About River Network
River Network supports and strengthens local and regional groups to protect and restore rivers, secure safe and affordable drinking water, and build climate-resilient communities through training, funding, advocacy, and technical assistance.
Focus Areas
River and watershed protectionDrinking water access and affordabilityClimate resilienceCommunity-led research and technical assistanceCapacity building and leadership developmentAdvocacy and policy support
Who They Fund
freshwater ecosystemsrivers and streamsriparian wildlife and habitatswatershed-dependent communities
Funding Style
project-based conservation grants
About River Network
River Network uses grantmaking to back local and regional groups working on rivers, drinking water, and climate resilience, often through training, funding, advocacy, and technical assistance. A defining feature of the foundation is its role in supporting Wild & Scenic rivers, including a Patagonia-linked grant program and stewardship funding tied to the U.S. Forest Service. That puts river protection and on-the-ground restoration at the center of its work. Its recent grants show a mix of direct conservation support and organizational capacity building. Groundwork USA in Yonkers received $50,525, while the Lower Ninth Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development in New Orleans received $44,075, both in 2025. River Network also funds groups working across different parts of the country, from watershed councils and conservation districts to community organizations engaged in river protection. The foundation’s giving is not limited to one type of grantee; it supports nonprofits working on stewardship, habitat restoration, community engagement, and policy-related river work. The pattern is place-based and practical rather than purely project-specific. Grants appear to support organizations that are already working in their communities, with an emphasis on strengthening local capacity around water and river systems. That makes River Network a funder focused on helping community-based groups sustain long-term protection and restoration efforts.
What River Network Funds
River conservation is the clearest thread in River Network’s grantmaking. It funded Living Lands & Waters in East Moline, Illinois with $20,000 in 2024 and $20,000 in 2023, showing support for ongoing river work over multiple years. In California, it gave $15,560 to the Upper Merced River Watershed Council in Mariposa and the same amount to the Tuolumne River Preservation Trust in Sonora, both in 2024. The foundation also supports watershed and habitat work in the Southwest and beyond. Watershed Management Group in Tucson received $17,536 in 2023, and Amigos Bravos in Taos received $12,950 in 2025. In the Pacific Northwest, Curry Watersheds Nonprofit in Gold Beach was awarded $14,285 in 2024. Beyond conservation, River Network funds community organizations tied to water and environmental justice. The HUUB in Orange, New Jersey received $33,000 in 2023 and $25,000 in 2024, while the Leona Tate Foundation for Change in New Orleans received $15,000 in 2024.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$3.2M
Total Assets
$3.5M
Total Revenue
$6.1M
Total Expenses
$6.4M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $7K and $14K, with a median of $9K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$9K
75th Percentile
$14K
Geographic Reach
National33 states funded
About 7% of grants go to recipients in CA.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
BARBARA LONG
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Where River Network Funds
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for River Network.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 135 | $4.1M | 98.5% |
| 2 | Puerto Rico | 2 |
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