Rockaway Waterfront Alliance Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ROCKAWAY WATERFRONT ALLIANCE (RWA) IS A COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING RESIDENTS OF THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OF THE ROCKAWAY PENINSULA TO PLAY A ROLE IN THE DETERMINATION OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. WE PROVIDE ENRICHING EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING, THAT INSTILLS BOTH INDIVIDUAL AND CIVIC RESPECT FOR NATURE AND CONTRIBUTES TO THE PHYSICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF THE ROCKAWAY PENINSULA. AS A CATALYST FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND COMMUNITY BUILDING, OUR MISSION IS TO: 1) PROVIDE ENRICHING EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON THE NATURAL SCIENCES, SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, CULTURAL ARTS AND OUTDOOR RECREATION; 2) FACILITATE COLLEGE ACCESS, CAREER BUILDING AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL YOUTH THROUGH JOB TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS; 3) PROVIDE A CENTRALIZED, COMMUNITY-BASED DESTINATION (RISE) FOR SHARED LEARNING AND EXPERIENCES IN CIVIC JUSTICE AND SOCIAL EQUITY, HEALTH & WELLNESS, ARTS/CULTURAL EVENTS FOCUSED ON REGIONAL
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- -2.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 76%
- Employees
- 21
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $115,525, president
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
Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 27% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 31% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 10 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 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 (4)
- $403,413 spent. SHORE CORPS INTERNSHIP: A SERVICE LEARNING LEADERSHIP AND GREEN JOB READINESS PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT ENGAGES YOUTH IN PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, URBAN PLANNING, FOOD JUSTICE AND MARINE SCIENCE.
- $348,850 spent. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT/STEWARDSHIP EVENTS: THESE EVENTS ACTIVELY ENGAGE RESIDENTS ON TOPICS RELATED TO COMMUNITY PLANNING, PUBLIC HEALTH, FOOD ACCESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, WITH THE GOAL OF IMPROVING THE OVERALL HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THE ROCKAWAY COMMUNITY, AND LONG-TERM COASTAL RESILIENCE OF THE ROCKAWAY PENINSULA.
- $138,996 spent. DUNE RESTORATION + NATIVE PLANT NURSERY: AS PART OF THE GREATER ROCKAWAY COASTAL PLAN, RISE IS COMPLETING A 5 MILE DUNE PRESERVE AND NATIVE PLANT NURSERY IN WHICH TO GROW NATIVE PLANTS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE DUNE PRESERVE.
- $74,035 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS: PROGRAMS THAT ACTIVELY ENGAGE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND YOUTH IN ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON IMPROVING HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND TO RAISE AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
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
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 December 2024.
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 2007.
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.