PLATINUM2023

Ohio River Foundation

aka ORF   |   Cincinnati, OH   |  www.ohioriverfdn.org

Mission

Ohio River Foundation (ORF) is dedicated to protecting and improving the water quality and ecology of the Ohio River and all waters in its 11-state watershed. ORF works towards these goals through environmental education and conservation activities that serve to inspire environmental stewardship for the benefit and enjoyment of current and future citizens.

Ruling year info

2000

Executive Director

Mr Rich Cogen

Main address

P.O. Box 42460

Cincinnati, OH 45242 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

31-1704768

NTEE code info

Alliance/Advocacy Organizations (C01)

Land Resources Conservation (C34)

Environmental Education and Outdoor Survival Programs (C60)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

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Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Education Programs

The Education Programs primarily focus on youth education through River Explorer and Mussels in the Classroom provides hands-on education to thousand of students each year in Greater Cincinnati, Columbus, and Lexington. Our Student Conservation Leadership Program provides work-study-training to youth interested in developing environmental stewardship leadership skills and ethics.

Population(s) Served
Students
Children and youth

The ORF conservation program provides critical analysis of policies, procedures, and projects, to influence better land and water management and encourages water conservation activities. The activities of the program are:

o Facilitate collaborative efforts to develop a comprehensive Ohio River ecosystem restoration program.

o Engage in restoration activities. Assist communities in removing small (lowhead) dams and low-water crossings. Provide Invasive species removal and management services (including volunteer coordination) for public and large private landowners.

o Build coalition support for pollution reduction in the Ohio River watershed.

o Investigate Clean Water Act violations and compliance issues.

o Student Conservation Leaders Course: restoring habitat on public lands and training the next generation of environmental stewards.

Population(s) Served
Adults
Adolescents

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of free participants on field trips

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adolescents, Children, Preteens

Related Program

Education Programs

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of students participating in programs

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adolescents, Children, Preteens

Related Program

Education Programs

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Acres of natural habitat restored

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Older adults, Young adults

Related Program

Conservation Program

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of trees planted

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Older adults, Young adults

Related Program

Conservation Program

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Number of invasive species removed from managed area(s)

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Older adults, Young adults

Related Program

Conservation Program

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

ORF is dedicated to protecting and improving the water quality and ecology of the Ohio River and all waters in its 11-state watershed. ORF works towards these goals through environmental education and conservation activities that serve to inspire environmental stewardship and bolster climate change resiliency for native species, habitats, and communities.

GOAL 1: Continue to grow education programming to sustainably deliver current programs (River Explorer (RE) and Mussels-in-the-Classroom (MIC)) to 3,000 to 5,000 students/year.
GOAL 2: Expand restoration programs in watershed communities.
GOAL 3: Strengthen ORF’s visibility and reputation as a leader in environmental education and conservation programs.
GOAL 4: Communicate and advocate for Regional/National issues that are important to the Ohio River and watershed, primarily by collaborating with other regional and national environmental groups.
GOAL 5: Strengthen the stability and diversity of our funding sources.

ORF is a dynamic organization with full-time staff devoted to its education, advocacy, and restoration programs. Full-time staff is also focused on communications and fundraising from a diversity of sources: private, corporate, and government grants; individuals, events, contracts, and fee for service. ORf has proven its capabilities since it was founded in 2000.

Since 2000, ORF has planted 15,600 trees, educated more than 53,000 students, removed 400,000 invasive plants and trees, and restored and reconnect 220 miles of rivers. ORF has also fought for improving federal and state policy and regulations to better protect and improve water quality and overall Ohio River Watershed ecology.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection, It is difficult to get honest feedback from the people we serve, It is difficult to identify actionable feedback

Financials

Ohio River Foundation
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Ohio River Foundation

Board of directors
as of 11/28/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Mr. Bill Hayes

Frost Brown Todd

Term: 2021 - 2023

Rob Shimp

Procter & Gamble

Kari Wethington

Scripps

Nicole Voss

Ashland

Gary Allen

Valvoline

Amy Tressler

Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District

Mick Vank

Banker

Bill Hayes

Frost Brown Todd

Sarah Molloy

Dentsply Sirona

John Bloch

Newly Weds Foods

Tom Sperber

Northwestern Mutual

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 11/28/2023
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 11/28/2023

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.