American Water Works Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THE ASSOCIATION WAS FORMED IS TO PROMOTE 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 RELATED PROBLEMS THEREBY ADVANCING KNOWLEDGE OF THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, WATER TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF WATER UTILITIES; AND DEVELOPING STANDARDS FOR PROCEDURES, EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS USED BY PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ADVANCING KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES, PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF SAFE AND ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLIES; EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON THE PROBLEMS OF WATER SUPPLY AND PROMOTING A SPIRIT OF COOPERATION BETWEEN CONSUMERS AND SUPPLIERS IN SOLVING PROBLEMS; AND CONDUCTING RESEARCH TO DETERMINE CAUSES OF PROBLEMS IN PROVIDING A SAFE AND ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY AND PROPOSING SOLUTIONS THERETO IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF THE WATER SUPPLY PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC.
- Income
- $488,687
- Spending
- $495,939
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 9.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 95%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 82
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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, 2024, 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 (2)
- $386,832 spent. ASSOCIATION MEMBERS AND OTHERS ATTENDED THE SECTION'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXPOSITION AND VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, AND TELECONFERENCES. THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO EDUCATE WATER UTILITY PROFESSIONALS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO ADVANCE THE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND CONSUMER AWARENESS OF DRINKING WATER ISSUES.
- THE WATER NEWS SOURCE IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING LEADERSHIP AND RESOURCES TO THE FULL SPECTRUM OF THE PA WATER COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE SAFE, AFFORDABLE AND SUFFICIENT WATER. BY PROVIDING ITS MEMBERSHIPS WITH THE LATEST INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE WATER COMMUNITY, THE ASSOCIATION ADVANCES TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION, SCIENCE, MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNMENT POLICIES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 7, 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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 7, 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 7, 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.