Los Angeles River Revitalization Corporation Dba River LA

What it reported doing in 2024

RIVER LA's program services all fall under the umbrella of bringing people, water, and nature together while pursuing a sustainable revitalization of the 51-miles of the Los Angeles River corridor. River LA secures critical resources via public/private partnerships that include corporations, foundations and private donors to build parks and public spaces as well as to develop renewable sources of water. Our focus is always on bringing community benefits to the public and to protecting our critical natural resources while building bridges that ensure an equitable future for all Southern California. Areas of work during the past fiscal year include: A. TAYLOR YARD -- FRIENDS OF TAYLOR YARD & 100 ACRE PARK River LA is working with the City of Los Angeles on the capital campaign and naming rights that will support the development of the "100 Acre partnership" which is building the largest park and open space in LA since Griffith Park in 1896. The initiative focuses on public/private partnerships to support the project. The park will integrate trails, native habitat areas, water quality improvement features, green spaces, trail recreational opportunities, a kayak launch and landing, gathering spaces or outdoor classrooms.B. CALIFORNIA STATE OUTDOOR EQUITY PROGRAM (OEP) GRANTRIVER LA was selected to lead the Outdoor Equity Grants Program (OEP) for the city of Compton. OEP was funded by the California Department of Parks and Recreation with the goal of increasing the ability of residents in low income urban and rural communities to participate in outdoor experiences at state parks and other public lands. River LAs role is to empower over 2000+ youth and families through outdoor leadership education, career pathways, environmental justice engagement, and access to nature. Programs include: camping along the LA river, wildlife education and stewardship, bike repair and bike riding for youth, gardening projects, hiking with wolves in the San Gabriel Mountains, animal husbandry with the wildlife learning center. C. The Rancho community in Burbank is one of only three equestrian communities left in Los Angeles Country. River LA worked with the Mountains and Recreation Conservancy (MRCA) to purchase and restore a property alongside the LA River and adjacent to the Mariposa Bridge giving all equestrians and hikers projection and access to Griffith Park in perpetuity.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 16.1%; rating input score 16
• Program expense ratio: 73.9%; rating input score 74
• Fundraising efficiency: $34.4 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 72; 72nd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 1 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 17
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 78.8%; rating input score 97; 97th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 4.49; rating input score 82; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 49.2%; rating input score 1; 1st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -7.7% per year; rating input score 0; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 1.5% per year; rating input score 100; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -6.4% per year; rating input score 0; 3rd percentile among comparable filings