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Westport River Watershed Alliance Inc

EIN 04-2604424 · Westport, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

A) TO PROMOTE AND PRESERVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY OF THE WESTPORT RIVER WATERSHED AND ITS COASTAL ENVIRONS, B) TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE INTERRELATIONSHIP OF OUR WATERS, SOILS, PLANTS, ANIMALS AND PEOPLE, C) TO PROMOTE RESEARCH AND PRODUCE INFORMATIVE PUBLICATIONS, AND D) TO CONSULT AND WORK WITH TOWN, STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND OTHER INTERESTED ORGANIZATIONS, HELPING THEM AND THE PUBLIC MAKE ENLIGHTENED DECISIONS CONCERNING PRESERVATION OF THE WESTPORT RIVER WATERSHED ECOSYSTEM.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$726,752
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
50.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
10
Volunteers
120
Highest pay
$102,553, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 50.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
  1. $302,838 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: SCHOOL-BASED, HOME-BASED AND SUMMER EDUCATION PROGRAMS, NATURE WALKS AND TOWN-WIDE AND TARGETED PUBLICATIONS ARE DESIGNED TO INFORM WATERSHED RESIDENTS OF ISSUES, ACTIONS, PROPOSALS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT AFFECT OUR LOCAL WATERSHED'S WILDLIFE, BEAUTY, HERITAGE AND PROVIDE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT AND PROMOTE AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE OF AND STEWARDSHIP OF ESTUARY RESOURCES.OUR CHILDREN'S SUMMER PROGRAMS WERE FULLY SUBSCRIBED, AND WE PROVIDED 10 FULL SCHOLARSHIPS, THROUGH THE GAY GILLESPIE SUMMER SCHOLARSHIP FUND, TO CHILDREN IN GRADES 1-4. THE RIVER CENTER WAS REGULARLY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, WITH MULTIPLE FREE FAMILY PROGRAMS. WE HELD A NUMBER OF MEET THE AUTHOR SERIES, OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES IN THE WATERSHED, AND EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS - BOTH REMOTELY AND IN PERSON.
  2. $124,787 spent. WATER RESOURCES AND ADVOCACY: 85% OF THE LAND MASS IN WESTPORT, DARTMOUTH, FALL RIVER AND FREETOWN, MA AS WELL AS PARTS OF LITTLE COMPTON AND TIVERTON, RI, FLOWS INTO THE WESTPORT RIVER ESTUARY THAT CONNECTS TO BUZZARDS BAY TIDAL WATERS. THE WRWA ROLE IS TO PROTECT, SUSTAIN, RESTORE AND CELEBRATE THROUGH VARIOUS ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, INFORMATION AND PROJECT INITIATIVES.
  3. $23,679 spent. WATERSHED IMPROVEMENTS: VARIOUS WRWA RESOURCE RESTORATION AND REMEDIATION PROJECTS INCLUDING:1. THOSE FUNDED THROUGH DONOR-EARMARKED CONTRIBUTIONS AND THROUGH GRANTS FROM PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ENTITIES, AND 2. THOSE EXECUTED IN COLLABORATION WITH PRIVATE, EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLIC ENTITIES.SCIENCE RESEARCH PROJECTS DELVE FURTHER INTO THE PROBLEMS OF TWO MAJOR CHALLENGES FACING THE HEALTH OF OUR RIVER: SALT MARSH LOSS AND EXCESS NITROGEN. WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE TOWN AND OTHER NONPROFIT AND RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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 October 13, 2026.

  2. 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 October 13, 2026.

  3. 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1977.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 21, 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.