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West Atlanta Watershed Alliance Inc

EIN 20-0890449 · Atlanta, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The mission of the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance is to improve the quality of life within the West Atlanta Watershed by protecting, preserving, and restoring our communitys natural resources.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
18.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
13
Volunteers
830

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes -0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 51% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (5)
  1. $377,597 spent. WAWA partnered with the City of Atlanta Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs and other partners to provide environmental education, environmental stewardship and health and wellness programming at the Outdoor Activity Center, Cascade Springs Nature Preserve, the Lionel Hampton-Beecher Hills Preserve. Specifically, WAWA led repeated and significant experiences for youth from underserved communities in the outdoors as well as led the Atlanta, GA Nature Everywhere initiative to determine a collective vision statement and goals with our partners. We also facilitated over 1,015 hours of outdoor youth and family programs, led youth and families in hiking 1,900 miles of trails, and engaged over 4,739 adults and children in outdoor exploration, learning, and fun!
  2. $220,667 spent. In partnership with grassroots community-based partners, environmental non-profit organizations, and local collegiate partners such as the Proctor Creek Stewardship Council, Green Team of English Avenue, Cascade Springs Nature Conservancy, Hunter Hills, the Mozeley Park Neighborhood Association, the Student Conservation Association, and Spelman and Morehouse Colleges, WAWA led 25 nature-based, environmental stewardship volunteer projects helping to sustain the 22-acre old growth urban forest at the OAC and other West Atlanta parks and greenspaces in the Proctor, Utoy, and Sandy Creek Watersheds. With these efforts, we cleared over 17,000 sq. ft. of nonnative species and engaged over 500 volunteers to care for the native species, food, and wildlife at the OAC. In addition to the OAC, we cleared non-native species, cleaned West Atlanta waterways, and mapped urban heat islands across West Atlanta neighborhoods through additional volunteers in over 2,170 hours of service, and contributing over $72,471 in volunteer labour to steward the City of Atlantas parks and greenspaces and to advance local climate resilience initiatives.
  3. $285,784 spent. WAWA invested in community-led solutions to environmental challenges in urban watershed by co-facilitating the training of 10, Metropolitan Atlanta-based community leaders through the Atlanta Watershed Learning Network (AWLN) and supporting their initiation of community-based Champions projects to address watershed protection, equitable development, and environmental justice issues in their communities. WAWA also helped to grow and distributed 994 pounds of fresh produce through a community-based mutual aid effort; conducted on-site torus at the Hartnett Community Garden at the OAC and led educational programming on local food sovereignty efforts; hosted a capacity-building workshop for 40 community based organizations to learn grant-writing,environmental mapping, and coalition-building; and led place-keeping efforts through our OAC/Bush Mountain Oral History Project.
  4. $58,607 spent. Provided land and water stewardship of publicly forested greenspaces in and waterways through water quality monitoring, trail maintenance,creek clean-up activities, and invasive removal. Delivered watershed-based environmental training programs,conducted community-engaged research on urban heat islands and heat resilience.
  5. Provided land and water stewardship of publicly 58607. 0. 0.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2014 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 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 May 2016.

    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.