Lake Winnipesaukee Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE ALLIANCE (LWA) IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROTECTING THE WATER QUALITY AND NATURAL RESOURCES OF LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE AND ITS WATERSHED NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $874,469
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 15.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 66%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 65
- Highest pay
- $110,000, former president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 15.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 94 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $677,422 spent. SCIENCE AND SOLUTIONS: FOCUSES ON ADVANCING SCIENCE-BASED PROJECTS, MONITORING, AND EFFORTS THAT PROTECT AND IMPROVE THE LONG-TERM HEALTH OF LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE AND ITS WATERSHED. THIS INCLUDES WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLANNING, WATER QUALITY MONITORING, DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS, CYANOBACTERIA MONITORING, AND THE COMPLETION OF RESTORATION AND MITIGATION PROJECTS. THIS INCLUDES PROJECTS SUCH AS THE MELVIN WHARF BMP PROJECT, RESORT ON THE BAY STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS, THE SANDY COVE ROAD STORMWATER PROJECT, WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLANS, ONGOING LAKE AND TRIBUTARY WATER QUALITY MONITORING, AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE OF THE LAKE INITIATIVE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND CURRENT CONDITIONS, TRENDS, AND FUTURE RISKS FACING THE WATERSHED. THESE EFFORTS ARE DESIGNED TO MOVE FROM SCIENCE TO ACTIONABLE SOLUTIONS THAT REDUCE NUTRIENT LOADING, SEDIMENTATION, CHLORIDE IMPACTS, AND OTHER THREATS TO WATER QUALITY.
- $36,900 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION: INCLUDES PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES FOCUSED ON ENGAGING RESIDENTS, VISITORS, MUNICIPALITIES, BUSINESSES, AND WATERSHED STAKEHOLDERS IN PROTECTING LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE THROUGH SCIENCE-BASED EDUCATION, COMMUNICATION, AND STEWARDSHIP. THIS INCLUDES PROGRAMS SUCH AS LAKESMART THROUGH NH LAKES, EDUCATIONAL TALKS AT HOA ANNUAL MEETINGS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS, PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL COMMITTEES AND PARTNERSHIPS, PUBLIC WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS, WATER QUALITY AND CYANOBACTERIA OUTREACH, SOCIAL MEDIA AND DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS AND VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT. THESE EFFORTS HELP TRANSLATE COMPLEX LAKE SCIENCE INTO CLEAR, ACTIONABLE INFORMATION WHILE PROMOTING BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES RELATED TO STORMWATER RUNOFF, SEPTIC SYSTEMS, ROAD SALT, INVASIVE SPECIES, AND WATERSHED PROTECTION.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1977.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.