Freshwater Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
INSPIRING AND EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO VALUE AND PRESERVE OUR FRESHWATER RESOURCES.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $2.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- 28.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 45%
- Employees
- 19
- Volunteers
- 541
- Highest pay
- $190,260, executive director
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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 28.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 37% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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 68% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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 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 (1)
- $1.3 million spent. EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT:WE LED IMPACTFUL COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THE MN WATER STEWARDS PROGRAM, LEADING THE MINNESOTA WATER WORKFORCE TEAM, OUR NATURE-BASED EDUCATION WORK WITH THE TEACHER FIELD SCHOOL, GROWING GREATER LAKES PROMISE TO BUILD LAND CONSERVATION TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN THE GREAT LAKES. THE WEATHERGUIDE CONTINUED TO INSPIRE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, WITH EFFORTS TO STREAMLINE PRODUCTION AND CONNECT WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. THROUGH EVENTS, PRESENTATIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS, WE ELEVATED WATER STEWARDSHIP AWARENESS AND WORKFORCE PATHWAYS. POLICY:WE STRENGTHENED OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS BY CREATING A CROSS-FUNCTIONAL POLICY TEAM TO ADDRESS WATER ISSUES AT LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE NATIONAL WORK ON SMART DATA CENTER SITING, TESTIFYING AT THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE, ENGAGING WITH STATE AND EIGHT FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, AND PARTICIPATING IN THE NATIONAL WATER POLICY FLY-IN. OUR TEAM CHAMPIONED CRITICAL ISSUES LIKE SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLY, NITRATE CONTAMINATION, ACCESS TO SAFE DRINKING WATER, AND INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING, ENSURING A STRONG VOICE FOR WATER QUALITY AND ACCESSIBILITY.RESEARCH:WE ADVANCED WATER RESEARCH BY SEVERAL COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS INCLUDING COMPLETING OUR REPORT ON GROUNDWATER GOVERNANCE STRATEGIES FOR EPA REGION 5, SUPPORTED INITIATIVES LIKE THE ST. ANTHONY FALLS CUTOFF WALL INVESTIGATION, CONTINUED TO ASSIST WITH A MANAGED AQUIFER RECHARGE STUDY WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, AND CIRCULAR WATER ECONOMY EVALUATIONS. PRESENTATIONS AT KEY FORUMS AND ACTIVE PURSUIT OF STATEWIDE WATER REUSE PLANNING SOLIDIFIED OUR ROLE AS LEADERS IN WATER RESEARCH AND INNOVATION.
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
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 June 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 April 2003.
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.