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Doan Brook Watershed Partnership

EIN 04-3636350 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE DOAN BROOK WATERSHED PARTNERSHIP (DBWP) IS TO LEAD CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION PROJECTS THAT CHAMPION ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND FOSTER A SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT WATERSHED AND TO SERVE AS A COLLECTIVE VOICE FOR THE DOAN BROOK AND ITS CONSTITUENCIES THROUGH EQUITABLE ENGAGEMENT AND BY PROVIDING RELIABLE, ACCESSIBLE WATERSHED SCIENCE. DBWP MAINTAINS A SMALL STAFF INCLUDING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMILY KAO AND WATERSHED PROGRAM MANAGER, ALEX KIRCHNER, AND A WATERSHED PROGRAM COORDINATOR. WE ALSO RELY ON INTERNS AND DBWP VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE MANY ORGANIZATION AND EVENT SUPPORT FUNCTIONS. THEY HELP TO PLAN AND CARRY OUT PROGRAM EVENTS, SUPPORT IN-OFFICE FUNCTION, RESTORE HABITATS, LEAD HIKES, COLLECT TRASH AND LEAD DIGITAL EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS ABOUT STORMWATER, SUSTAINABILITY AND ECOLOGICAL HEALTH.

Income
$719,452
Spending
$584,841
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 52%
Employees
6
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$76,351, former exec

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 70% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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, 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 (5)
  1. $514,017 spent. ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT: DBWP HOSTS REGULAR ORGANIZATIONAL GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES. BOARD MEETINGS AND PROJECT PLANNING MEETINGS WERE HELD IN PERSON AND VIA ZOOM, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF LAND MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES. WE SERVE AS FISCAL SPONSORS FOR BLUESTONE HEIGHTS. CURRENTLY WE HAVE 17 REGULAR AND AFFILIATE TRUSTEES SERVING THE ORGANIZATION. THE AFFILIATE TRUSTEE POSITIONS ARE NON-VOTING AND REPRESENT DBWP VOLUNTEERS, A CITIZEN FROM THE CITY OF SOUTH EUCLID, AND THE NORTHEAST OHIO REGIONAL SEWER DISTRICT.
  2. PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND STEWARDSHIP: IN 2025, DBWP CONTINUED TO HOST EXISTING EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH AND HABITAT STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS. WE OFFERED 48 IN PERSON EVENTS INCLUDING FAMILY FISHING DAY, 2 FISHING WORKSHOPS, TAKE TO THE LAKE, STREAM CLEANUPS, HIKES, NATIVE HABITAT STEWARDSHIP DAYS AT LOWER LAKE, THE DOAN BROOK GORGE, AND AT THE GROW NOT MOW SITES IN SHAKER HEIGHTS. IN TOTAL, WE HAD OVER 2000 ATTENDEES VISIT OUR EVENTS, AND VOLUNTEERS COMPLETED OVER 3481 HOURS OF HABITAT STEWARDSHIP.
  3. GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE: IN THE SPRING OF 2025, DBWP WORKED IN COLLABORATION WITH CHAGRIN RIVER WATERSHED PARTNERS TO INSTALL A RAIN GARDEN AT WILLSON SCHOOL, A CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL THAT SERVES YOUTH FROM UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS IN CLEVELAND. IN ADDITION, DBWP LAUNCHED THE BROOK & BLOOM PROGRAM, A YOUTH VOLUNTEER PROGRAM EMPOWERING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT THE DOAN BROOK WATERSHED. THIS PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A 71,665 GRANT FROM THE OHIO LAKE ERIE COMMISSION.
  4. PLANNING: DBWP HOSTED A COMMITTEE OF CITY, SEWER DISTRICT, VOLUNTEER AND NON-PROFIT REPRESENTATIVES TO COLLECTIVELY WORK ON SHAKER LAKES PARKLANDS MANAGEMENT. DBWP CONTINUES TO SERVE THE CENTRAL LAKE ERIE BASIN COLLABORATIVE (CLEB) STEERING COMMITTEE, ONE OF FIVE ORGANIZATIONS TO SERVE THE COLLABORATIVE IN THIS CAPACITY. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMILY KAO ALSO SERVES ON THE RESTORE ROCKEFELLER PARK, CUYAHOGA AREAS OF CONCERN, CLEVELAND CULTURAL GARDENS FEDERATION, AND OTHER COMMITTEES. DBWP SPENT MANY PLANNING AND EDUCATION HOURS ON A DAM REMOVAL CONTROVERSY IN OUR WATERSHED, WHICH WAS INITIATED BY NEORSD AND THE CITIES OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS AND SHAKER HEIGHTS. RESTORATION: DBWP WAS AWARDED A HEALTHY URBAN TREE CANOPY GRANT FROM CUYAHOGA COUNTY FOR APPROXIMATELY 27,594.00 TO MAINTAIN MORE THAN 60 HISTORIC TREES IN ROCKEFELLER PARK, AND A 15,000 GRANT FROM THE CLEVELAND TREE COALITION TO GIVE AWAY 200 NATIVE TREES TO CLEVELAND RESIDENTS. DBWP RECEIVED A NEORSD WATERSHED SERVICE AGREEMENT FOR 45,000, AND MANY OTHER PROGRAM RELATED GRANTS TO SUPPORT EVENTS AND OUTREACH IN THE WATERSHED. WE ALSO RECEIVED A 100% COST-WAIVER FROM THE USACE THROUGH THEIR PLANNING ASSISTANCE FOR STATES PROGRAM TO CONDUCT A COMPLETE ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT IN THE ROCKEFELLER REACH OF THE DOAN BROOK. THIS ASSESSMENT IS VALUED AT 235,000.
  5. PLANNING: DBWP HOSTED A COMMITTEE OF CITY, SEWER DISTRICT, VOLUNTEER AND NON-PROFIT REPRESENTATIVES TO COLLECTIVELY WORK ON SHAKER LAKES PARKLANDS MANAGEMENT. DBWP CONTINUES TO SERVE THE CENTRAL LAKE ERIE BASIN COLLABORATIVE (CLEB) STEERING COMMITTEE, ONE OF FIVE ORGANIZATIONS TO SERVE THE COLLABORATIVE IN THIS CAPACITY. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMILY KAO ALSO SERVES ON THE RESTORE ROCKEFELLER PARK, CUYAHOGA AREAS OF CONCERN, CLEVELAND CULTURAL GARDENS FEDERATION, AND OTHER COMMITTEES. DBWP SPENT MANY PLANNING AND EDUCATION HOURS ON A DAM REMOVAL CONTROVERSY IN OUR WATERSHED, WHICH WAS INITIATED BY NEORSD AND THE CITIES OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS AND SHAKER HEIGHTS. RESTORATION: DBWP WAS AWARDED A HEALTHY URBAN TREE CANOPY GRANT FROM CUYAHOGA COUNTY FOR APPROXIMATELY 27,594.00 TO MAINTAIN MORE THAN 60 HISTORIC TREES IN ROCKEFELLER PARK, AND A 15,000 GRANT FROM THE CLEVELAND TREE COALITION TO GIVE AWAY 200 NATIVE TREES TO CLEVELAND RESIDENTS. DBWP RECEIVED A NEORSD WATERSHED SERVICE AGREEMENT FOR 45,000, AND MANY OTHER PROGRAM RELATED GRANTS TO SUPPORT EVENTS AND OUTREACH IN THE WATERSHED. WE ALSO RECEIVED A 100% COST-WAIVER FROM THE USACE THROUGH THEIR PLANNING ASSISTANCE FOR STATES PROGRAM TO CONDUCT A COMPLETE ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT IN THE ROCKEFELLER REACH OF THE DOAN BROOK. THIS ASSESSMENT IS VALUED AT 235,000.

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

  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 November 6, 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 2025.

    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 April 2003.

    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 November 4, 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.