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Watershed Institute Inc

EIN 21-0649717 · Pennington, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

KEEPING WATER CLEAN, SAFE AND HEALTHY IS THE HEART OF OUR MISSION. WE WORK TO PROTECT AND RESTORE OUR WATER AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN CENTRAL NEW JERSEY THROUGH CONSERVATION, ADVOCACY, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION. IT ADDRESSES KEY ISSUES AFFECTING WATER QUALITY AND LAND USE, EDUCATES AREA RESIDENTS ABOUT THE ECOLOGY OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND PRESERVES OPEN SPACE BY MAINTAINING A 950-ACRE NATURE RESERVE AND ORGANIC FARM.

Income
$5.7 million
Spending
$5.2 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
-4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
82
Volunteers
1,598
Highest pay
$143,478, executive director

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 46% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

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

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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 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 (3)
  1. $1.9 million spent. A) SCIENCE - SCIENCE IS AT THE HEART OF THE WATERSHED INSTITUTE'S ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP. ACROSS THE REGION, WE COLLECT KEY DATA ON THE HEALTH OF OUR STREAMS AND ON OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. WE DISTRIBUTE THE INFORMATION TO CITIZENS AND OFFICIALS IN CENTRAL NEW JERSEY, AND WORK WITH THEM TO ADDRESS POLLUTION OF OUR WATER SUPPLIES AND WATERWAYS. OUR GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM COMBINES SCIENTIFIC DATA WITH MAPPING SYSTEMS TO HELP LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND CITIZENS UNDERSTAND THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES FACING OUR COMMUNITIES AND HELP PLAN FOR A BETTER FUTURE. B) ADVOCACY - FOR SEVEN DECADES, THE WATERSHED INSTITUTE HAS LED THE FIGHT TO PRESERVE OUR REGION'S WATER AND LAND. WE ENGAGE LOCAL AND STATE OFFICIALS, URGING THEM TO STRENGTHEN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS, IMPROVE PLANNING AND ZONING, AND MAKE BETTER INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT OUR FUTURE. WE WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH LOCAL TOWNS THROUGH OUR PROJECT FOR MUNICIPAL EXCELLENCE, AND SPEAK OUT AGAINST DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS THAT WOULD HARM THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
  2. $1.2 million spent. EDUCATION - THE WATERSHED INSTITUTE SERVES MORE THAN 10,000 CHILDREN AND ADULTS THROUGH NEARLY 400 EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND EVENTS EACH YEAR. OUR PROGRAMS INSPIRE AN APPRECIATION OF THE WONDERS OF NATURE AND EXPLAIN WHAT WE CAN DO TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT. OUR TEACHER WORKSHOPS TRAIN EDUCATORS TO INCORPORATE THE ENVIRONMENT INTO THEIR CURRICULUMS, WHILE ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS TEACH STRATEGIES TO REDUCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF YOUR HOME AND BUSINESS. AT OUR NATURE CENTER, YOU WILL DISCOVER AN ASSORTMENT OF EXHIBITS AND A COLLECTION OF SMALL CREATURES. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH BUTTERFLIES (IN SEASON) AT THE KATE GORRIE MEMORIAL BUTTERFLY HOUSE.
  3. $1.2 million spent. CONSERVATION - FROM OUR 950-ACRE WATERSHED RESERVE IN HOPEWELL TO LOCATIONS ACROSS THE REGION, VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF ARE ENGAGED IN PROJECTS THAT PROTECT AND RESTORE NATURAL HABITATS. WE HAVE ALSO HELPED FOSTER OTHER IMPORTANT REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OVER THE YEARS. IN THE 1980'S, WE HELPED LAUNCH THE D&R GREENWAY LAND TRUST AND THE NORTHEAST ORGANIC FARMING ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY. OUR WATERSHED RESERVE HOSTS FAIRGROWN ORGANIC FARM. THROUGH OUR WATERSHED INSTITUTE, WE HELP BUILD OTHER WATERSHED GROUPS ACROSS THE STATE.

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? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    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 1953.

    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.