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American Water Works Association

EIN 23-7026163 · Vancouver, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceFair50 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS SECTION ARE TO PROMOTE AND EDUCATE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE THROUGH THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF WATER DELIVERED TO THE PUBLIC AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND FURTHERANCE OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEMS RELATING THERETO.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
32.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 50%
Employees
1
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$161,598, 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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 32.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% 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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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 (4)
  1. $826,633 spent. PROMOTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE THROUGH THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE QUALITY AND AND QUANTITY OF WATER DELIVERED TO THE PUBLIC AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND FURTHERANCE OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEMS RELATING THERETO.
  2. $40,216 spent. WATER FOR THE PEOPLE - THE PNWS WATER FOR THE PEOPLE COMMITTEE ACCEPTS MONETARY DONATIONS TO SUPPORT INTEGRATED, SUSTAINABLE WATER, SANITATION, AND HYGIENE PROJECTS IN DESIGNATED WATER FOR PEOPLE FOCUSCOUNTRIES INCLUDING GUATEMALA, BOLIVIA, HONDURAS, MALAWI AND INDIA. IN ADDITION, SIX NEW FOCUS COUNTRIES ARE BEING ADDED TO WATER FOR PEOPLE'S INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM - DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, NICARAGUA, ECUADOR, RWANDA, UGANDA AND PERU. PROJECTS ARE TYPICALLY SMALL IN SCALE AND RELY HEAVILYON IN-COUNTRY, LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND VOLUNTEER LABOR. OUR COMMITTEE ALSO SEEKS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WORKING IN THE WATER SUPPLY AND RELATED FIELDS, ABOUT CURRENT CONDITIONS ON THOSE COUNTRIES AND HOW WE CAN HELP. FUNDS ARE PASSED THROUGH TO THE NATIONAL WATER FOR PEOPLE IN DENVER, CO WHERE THEY ARE DISTRIBUTED.
  3. $406,226 spent. WATER UTILITY COUNCILS - THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMITTEE IS TO MONITOR AND EDUCATE LEGISLATION AS IT AFFECTS WATER UTILITIES IN IDAHO, OREGON AND WASHINGTON,AND TO KEEP MEMBERS INFORMED. WE INFORM AND EDUCATE THE LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES TO BE COORDINATED WITH POLICIES OF THE AWWA. THE MISSION IS TO EDUCATE AND PROMOTE PUBLIC POLICIES, LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS WHICH ENSURE AN ADEQUATE QUANTITY OF HIGH-QUALITY POTABLE WATER AT THE LOWEST REASONABLE COST.
  4. $119,041 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS, PRIZES/AWARDS AND OTHER COMMITTEES - THE SECTION'S SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING ENDOWMENT FUND BOARD FOR THE PROMOTIONS AND EXPANSION OF THE SECTION'S SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS FOR COLLEGESTUDENTS WHO PLAN TO ATTEND A UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE OR TECHNICAL SCHOOL.OF THE 27 COMMITTEES, SOME OF THEM ARE: PUBLICATIONS, MEMBERSHIPS,YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, WATER RESOURCES, WATER TREATMENT, CONSERVATION,SAFETY, RESEARCH, CUSTOMER SERVICE, PUBLIC INFORMATION, AND WATER DISTRIBUTION

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.

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.