Farmington River Watershed Association Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE FARMINGTON RIVER WATERSHED AREA
- Income
- $645,584
- Spending
- $665,173
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 27.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 250
- Highest pay
- $79,802, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 27.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 17 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (3)
- $359,838 spent. RESEARCH THAT ESTABLISHES A COMPREHENSIVE SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING OF WATERSHED FUNCTIONS AND HEALTH. Our research and mapping projects assist planners, policymakers, watershed residents and river users. Research includes ongoing water quality monitoring to provide information that complements the work of other agencies. It also builds up a long-term record that could show how the river responds to changes in the watershed. Research also includes hands-on stewardship such as fish habitat restoration, reduction of storm water runoff, and re-vegetating streambanks with native plants.
- $144,963 spent. EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC, GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF A HEALTHY RIVER SYSTEM AND OUR COLLECTIVE ROLE IN ITS PROTECTION. Education activities include free online lesson plans for schools, river guides and newsletters, canoe trips, river cleanups, field trips and outdoor lessons for student groups, community workshops on residential water conservation, and public presentations on best practices for watershed management.
- $72,264 spent. Advocacy in support of the Wild & Scenic designation on 14 miles of the upper Farmington River, including for sound management of water quality and quantity, for riverbank and riparian buffer protection, in town land use proceedings, and through participation in the Farmington River Coordinating Committee. AS PART OF THE LEGISLATION TO PROTECT THIS SEGMENT, THE UPPER FARMINGTON RIVER COORDINATING committee WAS CREATED TO COORDINATE THE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES OF THE PRIVATE TOWN, STATE, AND FEDERAL GROUPS PROTECTING THIS SEGMENT OF THE RIVER TO ENSURE CONSISTENCY AND INFORMATION SHARING.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1958.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.