Raritan Headwaters Association

What it reported doing in 2025

Water quality monitoring efforts included the collection and analysis of biological, chemical, bacterial, and stream condition data from 86 monitoring sites throughout the raritan river headwaters region. Rha's monitoring program supported an annual report for the njdep, epa, municipalities, community partners, and the public through rha's online watershed report card. Raritan headwaters also conducted community well test events and individual household drinking water quality testing through its well testing program, providing residents with important information about private well water quality, including common regional concerns such as bacteria, nitrate, arsenic, lead, and pfas. Real-time stream data were collected from five stream-based monitoring stations.conservation and stewardship activities engaged volunteers, students, corporate groups, scouts, and community partners in hands-on work to protect and restore natural resources. Activities included tree planting, riparian buffer maintenance, trail clearing, invasive plant management, and habitat restoration on public and private conservation lands. Through rha's woods and waterways program, riparian restoration and tree planting projects continued across the watershed in partnership with local municipalities, landowners, schools, and conservation partners.rha's education initiatives included nature-based programming for young children, school groups, high school students, and adults. Programs included nature days at fairview farm wildlife preserve, watershed university for high school students, field-based environmental education programs, guided kayak experiences, service-learning opportunities, and community education events. Watershed tools for local leaders seminars and municipal outreach programs provided education on critical environmental topics to citizens, municipal officials, and other decision-makers.policy advocacy for water protection was undertaken in partnership with organizations such as the New Jersey council of watersheds, municipal partners, and statewide conservation organizations. Rha advanced advocacy related to water supply resilience, drought management, land preservation, stormwater management, source water protection, and natural resource conservation. Collaborative efforts with federal, state, county, municipal, and nonprofit partners also supported planning and implementation of river restoration projects, including dam removal and fish passage projects in the south branch watershed.as an accredited land trust, rha actively pursued the preservation of open space, riparian areas, forests, wetlands, and wildlife habitat throughout the headwaters region. Stewardship activities included annual monitoring of conservation easements and rha-owned preserves, baseline documentation, landowner communication, habitat management, and long-term protection of conserved lands. Rha also collaborated with the New Jersey highlands council, rutgers university water resources program, and the New Jersey water supply authority to develop watershed management plans for three subwatersheds in the highlands region.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 98.5%; rating input score 98
• Program expense ratio: 85.8%; rating input score 86
• Fundraising efficiency: $6.39 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 21; 21st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• 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 7 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: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -8.3%; rating input score 11; 11th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 4.18; rating input score 78; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.1; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 90; 90th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.6% per year; rating input score 100; 39th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 4.3% per year; rating input score 100; 32nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 1% per year; rating input score 100; 13th percentile among comparable filings