About American Rivers
We work for a future when every river is clean and healthy for people and wildlife.
Focus Areas
River restorationDam removalWater quality / clean waterRiver protectionNatural floodplains and watershed managementCommunity-based conservationPolicy and advocacy
Who They Fund
freshwater ecosystems (rivers, streams)aquatic species/fish populationsdownstream communities reliant on river water (drinking water, agriculture)recreational and cultural river users
Funding Style
About American Rivers
American Rivers Inc’s recent grantmaking centers on restoring damaged rivers and waters, with one of its largest awards going to Hgs LLC for that purpose. The foundation also supports hydropower reform, river protection, and work tied to clean water and watershed health. Its grant list points to a mix of on-the-ground restoration, policy-oriented work, and technical partners that help move projects forward. Several of the largest recent awards show that pattern. Oregon Department of Transportation received funding for restoring damaged rivers and waters, and Mountain True was funded for the same purpose. American Whitewater appears multiple times across recent years, including support for hydropower reform/river protection and for restoring damaged rivers and waters. Other recipients include the National Hydropower Association, Trout Unlimited, and the Low Impact Hydropower Institute, which indicates attention to the infrastructure and policy side of river health as well as habitat repair. The foundation’s stated aim is a future when every river is clean and healthy for people and wildlife, and its grants reflect that through restoration, protection, and reform work across a national recipient base.
What American Rivers Funds
River restoration is the clearest theme in the recent grants. Hgs LLC received $830,012 to restore damaged rivers and waters, while Oregon Department of Transportation received $565,509 for the same purpose. The foundation also funds conservation groups working in specific watersheds. Mountain True received $470,449 to restore damaged rivers and waters, and Connecticut River Conservancy received $190,000 for the same purpose. Policy and hydropower work is another visible strand. National Hydropower Association Inc received $206,089 to restore damaged rivers and waters, and American Whitewater received $146,350 in 2023 for hydropower reform/river protection. Its portfolio also reaches technical and research-oriented partners. Kearns & West Inc received $394,918, and the University of Kentucky Research Foundation received $67,262, both for restoring damaged rivers and waters.
How American Rivers Gives
Typical grant size sits at $12,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,767 at the median, and $45,424 at the 75th percentile, while the recent list also includes much larger project awards. The foundation is a regular funder and appears to make repeated grants to some recipients across multiple years: American Whitewater appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Trout Unlimited also appears in 2023 and 2024. The grantmaking pattern is project-based rather than individual-facing, and the foundation does not make program-related investments. Its portfolio is national in scope, with most grants going outside the District of Columbia.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$6.6M
Total Assets
$40.1M
Total Revenue
$53.4M
Total Expenses
$41.4M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $12K and $45K, with a median of $21K.
25th Percentile
$12K
Median
$21K
75th Percentile
$45K
Geographic Reach
National34 states funded
About 4% of grants go to recipients in CA.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
THOMAS C KIERNAN
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