Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE HUDSON RIVER, ITS TRIBUTARIES, AND RELATED BODIES OF WATER. AS AN ORGANIZATION, CLEARWATER WORKS TO PROVIDE INNOVATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, ADVOCACY, AND CELEBRATIONS DESIGNED TO EXPAND PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCE, AWARENESS, AND STEWARDSHIP OF THIS MAGNIFICENT NATURAL RESOURCE.
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 61%
- Reserves
- -2.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 65%
- Employees
- 71
- Volunteers
- 172
- Highest pay
- $113,147, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 7% 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
10 of 20It owes 37% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1560% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 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 2524 of 24 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
10 of 10Gave 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
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 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)
- $865,711 spent. EDUCATION & SLOOP - ACTIVITIES: THE SLOOP CLEARWATER, "AMERICA'S ENVIRONMENTAL FLAGSHIP" FOR MORE THAN 54 YEARS, SERVES AS A FLOATING CLASSROOM FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS, OFFERING EXPERIENTIAL AND PRACTICAL LESSONS ABOUT THE HISTORY, SCIENCE, ECOLOGY AND SOCIAL ISSUES INVOLVED IN THE CLEANUP AND PRESERVATION OF THE HUDSON RIVER, AS WELL AS PROGRAMS IN ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP. IN ADDITION, THE PHYSICAL VESSEL ITSELF SERVES AS A TEACHING TOOL IN THE MARTIME ARTS. VOLUNTEERS: VOLUNTEERS HELP STAFF THE SLOOP AND TEACH AT LEARNING STATIONS DURING SAILING SEASON.
- $71,967 spent. ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION - ACTIVITIES: THE ORGANIZATION ACTIVATES INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES TO BECOME STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND TO LEAD WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES THROUGH DIRECT RESEARCH AND CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN WATER QUALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.
- $13,502 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH - THE ORGANIZATION INSPIRES INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES TO HELP PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE HUDSON RIVER THROUGH COMMUNITY EVENTS AND MUSIC. VOLUNTEERS ARE ALSO ENGAGED TO HELP MANAGE AND RUN THE EVENTS AND TO HELP EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
- EDUCATION PROGRAMS - "SAILING CLASSROOM AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS SERVING CHILDRENADULT PUBLIC AWARENESS - DISTRIBUTION OF RELEVANT RIVER WATER QUALITY INFORMATION
Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on April 15, 2023 for not filing returns for three years. The IRS now lists it as tax-exempt again.
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 November 2025.
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 August 2023.
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.