Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Water Street Ministries

EIN 23-6004676 · Lancaster, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SINCE 1905 WATER STREET HAS WORKED TO CARE FOR THOSE IN POVERTY AND WHO EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS THROUGHOUT LANCASTER COUNTY. WATER STREET PROVIDES PRACTICAL SERVICES, RESOURCES, AND RELATIONAL SUPPORT WHILE WALKING WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL ON THEIR JOURNEY TOWARD RESTORATION AND WHOLENESS.

Income
$16.9 million
Spending
$15.8 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
8.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
174
Volunteers
898
Highest pay
$178,287, president

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

Financial health

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • 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 June 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. $10.1 million spent. WATER STREET MISSION - SEE SCHEDULE O
  2. $473,055 spent. TEEN HAVEN - SEE SCHEDULE O
  3. $778,754 spent. WONDER ACADEMY EARLY LEARNING CENTER - SEE SCHEDULE O
  4. LINE 4A - THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY MEN, WOMEN, AND FAMILIES FALL INTO HOMELESSNESS IN LANCASTER COUNTY: PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES, THE TRAUMA OF LOSING LOVED ONES, UNEMPLOYMENT, ADDICTION, AND THE GROWING CHALLENGE OF HOUSING COSTS. REGARDLESS OF THE REASON, WE COME ALONGSIDE EACH PERSON TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE ROOT CAUSES OF THEIR SITUATION SO THEY CAN BEGIN TO BUILD NEW FOUNDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE. EACH INDIVIDUAL BRINGS THEIR OWN RESOURCES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES. OUR ROLE IS TO HELP STRENGTHEN WHAT THEY ALREADY CARRY AND WALK WITH THEM IN AREAS WHERE THEY NEED SUPPORT. THIS MAY INCLUDE DEVELOPING LIFE SKILLS, IMPROVING PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH, GROWING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, OR GAINING ACCESS TO RESOURCES SUCH AS STABLE BANKING. WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT UNDERSTANDING ONE'S IDENTITY IN CHRIST IS CENTRAL TO LASTING RESTORATION. WITHOUT THIS, UNMET EMOTIONAL NEEDS CAN LEAD TO DESTRUCTIVE CHOICES AND UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. WITH LOVE, DIGNITY, AND GRACE, WE PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT OF HOPE AND HEALING THAT AWAKENS INDIVIDUALS TO WHO THEY ARE IN CHRIST. OUR AIM IS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY SO THAT THOSE RESTORED MAY IN TURN INVEST IN THEMSELVES AND BECOME RESTORERS OF OTHERS. LINE 4B - TEEN HAVEN IS A MINISTRY SERVING YOUTH IN THE CITY OF LANCASTER, PA. PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED AT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED YOUTH CENTER AND THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL CHURCHES. DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, TEEN HAVEN PROVIDES OUTREACH AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES NEARLY EVERY EVENING, WHILE SUMMER PROGRAMMING INCLUDES CAMPS THAT SERVE OVER 100 STUDENTS ON AVERAGE. EACH YEAR, MORE THAN 200 STUDENTS ENGAGE WITH TEEN HAVEN'S PROGRAMS. A STRONG EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON DEVELOPING YOUNG LEADERS, MANY OF WHOM TAKE ON LEADERSHIP ROLES WITHIN TEEN HAVEN ITSELF. STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO GROW THROUGH MENTORSHIP, THE ARTS, AND TECHNOLOGY, ALL IN THE CONTEXT OF MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH STAFF AND PEERS. RENOVATIONS TO THE TEEN HAVEN BUILDING HAVE CREATED ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, ENSURING THE MINISTRY CAN CONTINUE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF YOUNGER CHILDREN WHILE INVESTING IN LONG-TERM LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOR LANCASTER'S YOUTH. LINE 4C - WONDER ACADEMY IS A PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM SERVING CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN LANCASTER CITY. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY, CHRIST-CENTERED EDUCATION WHILE NURTURING A LOVE FOR GOD, PEOPLE, AND LEARNING AT AN EARLY AGE. QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION IS NOT UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE, AND PRIVATE PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS REMAIN FINANCIALLY OUT OF REACH FOR MANY FAMILIES. THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF LOCAL BUSINESSES UTILIZING THE PA EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT TAX CREDIT, WONDER ACADEMY IS ABLE TO OFFER AFFORDABLE TUITION RATES EVEN FOR THE LOWEST-INCOME FAMILIES. IN THE PAST YEAR, WONDER ACADEMY PURCHASED AND RENOVATED THE FORMER ST. JOSEPH'S SCHOOL BUILDING ON MULBERRY STREET, CREATING A PERMANENT HOME WITH DEDICATED CLASSROOMS AND SPACE FOR 50 STUDENTS. THIS LONG-TERM FACILITY PROVIDES STABILITY FOR THE PROGRAM AND ALLOWS THE CHILDREN IT SERVES TO GROW AND THRIVE IN A SECURE ENVIRONMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 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 June 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 October 1941.

    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.