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Pa Cleanways of Allegheny County Inc

EIN 20-3033220 · Etna, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENGAGE AND EMPOWER PEOPLE TO ELIMINATE ILLEGAL DUMPING AND LITTERING IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$930,285
Spent on programs
57%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
14
Volunteers
979
Highest pay
$96,250, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 63% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    57% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 September 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 (4)
  1. $262,808 spent. LAND PROGRAM: ACW EMPOWERS PEOPLE TO ELIMINATE ILLEGAL DUMPSITES AND EMPOWER RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS LITTER AND FUTURE DUMPING ISSUES. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE DUMPBUSTERS, WHEREIN CREWS OF STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS CLEAN UP THOUSANDS OF ILLEGAL DUMPSITES ACROSS THE COUNTY. THE STEPKEEPER PROGRAM ENGAGES VOLUNTEERS TO REGULARLY CLEAN LITTER FROM URBAN STAIRWAYS, PROMOTING SAFER, MORE ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE. ACW ALSO HOSTS BULK-ITEM DISPOSAL EVENTS, LARGE GROUP LITTER CLEANUPS, AND DISTRIBUTES LITTER KITS TO FACILITATE INDIVIDUAL STEWARDSHIP.
  2. $151,853 spent. WATER PROGRAM: ACW'S KEY WATER-BASED PROGRAM IS THE TIRELESS PROJECT, AIMED AT GETTING RESIDENTS ENGAGED WITH LOCAL RIVERS AND STREAMS BY CLEANING UP DEBRIS THAT ACCUMULATES ALONG THE SHORELINES. USING ACW'S 28-FT PONTOON BOAT, THE RACHEL CARSON; 30-FT JON BOAT, THE KNB; AND 36-FT PONTOON BARGE, THE PLASTIC MAGNET 1, ACW'S TEAM WORKS WITH VOLUNTEERS TO REMOVE TRASH AND EDUCATE THEM ABOUT ISSUES AFFECTING THE COUNTY'S WATERWAYS. ACW'S GRATEKEEPERS PROGRAM STEWARDS VOLUNTEERS WHO ADOPT AND KEEP STORM DRAINS FREE OF LITTER AND OTHER DEBRIS BEFORE ENDING UP IN LOCAL WATERWAYS.
  3. $77,178 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: ACW STRIVES TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF ILLEGAL DUMPING AND LITTERING IN AN EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE LIFELONG BEHAVIOR AND ATTITUDE CHANGES. THE PRIMARY AVENUES FOR EDUCATION AND OUTREACH INCLUDE WASTE MANAGEMENT AND WATERSHED EDUCATION, SERVICE LEARNING, TABLING EVENTS, SOCIAL MEDIA, MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS, SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, AND MEDIA APPEARANCES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PENNSYLVANIA RESOURCES COUNCIL, ACW ALSO RUNS ECO SCOUTS, A SUMMER PROGRAM THAT ENGAGES COMMUNITY COHORTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ON WASTE SYSTEMS AND CIRCULARITY.
  4. $35,962 spent. RESEARCH AND ADVOCACYBY IDENTIFYING DUMP SITES AND RESEARCHING BEST PRACTICES, THE ORGANIZATION GAINS CRITICAL INFORMATION THAT HELPS SERVE THE REGION BETTER. RESEARCH HAS INCLUDED STUDIES THAT LOOK AT DUMPING PATTERNS IN PITTSBURGH; THE AMOUNT AND DISTRIBUTION OF ILLEGAL DUMPSITES IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY; AND THE AMOUNT, WEIGHT, AND CHARACTERISTICS OF ALL TRASH COLLECTED DURING THREE DAYS OF CLEANUPS. THESE STUDIES HAVE PROVIDED CRITICAL INFORMATION THAT THE ORGANIZATION HAS USED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, DETERMINE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO OFFER, AND SUGGEST POLICY CHANGES THAT WILL HELP REDUCE LITTER AND ILLEGAL DUMPING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 August 2005.

    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.