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Waterfire Providence

EIN 22-2951612 · Providence, RI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

AN ARTS ORGANIZATION THAT INSPIRES PROVIDENCE AND ITS VISITORS BY REVITALIZING THE URBAN EXPERIENCE, FOSTERING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CREATIVELY TRANSFORMING THE CITY BY PRESENTING WATERFIRE.

Income
$3.3 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
27.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
83
Volunteers
358
Highest pay
$145,627, ceo

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: 96 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 27.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 17 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (1)
  1. $2.2 million spent. WATERFIRE PROVIDENCE MANAGES AND ORGANIZES WATERFIRE, A LARGE PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION/EVENT. IN CALENDAR 2024, WATERFIRE PRODUCED 9 FULL LIGHTING EVENTS, 6 PARTIALS, AND 3 SUNSET LIGHTINGS. WATERFIRE DRAWS BETWEEN 10,000 AND 100,000 SPECTATORS INTO DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE, RI EACH EVENING AND APPROX 1,000,000 OVER THE COURSE OF THE SEASON FROM MAY TO DECEMBER. MORE THAN 50% OF ATTENDEES TRAVEL FROM OUT OF STATE SPECIFICALLY TO EXPERIENCE WATERFIRE AND CREATE A SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC IMPACT IN THEIR WAKE. WATERFIRE PROVIDENCE GENERATES $114 MILLION OF ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND $9 MILLION OF DIRECT TAX REVENUE FOR THE STATE OF RI AND SUPPORTS 1,294 ADDITIONAL JOBS FOR RESIDENTS. WATERFIRE SECURES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF TRADITIONAL AND NEW MEDIA VALUE PAINTING PROVIDENCE IN A POSITIVE LIGHT EACH YEAR MAKING RI A TOP INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL TOURISM DESTINATION. IN 2018, WATERFIRE MOVED INTO THE WATERFIRE ARTS CENTER, THE ORGANIZATION'S FIRST PERMANENT VISIBLE HOME IN THE COMMUNITY AND A MULTI-USE ARTS VENUE THAT HOSTS EXHIBITIONS, PERFORMANCES, EVENTS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

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 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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 February 1989.

    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 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.