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American Water Works Association

EIN 23-7026161 · Roseville, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION IS AN INTERNATIONAL NONPROFIT, SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY DEDICATED TO PROVIDE TOTAL WATER SOLUTIONS ASSURING THE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF WATER. FOUNDED IN 1881, THE ASSOCIATION IS THE LARGEST ORGANIZATION OF WATER SUPPLY.

Income
$472,289
Spending
$459,922
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
25.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 85%
Employees
0
Volunteers
100

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 25.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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)
  1. $185,636 spent. ANNUAL CONFERENCE: OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS WHERE WATER INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS (BOTH MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS OF MNAWWA) GATHER TO NETWORK, SPEAK TO VENDORS, AND ATTEND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING SESSIONS ON TOPICS RELEVANT TO THE ATTENDEES. INCLUDED IN THE CONFERENCE IS AN ANNUAL MEMBER MEETING TO DISCUSS THE SECTION PERFORMANCE OVER THE PAST YEAR, FUTURE GOALS, AND FINANCIAL HEALTH. VOLUNTEERS ARE ALSO RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SECTION.
  2. $44,603 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS: THE SECTION AWARDS A SELECT NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS TO INDIVIDUALS SEEKING ADVANCED DEGREES AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEGREES IN THE WATER INDUSTRY. OFFERED ARE THREE ADVANCED DEGREE SCHOLARSHIPS WORTH 3,500 EACH AND THREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEGREES WORTH 2,000 EACH. ONE OF THE THREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEGREE SCHOLARSHIPS IS PROVIDED WITH SUPPORT FOR A GRANT OF 1,000 FROM AWWA. THE SECTION ALSO AWARDS LESSER VALUE SCHOLARSHIPS TO MEMBERS WANTING TO ATTEND A MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE PROGRAM RUN BY HAMLINE UNIVERSITY.
  3. $96,817 spent. DISTRICT OPERATIONS SCHOOL: AS PER OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND BYLAWS, THE SECTION WAS DIVIDED INTO SIX DIFFERENT DISTRICTS: CENTRAL, METRO, SE, SW, NE, AND NW. EACH DISTRICT HOLDS TRAINING PROGRAMS GEARED TOWARDS EDUCATING THE WATER PROFESSIONALS WITHIN THEIR DISTRICT. THE METRO DISTRICT SCHOOL IS THE MOST ATTENDED.

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

  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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 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 May 1969.

    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.

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