Ohio River Foundation
The Ohio River Foundation is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, dedicated to protecting and improving the water quality and ecology of the Ohio River and its 14-state watershed. Founded in 2000 by a group of citizens concerned about the degradation of this vital natural resource, the organization has grown into a leading voice for river conservation, reaching more than 30 million people who call the Ohio River watershed home.The Ohio River Foundation is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, dedicated to protecting and improving the water quality and ecology of the Ohio River and its 14-state watershed. Founded in 2000 by a group of citizens concerned about the degradation of this vital natural resource, the organization has grown into a leading voice for river conservation, reaching more than 30 million people who call the Ohio River watershed home.
The Ohio River watershed serves as a source of drinking water, a place of recreation and commerce, and essential wildlife habitat. The health of the river and its tributaries directly affects the quality of life for approximately 10% of the U.S. population. Through environmental education, habitat restoration, and policy advocacy, the Ohio River Foundation works to ensure this critical ecosystem remains healthy for generations to come.
Since its founding, the organization has achieved remarkable conservation milestones, including the removal of multiple low-head dams that blocked fish passage, the installation of tens of thousands of native trees and live stakes along riverbanks, and the removal of harmful invasive species from hundreds of acres. Their education programs have reached more than 68,000 students, inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards.
The Ohio River Foundation holds a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator and is recognized as a GuideStar Platinum-level organization, reflecting their commitment to transparency and accountability in their conservation mission.
The mission of the Ohio River Foundation is to protect and improve the water quality and ecology of the Ohio River and its watershed through advocacy, habitat restoration, and education.
Ohio River Foundation's Work
The following are a couple highlights of the impactful work of the Ohio River Foundation.
River Explorer Program
The River Explorer program brings students out of the classroom and into local streams and rivers for hands-on environmental education. Students climb into waterways to study fish, macroinvertebrates, and water quality, gaining firsthand experience with watershed ecology. Since 2005, the program has reached thousands of students across Greater Cincinnati and Greater Columbus, providing STEM education that creates lasting connections to local waterways. River Explorer transforms students into informed stewards who understand how their actions affect the health of the Ohio River watershed.
Freshwater mussels are the "canaries in the coal mine" for water quality, and the Ohio River Foundation's Mussels in the Classroom program brings these remarkable creatures directly to students. Classrooms receive live mussel "ambassadors" and learn about the importance of mussels to an ecosystem, their fascinating life cycle, and their current conservation status. In 2024 alone, the program grew more than 100% from the previous year, reaching over 9,200 students from 62 schools who experienced more than 41,000 hours of STEM education.
Mussels in the Classroom
1,000+ Acres Pollinator Project
The Ohio River Foundation is launching the largest pollinator restoration project in the region, creating and restoring more than 1,000 acres of native habitat. This ambitious initiative benefits the monarch butterfly and other pollinator species that are threatened, protected, or in decline due to habitat loss. Through native plantings, invasive species removal, and barrier removals, the organization creates more climate-resilient habitats that support biodiversity across the watershed.
Join us in supporting the Ohio River Foundation
75% of this month's donations will go towards this month's partner
This month and every month, Wild Boyz Photography will be partnering with one nonprofit. 75% of any donations that we receive during the month will go to the nonprofit. Help the Ohio River Foundation as they protect and restore the Ohio River watershed through education, restoration, and advocacy.