American Water Works Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO UNITE THE WATER COMMUNITY TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE WATER, THE WORLDS MOST IMPORTANT RESOURCE.
- Income
- $2.5 million
- Spending
- $2.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 54%
- Reserves
- 5.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 51%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 350
- Highest pay
- $125,951, executive di
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
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1554% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2533 of 33 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (5)
- $517,265 spent. SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS - CONFERENCES, SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, QUALITY AND PRESERVATION ISSUES.
- $609,599 spent. PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO QUALIFYING COLLEGE STUDENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO WATER MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT ORGANIZATIONS.
- $31,354 spent. WATER OPERATORS AND SAFETY TRAINING, CERTIFICATION OF UTILITY OPERATORS AND ENGINEERS.
- $61,200 spent. PUBLICATION OF "FLORIDA WATER RESOURCES JOURNAL- AND OTHER INFORMATIONAL/EDUCATIONAL PUBLICATIONS.
- PUBLICATION OF "FLORIDA WATER RESOURCES JOURNAL- AND OTHER INFORMATIONAL/EDUCATIONAL PUBLICATIONS.
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
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? 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.
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.
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.
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.