Watershed Agricultural Council of the New York City Watersheds Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO SUPPORT THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY THROUGH THE PROTECTION OF WATER QUALITY AND THE PROMOTION OF LAND CONSERVATION IN THE NEW YOTK CITY WATERSHED REGION.
- Income
- $17.2 million
- Spending
- $17.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 0.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 99%
- Employees
- 69
- Highest pay
- $201,056, executive di
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
Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 90% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 15 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (5)
- $10.5 million spent. WATERSHED AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM (WAP) - WORKS WITH INDIVIDUAL FARMERS ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT WHOLE FARM PLANS DESIGNED TO MITIGATE NONPOINT-SOURCE WATER POLLUTION FROM FARMING ACTIVITIES.
- $1.8 million spent. CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM (CEP) - WORKS TO CONSERVE FARM AND FOREST LAND BY PURCHASING THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS TO THESE LANDS. PERMANENT PROTECTION OF THIS "UNDERDEVELOPED" LAND THROUGH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IS ULTIMATELY THE MOST LASTING WATER QUALITY PROTECTION.
- $1.7 million spent. WATERSHED FORESTRY PROGRAM (WFP) - WORKS WITH FOREST LANDOWNERS, FORESTORS, AND LOGGERS ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANS. THE PLANS GIVE LANDOWNERS AN OPPORUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT THE IMPORTANT RESOURCE THEY OWN AND ITS MANY VALUES SUCH AS LUMBER, FIREWOOD, AESTHETICS, HABITAT, OPEN SPACE RECREATION, ETC
- $628,372 spent. ECONOMIC VIABILITY AND OUTREACH: WORKS TO RAISE AWARENESS AMONG THE GENERAL PUBLIC, DEVELOP CONNECTIONS BETWEEN WATERSHED PRODUCERS/PRODUCTS & NEW YORK CITY CONSUMERS AS WELL AS SUPPORT FARM & FORESTRY LANDOWNERS IN THE NEW YORK CITY REGION THROUGH A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS INCLUDING EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, GRASSROOT FESTIVALS/EVENTS, FARM/FOREST TOURS AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES.
- ECONOMIC VIABILITY AND OUTREACH: WORKS TO RAISE AWARENESS AMONG THE GENERAL PUBLIC, DEVELOP CONNECTIONS BETWEEN WATERSHED PRODUCERS/PRODUCTS & NEW YORK CITY CONSUMERS AS WELL AS SUPPORT FARM & FORESTRY LANDOWNERS IN THE NEW YORK CITY REGION THROUGH A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS INCLUDING EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, GRASSROOT FESTIVALS/EVENTS, FARM/FOREST TOURS AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES.
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
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? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
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 June 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 April 1994.
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.