Musconetcong Watershed Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MUSCONETCONG WATERSHED ASSOCIATION IS AN INDEPENDENT, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROTECTING AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF THE MUSCONETCONG RIVER WATERSHED, INCLUDING ITS NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES, THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS, WATER MONITORING, SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 2.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 49%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 511
- Highest pay
- $41,881, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 30% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 2510 of 10 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 December 31, 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)
- $291,525 spent. RIVER WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND RIVER CLEANUPS: MWA WORKS TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY THROUGH SEVERAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS. THE MWA RIVER WATCHER PROGRAM IS A GROUP OF CITIZEN SCIENTISTS TRAINED AND LED BY THE MWA WATER QUALITY MONITORING COORDINATOR. RIVER WATCHERS CONDUCT QUARTERLY WATER TESTING AT SEVEN LOCATIONS ON THE MUSCONETCONG RIVER AND ASSIST ON SPECIAL TASKS SUCH AS: MONITORING RESTORATION PROJECTS, MICROBIAL SOURCE TRACKING AND SUPPORTING OUR CONTINUOUS MONITORING SENSORS. DATA PROVIDED BY THE PROGRAM HELPS MWA PRIORITIZE RESTORATION ACTIVITIES, MAINTAIN WATER QUALITY, AND IMPROVE ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN THE MUSCONETCONG WATERSHED TO ENSURE THAT IT REMAINS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AS WELL AS FISH, SWIM, AND BOAT. ANNUALLY, MWA HOSTS AN AWARD-WINNING RIVER CLEAN UP, WHERE OVER 400 MWA VOLUNTEERS COLLECT HUNDREDS OF BAGS OF GARBAGE, RECYCLABLE MATERIALS, AND TRUCKLOADS OF LARGE MISCELLANEOUS DEBRIS FROM THE RIVERBANKS AND STREAMBED.
- $337,764 spent. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION & OUTREACH: THE MWA WATERSHED EDUCATION PROGRAM REACHES HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS EACH YEAR, FROM FIFTH GRADERS TO COLLEGE AGED STUDENTS, PROVIDING EXPERIENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL AGES. OUR "CAMP MUSKY," IS A SUMMER DAY CAMP FOR CHILDREN AGED 5 TO 12, OFFERING AN OUTDOOR, HANDS-ON, RIVER-BASED PROGRAM. IN THE SPRING AND FALL, WE OFFER A PROGRAM FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOLS THAT MEETS THE NJ CORE CURRICULUM CONTENT STANDARDS FOR SCIENCE, AND INCLUDES A CLASSROOM PROGRAM AS WELL AS IN-STREAM FIELD EXPERIENCE. THE MWA CONDUCTS A STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND PROMOTES WATERSHED MANAGEMENT FOR MUNICIPALITIES. OUR RIVER WATCHER WATER MONITORING PROGRAM INCLUDES AN INTENSIVE 6-HOUR TRAINING WITH BOTH CLASSROOM AND FIELD SESSIONS AND IS APPROPRIATE FOR THOSE HIGH SCHOOL AGED AND OLDER. WE ALSO OFFER A SERIES OF "RIVER TALKS," WHICH ARE EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS THAT ADDRESS VARIOUS ASPECTS OF RIVER ECOLOGY AND RESTORATION, AS WELL AS CURRENT ISSUES IN THE MUSCONETCONG WATERSHED. IN ADDITION, THE MWA OFFERS MANY RECREATIONAL AND INTERPRETIVE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES TO SUIT ALL INTERESTS AND SKILL LEVELS. ADDITIONALLY, THE MWA IS RESTORING AND ADAPTING THE CIRCA 1865 ASBURY GRIST MILL AS AN INTERPRETATIVE CENTER FOR WATERSHED EDUCATION UTILIZING THEMES OF NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY, MILLING TECHNOLOGY, AGRICULTURE, AND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, AND RESTORING AN ADJACENT ISLAND FOR PUBLIC RECREATIONAL USE.
- $274,395 spent. DAM REMOVALS AND RIPARIAN RESTORATION: THE MWA PROVIDES PROJECT LEADERSHIP FOR THE REMOVAL OF DAMS IMPEDING THE FREE FLOW OF THE MUSCONETCONG RIVER, THUS IMPROVING WATER QUALITY, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND RECREATIONAL USE. THE MWA HAS MANAGED THE REMOVAL OF FIVE DAMS AND IS ENGAGED IN THE PLANNING PHASE OF THREE OTHER DAM REMOVALS. FOR THESE PROJECTS, THE MWA WORKS WITH LANDOWNERS TO SECURE AGREEMENTS, COMMUNICATES WITH LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AND STAKEHOLDERS, AND IS THE APPLICANT FOR ALL LOCAL AND STATE PERMITS. MWA WORKS WITH ENGINEERS, PARTNERS, AND THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY DURING FEASIBILITY STUDIES AND USES INFORMATION GARNERED DURING THOSE STUDIES TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT RESULT IN SUCCESSFUL DAM REMOVALS. THE MWA HOLDS OUTREACH AND EDUCATION FORUMS FOR COMMUNITIES DURING THESE PROJECTS, AND ALSO WORKS TO RESTORE AND MAINTAIN RIPARIAN BUFFERS ALONG THE RIVERBANKS TO PREVENT EROSION AND PROTECT AGAINST POLLUTION.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 July 1993.
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.