Mianus River Gorge Inc

What it reported doing in 2025

Land protection: in 2025 mrg continued to work on land projects that we hope will lead to more protected land in the future. Mrg also continued habitat restoration work on many of the lands acquired in previous years including invasive species removal, replanting of native species, and protection of rare plant communities. Research & education: research assistantship program (rap) offers funding for graduate-level research in the fields of ecology and conservation. Each rap recipient receives a yearly stipend of 5000 for three years toward a specific project addressing an ecological question that affects mrg. Rap recipients also mentor high school students in our wtp program. In 2025, mrg hosted the rap student from cornell university, who is in the final year of his study, and also co-authored three scholarly papers. College intern program in suburban ecology (cise) offers internships to undergraduate students to study a variety of issues facing suburban preserves. Students work with staff and rap and wtp students. Mrg hosted four undergraduate interns in 2025. Our wildlife technician program (wtp) offers high school students from the region the opportunity to conduct a 2.5-year (from 10th grade to 12th grade) research study under the mentorship of our staff and rap students. The program was designed to complement the state university of New York science research in the high school (srhs) curriculum and provides access to scientific mentors, hands-on field experience, and immersion into real- world conservation problems facing suburban ecosystems. In 2025, mrg mentored 12 wtp students across 10th to 12th grade. Public programs & outreach: in 2025, mrg staff presented numerous public programs across the region about co-existing with bears, consulted with community members about invasive species biology and management, and lead general education programs / nature walks for approx. 100 people. Specific topics included deploying wildlife cameras; the old-growth forest; birding; owl biology; and winter tree id. Stewardship: in ongoing efforts to improve trail conditions for an estimated 12,000 annual visitors to the preserve, mianus river gorge created a stable path over safford cascade along the red trail. They placed large stepping stones in the stream that made the crossing safer and improved the natural flow of the stream. Mianus river gorge systematically follows a land management plan that divides protected land into management units, each with a specific strategy based on phenology and habitat type.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 21.7%; rating input score 22
• Program expense ratio: 66.2%; rating input score 66
• Fundraising efficiency: $18.82 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 57; 57th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • 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: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 72.1%; rating input score 96; 96th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 24.39; rating input score 96; 96th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 85; 85th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 37.2%; rating input score 4; 4th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 7.1% per year; rating input score 100; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 2.8% per year; rating input score 100; 21st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 5.2% per year; rating input score 100; 34th percentile among comparable filings