Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Networkand Fund Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Our mission is to promote the protection and enhancement of water quality and water resources in the Great Lakes. Freshwater Future builds effective community-based initiatives to protect and restore the water quality of the Great Lakes basin.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 3.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $118,782, executive dir.
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
Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 31% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% 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 7 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 255 of 5 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
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $734,554 spent. Provided group and individualized one-on-one assistance to community-based groups through professional support. Assistance included training to keep organizations well run and compliant with state and federal laws and guidelines, growing their ability to efficiently build their internal administrative systems, and providing tools to help them achieve their water protection missions and goals.
- $415,627 spent. Conducted educational opportunities on public policy issues of regional, state and local importance on water issues in the Great Lakes region. Opportunities were provided for residents to educate themselves and their agency and elected officials on critical water needs such as protecting water both in the environment and for drinking water, how to stay safe from contaminants in drinking water, and ensuring everyone has access to water.
- $359,629 spent. Through grant-making programs, provided financial support to activities that actively promote river, lake, wetland, groundwater and drinking water protection. Fifty-one grants were awarded through three funding programs. Typical projects included protecting lakes and streams from invasive species, providing communications about water protection, protecting groundwater and helping residents secure and install filters in communities with drinking water contamination.
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
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 September 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 January 2007.
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.