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Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers

EIN 25-1719174 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak41 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PENNSYLVANIA ORGANIZATION FOR WATERSHEDS AND RIVERS (POWR) PROVIDES THE TOOLS, TRAINING, EDUCATION AND RESOURCES THAT EMPOWER COMMUNITY WATERSHED ORGANIZATION LEADERS AND VOLUNTEERS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE RIVERS AND STREAMS, ADVOCATE FOR SOUND WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND POLICIES, AND FACILITATE STEWARDSHIP AND ENJOYMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA'S WATERWAYS.

Income
$452,611
Spending
$439,021
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 89%
Employees
0
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$175,802, board chair

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

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 89% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% 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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 10 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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. $238,963 spent. SOJOURNS/RIVER OF THE YEAR: THIS IS A SIGNATURE STATEWIDE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES HIGH PROFILE, WATER-FOCUSED RECREATION AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS ON PENNSYLVANIA'S RIVERS AND WATERWAYS. IN A TYPICAL YEAR, MORE THAN 1,000 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN AN ARRAY OF SINGLE AND MULTI-DAY, PADDLING TRIPS ACROSS THE STATE, TRAVERSING 500+MILES OF RIVERS, AND OFFERING OVER 100 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. FUNDING AND VOLUNTEER TIME IS TYPICALLY LEVERAGED AT 3 TO 1 RATES, AND INVOLVES PARTNERSHIPS OF OVER 50 NONPROFIT, PUBLIC AND CORPORATE ENTITIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.PAWATERSHEDS.ORG.
  2. $119,498 spent. OUTREACH AND EDUCATION: WE OFFER TOOLS AND RESOURCES THAT ENABLE COMMUNITY WATERSHED ORGANIZATIONS (CWOS) TO REMAIN ACTIVE AND VIABLE. THESE INCLUDE WEBINARS ON TOPICS RANGING FROM INSURANCE, RETAINING VOLUNTEERS, BOARD DEVELOPMENT, CLEANUPS, RIPARIAN BUFFER DEVELOPMENT, SUCCESSION PLANNING, AND FUNDING. WE OFFER NETWORKING AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AT REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES. WE HOST A ROBUST WEBSITE THAT CONNECTS CWOS TO ONE ANOTHER AS WELL AS AN EXPANDED PROFESSIONAL NETWORK OF PROVIDERS OF SERVICES, PROMOTES THEIR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND STEWARDSHIP EVENTS, AND SPOTLIGHTS CWO ACCOMPLISHMENTS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.PAWATERSHEDS.ORG.
  3. $14,729 spent. INSURANCE: WE PROVIDE NON-PROFIT WATERSHED ORGANIZATION MEMBERS ACCESS TO REDUCED RATES FOR GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE THAT WOULD BE PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE THROUGH OTHER AVENUES. BY ACCESSING THIS PROGRAM, POWR'S MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS CAN HOST MORE ACTIVITIES. THE SAVINGS STRETCH THEIR RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THE PROTECTION, RESTORATION, AND ENJOYMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA'S WATER RESOURCES, AS WELL AS ENABLING THEM TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS THAT FOSTER STEWARDSHIP, COMMUNICATION, LEADERSHIP, AND ACTION. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.PAWATERSHEDS.ORG.
  4. $8,119 spent. STREAM ACCESS FOR CANOES AND KAYAKS: WE PROVIDE GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO STREAMS AND OTHER WATERWAYS FOR NON-MOTORIZED BOATS SUCH AS CANOES AND KAYAK TO PROMOTE NEW RIVER TOWN INITIATIVES TO INCREASE TOURISM AND ENHANCE LOCAL SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. PROJECTS WILL BE CONSTRUCTED PROVIDING INCREASED ACCESS TO PA WATERWAYS FOR A DIVERSITY OF USERS. THESE MINI-GRANTS ARE AVAILABLE TO NON-PROFIT ENTITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW OR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EXISTING PUBLIC NON-MOTORIZED BOATING ACCESS POINTS.

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? 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 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 March 1995.

    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.