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American Water Works Association

EIN 13-5660277 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 180 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE THROUGH THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF DRINKING WATER AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND FURTHERANCE OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEMS RELATING THERETO.

Income
$38.4 million
Spending
$37.4 million
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
6.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 82%
Employees
163
Volunteers
5,000
Highest pay
$499,906, secretary/chief executive officer

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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 180 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 44% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    61 of 61 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 (4)
  1. $5.0 million spent. MEMBER SECTION SERVICES: AWWA MEMBERSHIP SUPPORTS AND EQUIPS A SKILLED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE WATER WORKFORCE TO ENSURE SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE WATER FOR ALL COMMUNITIES. THROUGH MEMBERSHIP, INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS GAIN ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, TRAINING, AND TECHNICAL GUIDANCE THAT ADVANCE PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. MEMBERSHIP ALSO FOSTERS COLLABORATION THROUGH LOCAL SECTIONS, ENABLING SHARED LEARNING AND COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS TO WATER CHALLENGES.
  2. $6.6 million spent. PUBLICATIONS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS: AWWA PUBLISHES AND DELIVERS VARIOUS SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS THROUGH MULTIPLE PLATFORMS INCLUDING PERIODICALS, BOOKS, HANDBOOKS, AND MANUALS OF PRACTICE FOR USE BY THE PUBLIC AND WATER INDUSTRY. FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS AWWA HAS DEVELOPED VOLUNTARY STANDARDS OF MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS, MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT, AND PRACTICES USED IN WATER TREATMENT SUPPLY. THESE STANDARDS ARE USED BY THOUSANDS OF MANUFACTURERS, DISTRIBUTORS, AND FACILITIES WORLDWIDE TO ENSURE THE HIGHEST QUALITY PRODUCTS AND SERVICE.
  3. $8.1 million spent. CONFERENCES AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: AWWA OFFERS EDUCATION TO WATER PROFESSIONALS THROUGH: IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL CONFERENCES WHERE WATER SECTOR PROFESSIONALS CAN COME TOGETHER AND LEARN, CONNECT AND BE INSPIRED TO SOLVE TODAY'S GLOBAL WATER CHALLENGES; IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL SEMINARS ON TRENDING WATER TOPICS DELIVERED BY EXPERTS IN THE FIELD; SELF-PACED AND INSTRUCTOR-LED ONLINE OPERATOR COURSES COVERING ALL PHASES OF WATER TREATMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OPERATIONS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE SKILLS COURSES; AND SAFETY, OPERATOR AND CONSUMER EDUCATION FOCUSED ON-DEMAND VIDEOS. IN 2024, SIX (6) IN-PERSON, AND FOUR (4) SEMINARS, THIRTY-EIGHT (38) DISTANCE LEARNING WEBINARS WERE PRODUCED SERVING APPROXIMATELY 12,648 INDIVIDUALS AND GROUP REGISTRANTS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 7,067 REGISTRATIONS FOR NINETY-THREE (93) E-LEARNING COURSES DELIVERED.
  4. $3.2 million spent. ADVOCACY: AWWA DELIVERS THE WATER SECTOR'S KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE TO INFORM NATIONAL DECISION MAKERS, AND TO STATE CAPITALS THROUGH AWWA'S AFFILIATED SECTIONS. AWWA EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ON THE PROBLEMS OF WATER SUPPLY AND PROMOTES A SPIRIT OF COOPERATION BETWEEN CONSUMERS AND SUPPLIERS IN SOLVING THESE PROBLEMS. INCLUDES DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INFORMATION PROJECTS, MEDIA RELATIONS, INQUIRES, AND THE NATIONAL DRINKING WATER WEEK CAMPAIGN.

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 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 May 1969.

    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 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.