Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE GREATER EDWARDS AQUIFER ALLIANCE (GEAA) HAS ORIGINATED A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM OF SCIENCE, ADVOCACY, AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AIMED AT PROTECTING THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF SPRING FLOWS FROM THE EDWARDS AND TRINITY AQUIFERS. WE ARE IN NEED OF SUPPORT TO FUND SCIENCE, ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROJECTS BY GEAA AND OUR MEMBER GROUPS IN KEY POLICY MAKING PROCESSES THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY.
- Income
- $605,707
- Spending
- $678,221
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 14.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 62%
- Employees
- 4
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: 79 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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
6 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 (1)
- $620,644 spent. SAN ANTONIO SOIL CARBON PROJECT - GEAA WAS AWARDED A GRANT FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO ASSIST CITY AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES IN A STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE ON SOIL CARBON SEQUESTRATION AND WATER QUALITY IN THIRTY-TWO SAN ANTONIO PARKS. THE PROJECT WILL SERVE AS A PROOF-OF-CONCEPT IN ORDER TO DEMONSTRATE THAT ENHANCED CARBON SEQUESTRATION AND GROUNDWATER INFILTRATION CAN BE ACHIEVED IN URBAN AREAS BY EMPLOYING BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. THIS IS THE FIRST PROJECT OF THIS TYPE TO RESEARCH HOW SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN CARBON SEQUESTRATION MIGHT BE ACHIEVED BY ENHANCING SOIL ORGANIC MATTER AND APPROPRIATE PLANT MANAGEMENT IN URBAN OPEN SPACES. IF SUCCESSFUL, THIS PROJECT WILL HELP SAN ANTONIO TO MEET ITS CLIMATE ACTION GOALS. LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM - WE PROVIDE EXPERT TESTIMONY AND RESEARCHES ISSUES AS NEEDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEES AND OUR REGIONAL DELEGATION TO INFORM DECISIONS MADE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE PERTINENT TO THE MANAGEMENT OF OUR WATER RESOURCES. WE VISIT WITH LEGISLATORS AND RESEARCH IMPACTS OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION. WE ALSO ASSEMBLE AND SECURE CONSENSUS ON AN AGENDA FOR EACH LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND PROVIDE TESTIMONY ACCORDINGLY. E-MAIL ALERTS THAT EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT ACTIONS TO SUPPORT OR OPPOSE BILLS OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE ENGAGE HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS IN GEAA'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES OUR MEMBER GROUPS, GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES AND POLICYMAKERS, AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WITH TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION THAT ADDRESSES ISSUES OF REGIONAL AND LOCAL CONCERN AS RELATED TO THE PRESERVATION OF THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF WATER EDWARDS AQUIFER, ITS CONTRIBUTING ATERSHEDS, AND ITS INDIGENOUS PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES. CITIZENS, NEWS MEDIA, AND, INCREASINGLY, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND PUBLIC AGENCIES RELY ON GEAA STAFF TO PROVIDE OR DIRECT THEM TO TECHNICAL EXPERTISE REGARDING THE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF THE EDWARDS AND TRINITY KARST AQUIFER FORMATIONS. PUBLIC COMMENT AND AD HOC ISSUES - GEAA RECEIVES REQUESTS FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON A REGULAR BASIS ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES FROM INDIVIDUAL LANDOWNERS, REGIONAL MUNICIPALITIES, AND STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES SOLICITING PUBLIC COMMENT ON PROGRAMS AND POLICIES RELATING TO OUR GROUND AND SURFACE WATER SYSTEMS. THE EXPERTISE OF OUR TECHNICAL TAFF IS CRITICAL TO EXPANDING OUR CAPACITY TO PROMOTE ADEQUATE PROTECTION OF OUR WATER RESOURCES AND IS ESSENTIAL TO ACCOMPLISHING OUR GOALS. WE RELY UPON THE LARGESSE OF SEVERAL EXPERTS WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME AND THE BENEFIT OF THEIR EXPERTISE AS NEEDED ON SPECIFIC PROJECTS. BECAUSE OF THE RECOGNIZED EXCELLENCE OF OUR WORK, GEAA IS REGULARLY CALLED UPON TO RESEARCH SPECIFIC ISSUES AND PROJECTS, TO COMMENT ON PROPOSED PROJECTS, RULES AND PROGRAMS, AND TO GENERATE POLICY AND REGULATORY RECOMMENDATIONS AND REMEDIES. GEAA PROVIDES PRACTICAL GUIDANCE TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES, ENHANCING OUR ABILITY TO FURTHER OUR GOAL OF AQUIFER ROTECTION BY FURNISHING EXPERTISE ON PROVEN METHODS AND PRACTICES TO DEVELOPERS REFERRED TO GEAA BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO ADVISE ON SPECIFIC PROJECTS. ADDITIONALLY, GEAA WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN THE EDWARDS REGION TO PROMOTE THE ADOPTION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TECHNIQUES INTO MUNICIPAL BUILDING CODES AND STATE- RECOMMENDED BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. REGIONAL FLOOD PLANNING AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE - GEAA STAFF MEMBERS ARE SERVING ON THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD'S REGIONAL FLOOD PLANNING GROUPS FOR THE SAN ANTONIO AND GUADALUPE RIVER BASINS. THROUGH THIS THREE-YEAR FLOOD PLANNING PROCESS, WE ARE PROMOTING LAND PRESERVATION AND THE USE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE TO MITIGATE FLOODING WHILE ADVISING LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO INCORPORATE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNIQUES INTO THEIR ORDINANCES AND POLICIES. UNDER YOUR FEET CAMPAIGN - MUCH OF THE RECENT GROWTH IN OUR REGION HAS TAKEN PLACE OVER THE RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONES OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER, RESULTING IN INCREASED CONTAMINATION OF OUR WATER SUPPLIES AND SPRING FLOWS. A SUITE OF PRESENTATIONS, ON-LINE RESOURCES, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND PRINT MATERIALS WILL TEACH FOLKS WHO LIVE ON THE RECHARGE ZONE ABOUT THE GEOLOGY OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER, HOW TO LIVE IN THIS EXTREMELY INVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA, AND ABOUT ACTIONS THEY CAN TAKE TO PROTECT OUR AQUIFER, INCLUDING HOW TO HANDLE AND STORE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, WHAT COMMON HOUSEHOLD PRACTICES POSE A THREAT TO THE INTEGRITY OF SEWAGE SYSTEMS, AND HOW TO PLANT AND MAINTAIN LANDSCAPING IN THIS UNIQUE REGION. GEAA WILL ASK PARTICIPANTS TO TAKE A PLEDGE TO DO THEIR PART TO REDUCE HARMFUL STORMWATER RUNOFF ON THEIR PROPERTIES. RESEARCH ON THE IMPACTS OF SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE POLLUTION TO THE EDWARDS AQUIFER - THE AGENCIES TASKED WITH OVERSIGHT OF WATER QUALITY OF THE EDWARD AQUIFER, MOST NOTABLY THE TCEQ AND THE EDWARDS AQUIFER AUTHORITY (EAA) RELY ON THE USE OF STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AS THE CHIEF STRATEGY FOR PROTECTING WATER QUALITY OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER. MEASURES TO ADDRESS THE QUALITY OF STORMWATER INFILTRATING THE EDWARDS, HOWEVER, PROVIDE NO PROTECTION FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF SUBSURFACE POLLUTION OF THE AQUIFER FROM HUMAN SEWAGE, WHICH BECOMES PARTICULARLY PROBLEMATIC WITH INCREASED HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONES. THE GEAA TECHNICAL TEAM, WITH THE HELP OF STUDENT INTERNS FROM TRINITY UNIVERSITY AND TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY, IS CURRENTLY RESEARCHING THE IMPACT OF ON-SITE SEWAGE FACILITIES (SEPTIC TANKS) VERSUS CENTRALIZED SEWAGE SYSTEMS ON THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE. WE HAVE PRODUCED A MAP INDICATING THE LOCATIONS OF ALL WASTEWATER TREATMENT EFFLUENT DISCHARGES, AS WELL AS LAND APPLICATION PERMITS, WITHIN OUR SERVICE AREA. THE FINDINGS AID IN GEAA'S EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND POLICY EFFORTS. WE ARE ALSO CONDUCTING RESEARCH ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ENGINEERED STORMWATER REDUCTION FACILITIES ON THE RECHARGE ZONE IN BEXAR COUNTY. GRE
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 November 6, 2026.
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.
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 April 2005.
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 November 4, 2026.
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