River Keepers

What River Keepers does

River Keepers is a Fargo, North Dakota-based nonprofit environmental organization established in 1990 to address the Red River of the North being underutilized, underappreciated, and occasionally mistreated in the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area. The organization operates a three-pillar program framework branded as "Learn · Sustain · Enjoy," delivering water education (Red River Water Festival, interpretive signage, Resilient Yard Workshops), conservation initiatives (Storm Drain Marking Program, Reforest the Red, community cleanups, water quality monitoring), and recreational programming (fishing clinics, paddling excursions, Race the Red canoe and kayak races). It is led by Executive Director Christine Holland and Project Coordinator Kimberly Radebaugh and is supported by roughly 1,500 annual volunteers.

The organization generates revenue through individual donations, annual memberships at multiple tiers, corporate sponsorships (Applied Digital, Buffalo-Red River Watershed District, Southeast Cass Water Resource District), event registration fees (Race the Red at $20 early bird / $25 regular plus optional $15 rentals), and a small e-commerce merchandise catalog sold primarily through local pickup in Fargo — branded apparel ($19.99 T-shirts), environmental products ($65 DIY rain barrel kits, $85 assembled barrels and compost tumblers), a catfishing guidebook ($18.95), notecards, and stickers. Distribution is concentrated at its 1120 28th Ave. N headquarters and through partner-operated venues such as Moorhead Parks and Recreation's Hjemkomst Landing and the Fargo Park District's Lindenwood Park. Programmatic products are essentially community events and education services; there is no proprietary technology platform underpinning the offering.

Partnerships are central to delivery: long-standing co-development partners include FM Walleyes (fishing tournaments), Moorhead Parks and Recreation (paddling), Fargo Park District (kayak rentals), and international Sister Rivers partners Eco-TIRAS, Rogher Ehnstrom Nature Center, and the Natural and History City Museum of Bendery. The organization has accumulated recognition including a 2004 Friend of the EPA Award from the U.S. EPA, the 2022 Moorheart Award from the City of Moorhead, and the 2025 YWCA Women of the Year (Arts, Culture and Community Category). Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed, and the entity is governed independently with no parent organization.

Name

River Keepers

Legal name

River Keepers

Website

https://riverkeepers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

River Keepers is a Fargo, North Dakota nonprofit founded in 1990 that connects the Fargo-Moorhead community to the Red River of the North through water education, conservation, and recreation programming, funded via donations, memberships, sponsorships, event fees, and merchandise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wetlands, Rivers & Freshwater Nature Tours (THAJAIAH), Riparian & Watershed Reforestation (Streambank Stabilization) (AFAMACAK), Wetland, Riparian & Buffer Services (within forest landscapes) (AFAMAMAI)

Keywords

• River conservation
• Environmental education
• Watershed stewardship
• Water quality monitoring
• Community recreation

Headquarters

HQ city

Fargo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Memberships: Individual donors and members provide financial support through annual memberships at various levels and one-time donations.
2. Merchandise Sales: E-commerce sales of branded merchandise including T-shirts, rain barrels, compost tumblers, books, notecards, and stickers. Products are available for local pickup or limited shipping.
3. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors support events and programs. Notable sponsors include Applied Digital for Race the Red, and sustaining sponsors Buffalo-Red River Watershed District and Southeast Cass Water Resource District.
4. Event Fees: Registration fees for events such as Race the Red races ($20 early bird, $25 after June 29, plus optional $15 canoe/kayak rental) and golf scrambles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

River Keepers is a nonprofit organization that runs environmental education, river conservation, and community recreation programs along the Red River of the North in the Fargo-Moorhead region. Its core offerings include education programs (Red River Water Festival, interpretive signs, Resilient Yard Workshops), conservation initiatives (Storm Drain Marking, Reforest the Red, cleanups, water quality monitoring), and recreational events (Race the Red races, Youth Fishing Clinics, River Paddling Excursions), supported by a small e-commerce shop selling branded merchandise, rain barrels, compost tumblers, and publications.

Product overview

River Keepers operates as a non-profit river conservation organization offering a modest e-commerce product catalog alongside community education and recreation programs. The product portfolio consists of branded merchandise (t-shirts, stickers), educational publications (fishing guidebook), and environmental sustainability products (rain barrels, compost tumblers) available for local pickup. The organization's core work centers on three pillars: Learn (water education, interpretive signage, Red River Water Festival, Resilient Yard Workshops), Sustain (Storm Drain Marking, cleanups, Reforest the Red, water quality monitoring), and Enjoy (fishing events, paddling excursions, Race the Red races). Notable programs include the Sister Rivers international partnership with the Dniester River in Moldova and the Living Lab Master Plan for riparian restoration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rain Barrel DIY Kit A 55-gallon rain barrel DIY kit sold for $65 to community members interested in rainwater harvesting. Includes barrel, Flexi-Fit Diverter, 3-piece Hole Saw Set, spigot, fill hoses, installation instructions, and a 'Do Not Drink This Water' sticker. Available for local pickup in Fargo, ND only.
• Assembled Rain Barrel A pre-assembled 55-gallon rain barrel sold for $85, available in blue or white, offered seasonally for community members who prefer a ready-to-use rainwater harvesting solution. Local pickup only at the Fargo, ND office.
• Assembled Compost Tumbler An assembled compost tumbler made from a 55-gallon used food grade barrel, sold for $85 in blue or white. Seasonally available for local pickup at the Fargo, ND office and intended for community members interested in river-friendly yard management.
• River Keepers T-shirts Branded River Keepers t-shirts sold for $19.99 each in multiple colors (Coyote Brown, Mustard, Russet, Green), in various fabric blends (Perfect Tri, Port & Company Ring Spun Blend). Available in limited sizes via the online shop with local pickup in Fargo, ND.
• Sister Rivers Notecards A set of six watercolor notecards featuring the Sister Rivers program artwork, sold for $5.00 to commemorate the international partnership between the Red River of the North and the Dniester River in Moldova. Available for pickup or shipping.
• Relaxed Angler's Guide to Catfishing on the Red River of the North An $18.95 guidebook that encourages anglers of all skill levels to take advantage of catfishing opportunities on the Red River of the North. Available for local pickup or shipping.
• River Keepers Stickers Branded vinyl and bumper stickers featuring River Keepers logos. Includes a 3"x2.5" Race the Red vinyl sticker at $3.00 and a bumper sticker with the old River Keepers logo at $1.00 (currently out of stock).
• Race the Red An annual canoe and kayak race held on the Red River for community members and recreational users, with registration through Eventbrite. Early bird fee is $20/person before June 29 at 4pm, then $25/person; optional canoe/kayak rental is $15; River Keepers members receive a discount code.
• Golf Scramble Annual Golf Scramble fundraising event held to support River Keepers' operations and community programs, including prizes and a silent auction. Registration is open to community members, sponsors, and corporate partners.
• Annual Membership Program Annual membership program offered at multiple tiers to individual supporters in the Fargo-Moorhead community. Members receive benefits such as a Race the Red event discount code and support the organization's Learn, Sustain, and Enjoy programming.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,500 volunteers annually participate in conservation initiatives
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Eco-TIRAScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational environmental association of River Keepers based in Moldova. Developed Sister River relationship between the Red River of the North and the Dniester River in Moldova, Europe. Partnered with funding from Museums & Communities Collaboration Abroad (MCCA) program of the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
• Rodger Ehnstrom Nature CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in Wahpeton, ND. Partner in the Sister Rivers program with Museums & Communities Collaboration Abroad (MCCA) funding.
• Natural and History City Museum of BenderyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in the Transdniester region of Moldova. Partner in Sister Rivers international exchange program.
• FM WalleyescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner for Youth Fishing Clinics and Ruler of the Red Fishing Tournament. Helps organize and sponsor youth fishing events.
• Moorhead Parks and RecreationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner for River Paddling Excursions. Operates Rental Shack at Hjemkomst Landing in Moorhead providing canoe and kayak rentals and guided tours of the river.
• Buffalo-Red River Watershed DistrictminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSustaining sponsor providing ongoing financial support for River Keepers operations.
• Southeast Cass Water Resource DistrictminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSustaining sponsor providing ongoing financial support for River Keepers operations.
• Applied DigitalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Race the Red event. Their generous sponsorship includes free meals for registered racers at Heart 'n' Soul Community Cafe.
• Clay County Soil & Water Conservation DistrictminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAwarded River Keepers as 2018 Outstanding Conservationist. Ongoing partnership in conservation efforts.
• Cass County Soil Conservation DistrictminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAwarded River Keepers with 2012 Urban Conservation Achievement Award. Ongoing partnership in conservation efforts.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Surfrider Foundation: Nonprofit grassroots organization focused on waterway protection, water quality, and recreational use of coastal and inland waters. Comparable community/activist, volunteer-driven nonprofit waterway advocacy model.
• Charles River Watershed Association: Regional nonprofit dedicated to protecting and improving the Charles River through science-based advocacy, water quality monitoring, and public engagement. Highly comparable single-river regional nonprofit with recreational and educational programming.
• Friends of the Mississippi River: Regional nonprofit working to protect the Mississippi River corridor in the Twin Cities through education, habitat restoration, volunteer cleanups, and recreation. Highly comparable regional river-conservation nonprofit model with similar volunteer and outreach programming.
• Chattahoochee Riverkeeper: Atlanta-based nonprofit Waterkeeper Alliance member focused on protecting the Chattahoochee through education, recreation, water quality monitoring, and volunteer stewardship. Directly comparable model to River Keepers' Learn/Sustain/Enjoy pillars and Red River volunteer-driven stewardship approach.
• Hudson Riverkeeper: Original 'Riverkeeper' organization focused on cleaning up the Hudson River, combining litigation, advocacy, water-quality testing, and recreational use. Direct conceptual peer to River Keepers in mission and grassroots nonprofit river advocacy.
• Great Rivers Chicago: Chicago-based nonprofit advocating for the Chicago-Calumet river corridor through recreation access, stewardship, and outreach. Highly comparable metropolitan river-corridor recreation/advocacy nonprofit structure.

Broad incumbents

• Sierra Club (Water & Rivers programs): Large environmental nonprofit with significant freshwater and river protection programming, including local chapter volunteer-driven cleanups and outings. Tangentially comparable as a much larger incumbent that works on similar volunteer-driven river stewardship, but at national scale.
• River Network: National intermediary organization that supports local river and water protection groups with training, resources, and coalition-building. Adjacent peer given River Keepers' community-based river advocacy profile, although River Network operates as an upstream support hub rather than as a direct on-the-ground conservation operator.
• American Rivers: National nonprofit dedicated to protecting and restoring America's rivers; covers advocacy, policy, and on-the-ground conservation. Comparable to River Keepers as a broader river conservation organization with similar mission, although River Keepers operates at a regional, single-river scale.
• Izaak Walton League of America: National nonprofit focused on clean water, conservation, and outdoor recreation, including watershed protection and youth outdoor education. Comparable mission overlap with River Keepers' conservation-plus-recreation mandate, but operates at the national scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/RiverKeepersofFM
• Facebookfacebook.com/RiverKeepersFM/?fref=ts
• Instagraminstagram.com/fmriverkeepers
• Pinterestpinterest.com/fmriverkeepers/?eq=fm%20river%20keepers&etslf=15245

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about River Keepers