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Downstream Project

EIN 26-0310939 · Berryville, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceFair59 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 47% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE DOWNSTREAM PROJECT IS TO HELP PROTECT WATERSHEDS BY PROMOTING AWARENESS, ALLIANCE, AND ACTION THROUGH CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATION. THE DOWNSTREAM PROJECT'S VISION IS A CHESAPEAKE BAY COMMUNITY OF PASSIONATE PEOPLE CONNECTED TO THEIR LOCAL WATERSHEDS. DOWNSTREAM IS A NONPROFIT TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL GRAPHIC ARTISTS, WEB DEVELOPERS, VIDEO PRODUCERS, COPY WRITERS, AND DATABASE EXPERTS. WE PROTECT WATERSHEDS BY PROMOTING AWARENESS, ALLIANCE, AND ACTION. WE DO THIS BY SUPPORTING PARTNERS--HELPING THEM STRENGTHEN THEIR IDENTITIES, SHARE THEIR STORIES, BUILD DIGITAL PLATFORMS FOR ACTIVISM, AND MANAGE THEIR DONORS AND EVENTS MORE EFFICIENTLY. AS A NONPROFIT, DOWNSTREAM CAN SHARE PROJECT COSTS WITH PARTNERS FROM OUR OWN PUBLIC FUNDS. CONTRIBUTIONS TO DOWNSTREAM ENABLE US TO HELP PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS DO MORE TO PROTECT WATER. THE DOWNSTREAM PROJECT IS AN APPROVED NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION (NFWF) TECHNICAL SERVICE PROVIDER.

Income
$228,567
Spending
$183,843
Spent on programs
47%
Reserves
6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
4
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$64,350, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 57% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    47% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 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

    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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 (3)
  1. $33,264 spent. 1) WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT & DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CONSERVATION PARTNERSDOWNSTREAM PROVIDED WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT, HOSTING, AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR 45 CONSERVATION AND WATERSHED ORGANIZATIONS, ENABLING PARTNERS TO SHARE ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION, ENGAGE COMMUNITIES, AND SUPPORT STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES. DURING THE YEAR, FIVE NEW PARTNER WEBSITES WERE LAUNCHED, INCLUDING SUPPORT FOR NEWLY FORMING WATERSHED ALLIANCES AND REGIONAL CONSERVATION COALITIONS. DOWNSTREAM ALSO DEVELOPED ONLINE RESOURCE LIBRARIES, DATA VISUALIZATION TOOLS FOR PUBLIC WATER QUALITY REPORTING, AND THREE NEW PFAS OUTREACH TOOLS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY EDUCATION, PARTICULARLY IN UNDERSERVED AREAS. COLLECTIVELY, PARTNER WEBSITES SUPPORTED BY DOWNSTREAM RECEIVED MILLIONS OF PAGE VIEWS, SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDING PUBLIC ACCESS TO WATERSHED AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION.PRIMARY PURPOSE: PUBLIC EDUCATION, CAPACITY-BUILDING FOR CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS
  2. $51,576 spent. 2) CONSTITUENT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT & PARTNER CAPACITY-BUILDINGDOWNSTREAM ADDED TWO NEW ORGANIZATIONS TO OUR SUPPORT OF MORE THAN 18 CONSERVATION AND WATERSHED ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION AND MAINTENANCE OF CONSTITUENT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, INCLUDING DATABASE CONFIGURATION, INTEGRATION WITH PARTNER WEBSITES, AND ONGOING TECHNICAL SUPPORT. THESE SYSTEMS STRENGTHENED PARTNERS' ABILITY TO MANAGE DONORS, VOLUNTEERS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE FUNDRAISING AND PROGRAM DELIVERY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATERSHED PROTECTION EFFORTS.PRIMARY PURPOSE: ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY-BUILDING, FUNDRAISING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CHARITABLE PROGRAMS
  3. $2,177 spent. 3) COMMUNICATIONS & EDUCATIONAL MEDIADURING THE FISCAL YEAR, DOWNSTREAM PRODUCED NONPARTISAN EDUCATIONAL VIDEO CONTENT FOR CONSERVATION WEST VIRGINIA'S "FIX IT" PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, FOCUSING ON WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, WATERSHED PROTECTION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES IMPACTING COMMUNITIES STATEWIDE. THE VIDEOS WERE DESIGNED TO INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND ENCOURAGE INFORMED CIVIC ENGAGEMENT WITHOUT SUPPORTING OR OPPOSING ANY POLITICAL CANDIDATE OR PARTY.PRIMARY PURPOSE: ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 November 6, 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 March 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 2008.

    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 November 4, 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.