Project's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 954858263. 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 Project has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 70/100. 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 70 ('Strong transparency') reflects well-documented governance, recent financials, named leadership, and working contact details. For comparison, the average integrity assessment for environment charities in United States is 90/100.

River Project is located in Studio City, CA, United States. The organization was established in 2000 and has been active for 26 years.

Based on official tax filings, River Project has $97K in annual revenue. Its revenue is below the peer average of $2M. Create a free GiveRadar account to view the complete financial breakdown with year-over-year trends.

River Project is classified as an Environment 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 $97K in annual revenue. The organization has 10 disclosed officers and directors.

GiveRadar has identified 1 potential concern for River 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 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). 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.

The River Project serves as an ongoing resource for local government, academia, organizations, and community members interested in watershed management, native habitats, land use, and climate resiliency. We participated in the City's Community Plan Updates and the safety element of the City's General Plan, the County Climate Adaptation Plan, and the US Army Corps LA River Disposition Study. We served on numerous technical advisory and steering committees, including: the USEPA Groundwater Modeling Technical Committee for the San Fernando Valley Superfund Site; the Steering Committee for the Upper Los Angeles River Watershed's Integrated Regional Water Management Group; the Science Advisory Board of Woodbury University;the Southland 30X30 Regional Advisory Group; the Advisory... River Project is classified as an environment organization registered in United States. The organization was founded in 2000.

Among environment charities registered in United States: Its annual revenue of $97K is below the peer average of $2M.

Yes, donations to River Project are generally tax-deductible in the United States. River Project is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Its EIN is 954858263, 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
$10K-$100K
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

See 5 years of revenue, expense breakdowns, and balance sheet.

Sign up to view
Already have an account? Log in
No credit card · Takes 20 seconds

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
12

Leadership

From FY2024 filing

ME
Melanie W•••••
Director

Officers & trustees (3)

Source: Public filings

See full names, roles, and stories

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

Already have an account? Log in
Sign up to view

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
$0.1M revenue
FY2024
IRS 990
Form filed
$0.2M revenue
FY2023
IRS 990
Form filed
$0.2M revenue
FY2022
IRS 990
Form filed
$0.5M revenue
FY2021
IRS 990
Form filed
$0.3M revenue
FY2020
IRS 990

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience.

Have you donated or volunteered here?

Share your experience - it takes 30 seconds. Verified reviews help other donors decide.

Sign up to write a review

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
Environment this charity 30,143
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 - 10 disclosed in the public registry.
Supplementary verification
Charity Navigator

Data freshness

Last updated
Jun 12, 2026
Registry checked
Jun 6, 2026
Profile completeness
80%

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 · 10 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 · 2000
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 Project

What is River Project?
River Project is a environment publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)) based in Studio City, United States. The River Project serves as an ongoing resource for local government, academia, organizations, and community members interested in watershed management, native habitats, land use, and climate resiliency. We participated in the City's Community Plan Updates and the safety element of the City's General Plan, the County Climate Adaptation Plan, and the US Army Corps LA River Disposition Study. We served on numerous technical advisory and steering committees, including: the USEPA Groundwater Modeling Technical Committee for the San Fernando Valley Superfund Site; the Steering Committee for the Upper Los Angeles River Watershed's Integrated Regional Water Management Group; the Science Advisory Board of Woodbury University;the Southland 30X30 Regional Advisory Group; the Advisory Committee for the City's Biodiversity Index; the Technical Advisory Committee for Taylor Yard's Parcel G2; the Policy Committee of the Green LA Water Group; the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Areas Steering Committee; and the Urban Waters Federal Partnership for the Los Angeles River. The River Project continues to provide guest lectures for local university cohorts studying various aspects of the river, including policy, history, climate impacts, art, hydrology, and public health. LA County Regional & Rural Park Needs Analysis: The River Project provided community outreach and engagement services for the LA County study. The River Project continued to serve as Fiscal Sponsor for two initiatives funded by the Climate Emergency Fund, the McKay Family Foundation, and the Aileen Getty Foundation. The first for the development of creative and visual assets for nonviolent climate actions in Los Angeles, and the second for the development of a digital application to support a platform for mutual aid and regenerative climate actions connecting the global north to those in the global south. Studio City Greenway: The River Project continued to maintain relationships with and field questions from stakeholders
When was River Project founded?
River Project was founded in 2000.
Who leads River Project?
Melanie Winter serves as Director.
Where is River Project located?
Headquartered in Studio City, CA, United States.
What is River Project's annual budget?
Annual revenue for fiscal year 2024 is approximately $10K-$100K.
Is River Project trustworthy?
River Project has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 70 out of 100 (Strong 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 Project's registration number?
IRS EIN: 954858263.
What is River Project's website?
http://www.theriverproject.org