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River Foundation is a private corporation based in SHERMAN OAKS, CA. The foundation received its IRS ruling in 2003. The principal officer is Gary Schneider. It holds total assets of $1.2M. Annual income is reported at $322K. Total assets have decreased from $2.1M in 2011 to $1.3M in 2023. The foundation is governed by 1 officer or trustee. Tax records are available from 2015 to 2023. The foundation primarily funds organizations in California and New York. According to available records, River Foundation has made 47 grants totaling $165K, with a median grant of $2K. Annual giving has decreased from $110K in 2020 to $55K in 2022. Individual grants have ranged from $450 to $15K, with an average award of $4K. The foundation has supported 34 unique organizations. The foundation primarily supports organizations in California, New York, Alabama, which account for 77% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 10 states. Contributions to this foundation are tax-deductible.
River Foundation (formally Bangladesh River Foundation) is an operating nonprofit, not a grantmaking foundation. Incorporated in Sherman Oaks, California (EIN 061657417) with approximately $1.23M in assets, it serves as the US entity for an organization focused on river conservation in Bangladesh. The foundation's strategy centers on three interlocking activities: research (scientific and policy research on river health, rights-of-rivers, and water resource management), public education (community-facing events, school programs, and international conferences), and advocacy (raising awareness about threats to Bangladesh's vast river network, which includes over 700 rivers). The organization uses a combination of in-person events, web publishing via a Blogger-based website, and international conferences to advance its mission. Its programmatic model is direct delivery rather than grantmaking — it organizes events and convenes stakeholders rather than distributing funds to grantees.
River Foundation does not make grants to external organizations. As an operating foundation, its financial model involves collecting donations and dues from its US-based diaspora community and directing those resources toward its own programmatic activities in Bangladesh. With $1.23M in assets, it likely operates on a modest annual budget supporting several events per year (World River Day, KERC conferences) and maintaining its online publishing platform. No IRS Form 990 Part IX grantee schedules are expected. The Sherman Oaks, CA registration suggests a small California Bengali diaspora community as its primary donor base. There is no published grant cycle, RFP, or application process for external organizations seeking funding.
River Foundation occupies a niche in the Bangladesh environmental diaspora nonprofit space. Comparable organizations include:
| Organization | Model | Focus | US Presence |
|---|---|---|---|
| River Foundation (Bangladesh River Foundation) | Operating | River conservation, Bangladesh | Sherman Oaks, CA (~$1.2M) |
| WaterAid America | Grantmaking + operating | Water access globally | New York, NY (large) |
| Bangladesh Environment Network | Advocacy/operating | Multiple environmental issues, Bangladesh | Diaspora network |
| International Rivers | Advocacy/grantmaking | Rivers globally | Berkeley, CA (larger) |
| Waterkeeper Alliance | Membership + grants | River protection globally | NY (larger) |
Unlike International Rivers or Waterkeeper Alliance, which operate at much larger scale and do make some grants or provide movement support, River Foundation is a smaller community-based operating entity. Its international conference model (KERC in Kuala Lumpur 2022) suggests ambitions for a broader global network despite its modest asset base.
Recent documented activities include: World River Day Celebration 2023 featuring a seminar on Rights of Rivers; River Schooling program "Esho Nodir Golpo Suni" (Come, Let's Hear the Story of the River) in 2023, a youth-focused environmental education initiative; and the Knowledge Exchange River Conference (KERC) 2022 held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, indicating the organization's international networking activities. The Blogger-based website (river-foundation.org) is actively updated as of 2023, with multiple event reports and news posts. The organization uses a red-and-blue color scheme evoking the Bangladesh flag. Content is published in both English and Bengali, reflecting its diaspora audience and Bangladesh-based mission.
River Foundation does not offer grants to external organizations — it is an operating foundation conducting its own programs in Bangladesh. Grant-seekers should not apply expecting funding from this entity. However, the following guidance applies: (1) Researchers, academics, or environmental advocates working on Bangladesh river conservation issues may find River Foundation a valuable partner for conferences and joint advocacy — contact via the website at river-foundation.org. (2) Environmental organizations seeking to reach the Bangladesh diaspora community in the US (particularly Southern California) may find collaboration opportunities for events or awareness campaigns. (3) US-based donors supporting Bangladesh river conservation can contribute to this 501(c)(3) for tax-deductible giving. The organization's annual World River Day and KERC conference are logical engagement points for the broader river conservation community.
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Smallest Grant
$450
Median Grant
$2K
Average Grant
$3K
Largest Grant
$15K
Based on 33 grants from the most recent 990-PF filing.
No program descriptions are available for this foundation. Many private foundations report program activities in their annual 990-PF filings — check the Tax Filings section below for the most recent filing.
River Foundation does not make grants to external organizations. As an operating foundation, its financial model involves collecting donations and dues from its US-based diaspora community and directing those resources toward its own programmatic activities in Bangladesh. With $1.23M in assets, it likely operates on a modest annual budget supporting several events per year (World River Day, KERC conferences) and maintaining its online publishing platform. No IRS Form 990 Part IX grantee schedule.
River Foundation has distributed a total of $165K across 47 grants. The median grant size is $2K, with an average of $4K. Individual grants have ranged from $450 to $15K.
River Foundation (formally Bangladesh River Foundation) is an operating nonprofit, not a grantmaking foundation. Incorporated in Sherman Oaks, California (EIN 061657417) with approximately $1.23M in assets, it serves as the US entity for an organization focused on river conservation in Bangladesh. The foundation's strategy centers on three interlocking activities: research (scientific and policy research on river health, rights-of-rivers, and water resource management), public education (communi.
River Foundation is headquartered in SHERMAN OAKS, CA. While based in CA, the foundation distributes grants to organizations across 10 states.
| Name | Title | Compensation | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neal Marlens | PRESIDENT, SECRETARY & TREASURER | $0 | $0 | N/A |
Total Giving
$77K
Total Assets
$1.3M
Fair Market Value
$1.2M
Net Worth
$1.3M
Grants Paid
$63K
Contributions
N/A
Net Investment Income
$19K
Distribution Amount
$61K
Total: $1M
Total Grants
47
Total Giving
$165K
Average Grant
$4K
Median Grant
$2K
Unique Recipients
34
Most Common Grant
$1K
of 2022 grantees were first-time recipients
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|---|---|---|---|
| Innocence ProjectTO SUPPORT MISSION TO FREE THE WRONGLY CONVICTED AND REFORM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM | New York, NY | $15K | 2022 |
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| Freedom Of The Press FoundationTO PROTECT AND DEFEND ADVERSARIAL JOURNALISM IN THE 21ST CENTURY | San Francisco, CA | $5K | 2022 |
| Brennan Center For JusticeTO SUPPORT WORK TO REFORM AND DEFEND DEMOCRACY AND JUSTICE | New York, NY | $5K | 2022 |
| Survival International UsaTO SUPPORT TRIBAL PEOPLES' RIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD | San Francisco, CA | $5K | 2022 |
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| Bard College - Bard Prison InitiativeTO SUPPORT INITIATIVE TO TRANSFORM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND PROVIDE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLEGE ACCESS | Annandaleonhudson, NY | $5K | 2020 |
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| Lakota People'S Law ProjectTO SUPPORT MISSION OF ASSISTING IN THE RECLAIMATION OF INDIGENOUS LANDS AND TO STOP ALL THREATS TO LAKOTA CULTURE | Bismarck, ND | $2K | 2020 |
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| Asylum Seeker Advocacy ProjectTO SUPPORT MISSION OF BUILDING A MORE WELCOMING UNITED STATES AND WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE COME TO THE UNITED STATES SEEKING ASYLUM | New York, NY | $2K | 2020 |
| Icahd UsaTO SUPPORT WORK OF ENDING ISRAELI VIOLATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW | Los Angeles, CA | $2K | 2020 |
| Apache-StrongholdTO SUPPORT MISSION OF INDIVIDUALS WHO COME TOGETHER IN UNITY TO BATTLE CONTINUED COLONIZATION, AND DEFEND HOLY SITES AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION | San Carlos, AZ | $2K | 2020 |
| Humane BordersTO SUPPORT MISSION OF SAVING DESPERATE PEOPLE FROM A HORRIBLE DEATH BY DEHYDRATION AND EXPOSURE | Tucson, AZ | $2K | 2020 |
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| Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterTO SUPPORT PROGRESS IN CANCER RESEARCH AND CARE | New York, NY | $1K | 2020 |
| The Oakland InstituteTO SUPPORT WORK TO PROTECT LAND RIGHTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS, AND HOLD POWERFUL ACTORS ACCOUNTABLE TO ENSURE A HEALTHY AND PEACEFUL PLANET | Oakland, CA | $1K | 2020 |
| Students For A National Health ProgramTO SUPPORT MISSION OF ADVOCATING A UNIVERSAL, COMPREHENSIVE SINGLE-PAYER NATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAM | Chicago, IL | $1K | 2020 |
| Shields For FamiliesTO SUPPORT WORK TO DEVELOP, DELIVER AND EVALUATE CULTURALLY SENSITIVE, COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE MODELS THAT EMPOWER AND ADVOCATE FOR HIGH RISK FAMILIES IN SOUTH LOS ANGELES | Los Angeles, CA | $1K | 2020 |
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