Housatonic Valley Association Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND SCENIC BEAUTY OF THE HOUSATONIC RIVER WATERSHED BY FOSTERING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND BEST PRACTICES FOR CONSERVATION AND LAND USE
- Income
- $2.3 million
- Spending
- $2.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 3.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 28
- Volunteers
- 300
- Highest pay
- $202,459, executive director
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
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 36% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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
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 (4)
- $1.3 million spent. WATER: INITIATING RIVER RESTORATION AND PROTECTION PROJECTS IN PRIORITY AREAS OF THE TRISTATE HOUSATONIC WATERSHED TO IMPROVE RIVER HEATH AND RESILIENCY THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE OUR BERKSHIRE CLEAN, COLD & CONNECTED RIVER RESTORATION PARTNERSHIP, TENMILE (NY) WATERSHED COLLABORATIVE AND MONITORING AND RESTORING STREAM HEALTH AND HABITAT THROUGH RIPARIAN BUFFER AND RAIN GARDEN INSTALLATIONS. PROTECTING THE NATIONAL HOUSATONIC WILD AND SCENIC RIVER IN NORTHWEST CONNECTICUT.
- $520,874 spent. LAND: INITIATING LAND CONSERVATION PROJECTS IN PRIORITY AREAS OF THE TRISTATE HOUSATONIC WATERSHED THAT SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCY THROUGH INITIATIVES LIKE FOLLOW THE FOREST, LITCHFIELD HILLS GREENPRINT COLLABORATIVE. ALSO PROVIDING MAPPING AND NATURAL RESOURCE ASSESSMENTS FOR LAND TRUSTS AND COMMUNITIES IN CT, MA AND NY AS WELL AS SUPPORT FOR STRATEGIC VISIONING AND COLLABORATION ON IMPACTS OF SIGNIFICANT LAND USE PROPOSALS ACROSS THE HOUSATONIC WATERSHED.
- $304,327 spent. EDUCATION: PROVIDING OUTDOOR EDUCATION, EXPLORATION, THROUGH THE CELEBRATE OUR WATERSHED EVENT SERIES. CONTINUING HANDS-ON ENVIRONMENTAL SKILLS TRAINING WITH YOUTH THROUGH OUR WATERSHED CONNECTIONS PROGRAM AND HELPING THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND HOW TO PROTECT OUR WATERWAYS AND LAND.
- $22,280 spent. ISSUE RESPONSE - STUDY AND ALERT COMMUNITIES OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS TO CONTAMINATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT; RESPOND TO COMPLAINTS AND DEVELOPMENTS THREATENING GROUND WATER AND RIVER QUALITY; REVIEW REPORTS AND DEVELOP SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS.
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 October 13, 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 1999.
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 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.