Yadkin Riverkeeper Inc

What it reported doing in 2025

River protection and water quality monitoring - yadkin riverkeeper monitors water quality parameters throughout the yadkin river watershed to assess the health of river and its tributaries and lakes. The yadkin pee dee watershed is the second largest in North Carolina and provides drinking water for more than 1 million people. Based on this monitoring, aerial surveys and water-based patrols, yrk identifies and addresses threats to the river and its tributaries posed by inactive hazardous waste sites, coal ash disposal, land clearing for development, urban stormwater, municipal and industrial wastewater discharges, concentrated animal feeding operations and agricultural runoff. Yrk sampled more than 26 sites during the summer recreational season (memorial day - labor day) for harmful e. Coli levels and provides that information on its website and social media channels and the international swim guide website to make the public aware of where it is safe to swim and paddle on the river and yadkin lakes. Yrk also intensively samples high rock lake, the largest reservoir on the yadkin lakes, during the "algae growing season," april to october, for nutrient and bacteria pollution and chlorophyll-a levels to identify water quality concerns and the potential for the development of harmful algal blooms or habs, which can be dangerous for humans, pets and wildlife. Yrk staff responds to numerous pollution incident reports and provides resources to local communities on how to protect its water resources. Yrk is developing a watershed restoration plan for the south yadkin river that will identify sources of pollution and water quality improvement projects.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 74%; rating input score 74
• Program expense ratio: 78%; rating input score 78
• Fundraising efficiency: $7.76 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th 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; 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: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 5.4%; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.43; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.18; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 19.1%; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 2.1% per year; rating input score 100; 37th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 2.3% per year; rating input score 100; 32nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 9% per year; rating input score 100; 60th percentile among comparable filings