River Heritage Conservancy Inc

What it reported doing in 2025

Founded in 2016, river heritage conservancy, inc. (the organization) is an Indiana based nonprofit corporation formed to create, improve, and sustain exceptional parks with natural and historic resources unique to the falls of the Ohio area, advancing the region's quality of life and environment through public/private partnerships. Origin park is the centerpiece project for this initiative, for which the organization has acquired development control of 340 acres of the planned 430 acre park and produced a master plan.the organization's primary source of support has been provided by the local philanthropic community through grants and contributions. Going forward, the organization, working with community leaders and community organizations will undertake the role of soliciting and accepting contributions and grants from the general public, governmental organizations, and other funding sources.with an expanded team of nine full-time employees and a volunteer board of directors, river heritage conservancy (rhc) advanced both the size and scope of origin park while activating areas for public access and programming through partnerships with local organizations. Key activities included securing additional land purchase agreements, conducting environmental investigations, facilitating public engagement initiatives, and focusing on identifying additional funding sources.on july 24, 2023, the organization's board of directors passed a motion to create a new single member limited liability company in Indiana to operate and possibly own the whitewater facility. The new single member llc was formed in august 2023 and is named wildwater ventures, llc.the consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the organization and wildwater ventures, llc. All intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 15.8%; rating input score 16
• Program expense ratio: 70.3%; rating input score 70
• Fundraising efficiency: $45.49 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 73; 73rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • 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; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Fail
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 81.2%; rating input score 97; 97th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 15.58; rating input score 90; 90th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.03; rating input score 82; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 19.4%; rating input score 6; 6th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 28.4% per year; rating input score 100; 93rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 29.5% per year; rating input score 100; 96th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 32.9% per year; rating input score 100; 97th percentile among comparable filings