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Water Research Foundation

EIN 13-6211384 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURPOSE OF THE WATER RESEARCH FOUNDATION (WRF) IS A DEFINITIVE RESEARCH ORGANIZATION TO ADVANCE THE SCIENCE OF ALL THINGS WATER TO BETTER MEET THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF ITS SUBSCRIBERS AND THE WATER SECTOR. TO ENGAGE EXCLUSIVELY IN NONPROFIT, CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO INITIATE, SUPERVISE, COORDINATE, PROMOTE, AND FINANCE RESEARCH IN THE TECHNOLOGY, OPERATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF WATER, WASTEWATER, REUSE AND STORMWATER COLLECTION, TREATMENT, AND SUPPLY SYSTEMS, TOWARD ENSURING WATER QUALITY AND IMPROVING WATER SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.

Income
$24.3 million
Spending
$20.4 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
28.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 72%
Employees
54
Volunteers
1,000
Highest pay
$500,596, ceo/secretary

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    32 of 32 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, 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. $9.0 million spent. RESEARCH PROGRAMS: WRF COORDINATES MULTIPLE RESEARCH PROGRAMS TO COLLECTIVELY ADDRESS WATER-RELATED ISSUES OF SUBSCRIBERS AND THE WATER SECTOR AS A WHOLE. THE RESEARCH PROGRAMS ARE THE RESEARCH PRIORITY PROGRAM, THE TAILORED COLLABORATION PROGRAM, EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM, UNSOLICITED RESEARCH PROGRAM AND FACILITATED RESEARCH PROGRAM. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE COST OF PROJECTS FUNDED FOR RESEARCH TO BE CONDUCTED BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER INTERNAL EXPENSES DIRECTLY RELATED TO THESE PROJECTS.
  2. $2.4 million spent. RESEARCH MANAGEMENT: THE PLANNING, ADMINISTRATION, AND MONITORING OF THE RESEARCH PROGRAMS SPONSORED BY WRF ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE RESEARCH MANAGERS. SPECIFIC TASKS INCLUDE ADMINISTRATION OF WRF'S RESEARCH ADVISORY COUNCIL AND TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES FOR EACH PROGRAM AND TOPIC AREA; RESEARCH PLANNING; CONTRACTOR MONITORING AND OVERSIGHT; RESEARCH DELIVERABLE AND PRODUCT REVIEW; REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PREPARATION; PROJECT ADVISORY COMMITTEE SELECTION AND ADMINISTRATION; AND PROPOSAL REVIEW AND SELECTION. PROJECT MANAGEMENT, KNOWLEDGEMENT MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH PLANNING SERVE AS WRF'S PRIMARY LINK WITH THE WATER RESEARCH AND VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY.
  3. $1.4 million spent. COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING: WRF'S COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING EFFORTS CONSIST OF PUBLISHING INFORMATION AND RESOURCES DERIVED FROM WRF-SPONSORED RESEARCH TO ENSURE THAT THE RESULTS AND APPLICATION OF RESEARCH ARE EFFECTIVELY TRANSFERRED TO SUBSCRIBERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. THESE EFFORTS INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT, DISTRIBUTION AND PROMOTION OF RESEARCH REPORTS AND OTHER PROJECT RESOURCES, PRINTED MATERIALS AND E-PERIODICALS, WEBCASTS, WORKSHOPS, THE WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA. COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING ALSO OVERSEE ALL PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MARKETING ACTIVITIES AND COLLATERAL.
  4. $1.4 million spent. SUBSCRIBER SERVICES - THE ADMINISTRATION OF WRF'S MAJOR FUNDING EFFORT, THE RESEARCH SUBSCRIPTION PROGRAM, IS COORDINATED BY SUBSCRIBER SERVICES STAFF. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION OF A RECRUITMENT & RETENTION PROGRAM; HIGHLIGHTING WRF'S VALUE PROPOSITION AND COORDINATING SUBSCRIBER COMMUNICATIONS. SUBSCRIBER ACCOUNT MANAGERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING PERSONALIZED SERVICES TO SUBSCRIBERS. MAJOR ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ANNUAL VISITS/BRIEFINGS, SERVING AS PRIMARY STAFF CONTACT, PROMOTING GREATER INVOLVEMENT IN WRF PROGRAMS AND ENSURING SUBSCRIBERS' NEED ARE EXPEDITIOUSLY MET.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 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 February 1967.

    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.