Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Waterkeeper Alliance Inc

EIN 13-4071318 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O.

Income
$8.5 million
Spending
$7.3 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
0
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$311,680, chief executive officer

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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 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 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. $1.8 million spent. WATERKEEPER ORGANIZING: WATERKEEPER ALLIANCE CONNECTS OVER 300 (AND GROWING) INDIVIDUAL WATERKEEPER GROUPS TO EACH OTHER AND SUPPORTS THEM BY PROVIDING EXPERTISE IN SCIENCE, LAW, STRATEGIC PLANNING, AND COMMUNICATIONS, AND INCREASING THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN COURTROOMS, TOWN HALLS, CLASSROOMS, AND IN THE MEDIA. AS A GLOBAL GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT, OUR CONFERENCES, SUMMITS, REGIONAL MEETINGS, AND COMMUNICATIONS PROVIDE INVALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WATERKEEPER GROUPS TO NETWORK, LEARN FROM EACH OTHER'S CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES, INCREASE CAPACITY AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, AND DRAW INSIGHTS AND INSPIRATION FROM WORLD-RENOWNED SPEAKERS. WATERKEEPER ALLIANCE PROVIDES WATERKEEPERS WITH A WEALTH OF RESOURCES, INCLUDING A TEAM OF EXPERTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, COMMUNICATIONS, AND FUNDRAISING TO HELP THEIR ADVOCACY EFFORTS, ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT, AND DEVELOPMENT SKILLS. WE ALSO PROVIDE FISCAL SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR MEMBERS AFTER BEING VETTED. WHETHER IT IS ASSISTANCE IN DRAFTING PERMIT COMMENTS, REVIEWING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS, PREPPING FOR A PRESS CONFERENCE, OR DEVELOPING STRATEGIC OR SMALL-BUSINESS PLANS, OUR TEAM DRAWS ON THE EXPERIENCES OF FELLOW WATERKEEPERS AND A NETWORK OF OUTSIDE SPECIALISTS AND WATER RESOURCE EXPERTS TO FURTHER ENHANCE AND STRENGTHEN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR MOVEMENT. BY WORKING TOGETHER, WATERKEEPER GROUPS AROUND THE WORLD CAN MORE EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS LOCAL THREATS TO THEIR WATERWAYS. THE ACCUMULATED SUCCESS OF OUR MOVEMENT ADDS TO THE STRENGTH OF LOCAL ACTION POLLUTERS KNOW THAT THE ENTIRE ALLIANCE STANDS BEHIND EACH OF OUR WATERKEEPER GROUPS. ONE WAY WE EVALUATE OUR SUCCESS IS IN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR NETWORK OF CLEAN WATER ADVOCATES, THE RETENTION OF HIGH QUALITY WATERKEEPER ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE CAPACITY OF WATERKEEPER ORGANIZATIONS TO MEET OUR TRADEMARK STANDARDS."
  2. $914,131 spent. GLOBAL CONFERENCE AND REGIONAL SUMMITS:GLOBAL CONFERENCE& REGIONAL SUMMITS CORRECTED LANGUAGE - REGIONAL MEETINGS AFFORD WATERKEEPER GROUPS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP REGIONAL ADVOCACY STRATEGIES, SHARE RESOURCES, AND CONTINUE CAPACITY BUILDING AND TECHNICAL LEARNING. A GLOBAL CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN SEPTEMBER 2024.
  3. $587,549 spent. PURE FARMS PURE WATERS CAMPAIGN: THE PURE FARMS, PURE WATERS CAMPAIGN ADDRESSES THE FAILURE TO REGULATE POLLUTION FROM INDUSTRIALIZED SWINE, POULTRY, AND DAIRY FACILITIES THAT IS DEVASTATING RIVERS, LAKES, AND ESTUARIES AND LOWERING QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WATERKEEPER ALLIANCE EDUCATES THE PUBLIC AND DECISION-MAKERS ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF INDUSTRIALIZED LIVESTOCK OPERATIONS, SUPPORTS COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL FARMERS, AND ADVOCATES FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS. WE LOBBY STATE AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES TO STRENGTHEN AND ENFORCE EXISTING PROHIBITIONS ON THE DISCHARGE OF ANIMAL WASTE INTO OUR WATERWAYS, SEEK TO HOLD CORPORATIONS THAT DICTATE FACILITY OPERATIONS ACCOUNTABLE FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, PROMOTE SOUND POLICIES THAT PROTECT OUR WATERWAYS AND SUPPORT INDEPENDENT FARMERS, AND TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE MOST EGREGIOUS VIOLATORS.
  4. $2.4 million spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS:THE REMAINDER OF OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDES PROMOTING THE WATERKEEPER METHOD OF ADVOCACY AND ISSUES OF COMMON CONCERN TO WATERKEEPER GROUPS THROUGH DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS, PRINT PUBLICATIONS, AND OTHER MEDIA; LICENSING NEW WATERKEEPER GROUPS; PROTECTING THE TRADEMARKED WATERKEEPER FAMILY OF NAMES; ADVOCATING FOR STRONGER ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS, INCLUDING LEGISLATION SUCH AS THE CLEAN WATER RESTORATION ACT; AND UTILIZING EVENTS AND PUBLIC OUTREACH CAMPAIGNS TO INCREASE AWARENESS FOR THE WATERKEEPER MOVEMENT, THREATS TO CLEAN WATER, AND HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS VIA OUR CLEAN WATER DEFENSE CAMPAIGN. A SIGNIFICANT AREA OF ADVOCACY IS WATERKEEPER ALLIANCE'S CLIMATE AND SAFE ENERGY CAMPAIGN. THE CAMPAIGN'S FOCUS IS TO COMBAT THE GLOBAL CLIMATE CRISIS AND ADVOCATE FOR A NO-CARBON FUTURE. WATERKEEPER ALLIANCE ENGAGES IN LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS BUILT AROUND LEGAL ADVOCACY, GRASSROOTS MOBILIZATION, AND AGGRESSIVE MEDIA ATTENTION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION TOWARD A NO-CARBON FUTURE THAT UTILIZES CLEAN AND SAFE ENERGY.

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

  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 June 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 January 2000.

    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.