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Waterfront Alliance Inc

EIN 13-4355067 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak41 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
18
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$241,133, president and ceo

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: 41 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 62% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 48% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 18 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, 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 (1)
  1. $2.4 million spent. WEDG (WATERFRONT EDGE DESIGN GUIDELINES): - THE ILLINOIS BEACH STATE PARK SHORELINE STABILIZATION PROJECT BECOMES THE FIRST WEDG VERIFIED SITE ON A FRESHWATER WATERBODY AND THE FIRST BREAKWATERS, GREAT LAKES, AND RURAL PROJECT TO ACHIEVE WEDG VERIFICATION. - THE SOUTH BATTERY PARK CITY RESILIENCY PROJECT BECOMES THE 13TH PROJECT NATIONALLY TO ACHIEVE WEDG (WATERFRONT EDGE DESIGN GUIDELINES) VERIFICATION. WATERFRONT EDUCATION AND ACCESS: - WE REACH A RECORD-BREAKING 1,300 NEW YORK CITY STUDENTS DURING THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR THROUGH ESTUARY EXPLORERS, OUR HANDS-ON CLIMATE AND WATERFRONT EDUCATION PROGRAM. - WE LAUNCH THE YOUTH AMBASSADORS FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE PROGRAM TO TRAIN ESTUARY EXPLORERS STUDENT ALUMNI ON EDUCATING AND PREPARING THEIR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS FOR EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS. - DURING OUR FULL-DAY ESTUARY EXPLORERS TEACHER TRAINING, EDUCATORS EARN CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS AND LEARN HOW TO INCORPORATE CLIMATE CHANGE LESSON PLANS DIRECTLY INTO THEIR PUBLIC SCHOOL CLASSROOMS THROUGHOUT NEW YORK CITY. - WATERFRONT ALLIANCE'S ESTUARY EXPLORERS TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM EARNS CONTINUING TEACHER AND LEADER EDUCATION (CTLE) SPONSOR STATUS, NOW OFFERING 4 CTLE CREDITS TO PARTICIPATING EDUCATORS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION, LESSON PLAN INTEGRATION, AND NETWORKING WITH PEERS. RISE TO RESILIENCE COALITION ADVOCACY RESULTS: - WE CHAMPION THE SUCCESSFUL PASSAGE OF THREE CLIMATE RESILIENCE BILLS IN THE 2024 NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION: ALTERNATIVE DELIVERY, PUBLIC NOTICE, AND THE GREEN ROOF TAX ABATEMENT. THESE PIECES OF LEGISLATION WILL HELP DELIVER CLIMATE RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE MORE QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY AND INCENTIVIZE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GREEN ROOFS ACROSS NEW YORK CITY. - WE ORGANIZE THE FIRST IN-PERSON RISE TO RESILIENCE COALITION "ADVOCACY DAY" IN ALBANY, NY AND COMPLETE A TOTAL OF 24 MEETINGS WITH STATE SENATORS AND ASSEMBLYMEMBERS, POSITIONING OUR CLIMATE RESILIENCE PRIORITIES FRONT AND CENTER FOR KEY DECISION MAKERS - WE HOST OUR SECOND NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL "TEACH-IN" WITH WE ACT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND NEW YORK LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS TO SHARE OUR COLLECTIVE CLIMATE RESILIENCE PRIORITIES WITH CITY COUNCILMEMBERS AND THEIR STAFF. - THE RISE TO RESILIENCE COALITION PUBLISHES THE 2024 POLICY PLATFORM TO ESTABLISH A ROADMAP AND PRIORITIES FOR ADVANCING COMPREHENSIVE CLIMATE RESILIENCE. CLIMATE INFORMED COMMUNITIES: - WE PRODUCE A "KNOW YOUR RIGHTS" VIDEO AND TRAINING SERIES TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW CLIMATE IMPACTS WILL AFFECT THEM AND HOW TO PREPARE THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEIR HOMES. - WE PRESENT OUR "KNOW YOUR RIGHTS" TRAINING AND RESOURCES TO MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS, AGENCY EMPLOYEES, AND LOCAL LEADERS AT THE MARCH 6, 2024 COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS SYMPOSIUM ORGANIZED BY THE NYC OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. RESILIENCE / OTHER: - WATERFRONT ALLIANCE COMPLETES AN EXISTING CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT OF FLUSHING MEADOWS CORONA PARK TO UNDERSTAND THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FLOODING CONCERNS. - WATERFRONT ALLIANCE JOINS THE EXTREME HEAT COALITION, JOINING WE ACT, EARTH JUSTICE, AND SOUTH BRONX UNITE, AND OTHERS, ADVOCATING FOR HEAT ADAPTATION LEGISLATION AT THE STATE AND CITY LEVELS. WE RELEASE THE FIRST FORMAL WATERFRONT ALLIANCE POLICY PLATFORM, LAYING OUT OUR 2024 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND A ROADMAP FOR CHANGE.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 2007.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.