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White Clay Watershed Association

EIN 23-7116453 · Landenberg, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceFair54 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Watershed Education and Protection for the White Clay Creek and its Tributaries.

Income
$388,718
Spending
$382,556
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 78%
Employees
0
Volunteers
26

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 82 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 53% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 54 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep 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 September 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 (6)
  1. $180,765 spent. WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS:Water quality improvement project administration, planning, and implementation. Outputs include restoration planning, research and implementation, land stewardship, land preservation and watershed research.
  2. $44,856 spent. CATCH THE RAIN: Continued work on the Catch the Rain program, a green stormwater infrastructure rebate program for residential property owners in the White Clay watershed. This fiscal year generated 36 site visits and reports, and awarded 12 residential rebates totaling $18,674.82 for conservation landscaping, rain barrels, rain gardens, and tree planting practices. This program also includes quarterly workshops and development of educational materials to promote the program and practices. A part time independent contractor helps with program outreach and implementation.
  3. $27,878 spent. STREAM WATCH:The mission of the Stream Watch program is to increase citizen community engagement in water resource protection and improve knowledge of stream conditions based on measured stream data. Ten fixed sites are monitored monthly for nutrients, chlorides, temperature and conductivity. 30 fixed bacteria sites (20 in PA/10 in DE) are sampled and analyzed for E. coli, fecal coliform, and enterococcus during the recreational season. Data is provided to state regulatory agencies, PADEP and DNREC, every two years.
  4. $14,659 spent. CHRISTINA WATERSHEDS MUNICIPAL PARTNERSHIP:Technical assistance and planning support to watershed municipalities to advance understanding of watershed needs and opportunities concerning regulatory requirements. Liaison and unified representation, coordination, and communication with regulatory agencies on behalf of municipal concerns. Annual workshops are provided to participating municipalities to enhance their knowledge of municipal stormwater solutions and regulations
  5. $8,402 spent. EDUCATION AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS:Management of the whiteclay.org website and social media. Development of educational materials and presentations for multiple audiences, attendance at public events. Transportation and program costs for watershed schools and community groups to attend hands-on watershed science programs.
  6. $6,853 spent. CREEK FEST:White Clay Creek Fest, our largest outreach event, is hosted with Delaware State Parks at White Clay Creek State Park every May. The mission of Creek Fest is to increase community awareness of the valuable natural and historic resources of the White Clay Creek Valley.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1971.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.