The Water Council Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO ALIGN THE REGIONAL FRESH WATER RESEARCH COMMUNITY AND WATER-RELATED INDUSTRIES TO ESTABLISH THE MILWAUKEE 7 REGION AS THE GLOBAL CAPITAL FOR FRESH WATER RESEARCH AND EDUCATION, THROUGH THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION ON FRESH WATER RESEARCH, THE FOSTERING OF FRESH WATER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, OUTREACH TO THE PUBLIC ON THE ADVANCES IN FRESH WATER TECHNOLOGY, AND THE PROMOTION OF A GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING OF FRESH WATER CULTURE.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- -3.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 52%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 150
- Highest pay
- $175,737, executive director
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: 40 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 123% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2523 of 23 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (3)
- $951,692 spent. SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION - FOR SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT OF THE WATER CLUSTER, LINKAGES MUST BE DEVELOPED BETWEEN COMPANIES AND UNIVERSITIES. THE WATER COUNCIL IS BUILDING THESE CONNECTIONS BY DEVELOPING COMMUNICATION LINKS AND SYSTEMS THAT WILL ENABLE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS. THE COUNCIL IS ALSO WORKING WITH LOCAL WATER-RELATED COMPANIES AND ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS TO DEVELOP NEW APPLICATIONS FOR NEW AND EXISTING TECHNOLOGIES, AND CREATE COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES IN WATER-RELATED SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
- $386,840 spent. EDUCATION - THE WATER COUNCIL IS COORDINATING AN ORGANIZED AND NETWORKED SYSTEM OF WATER-RELATED INTERNSHIPS FOR EASIER ACCESS BY BOTH COMPANIES AND STUDENTS. THIS INITIATIVE WILL HELP BUILD A NETWORK OF ACADEMIC PROWESS THAT WILL BENEFIT NOT ONLY TALENTED STUDENTS, BUT COMPANIES LOOKING TO CONDUCT RESEARCH AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT IN A COLLABORATIVE FASHION.
- $142,124 spent. RESEARCH - THE INHERENT HISTORIC CONFLICT BETWEEN HUMAN PRODUCTIVITY, HEALTH AND EXISTENCE ALONG WITH THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE WORLD'S ECOSYSTEM IS ONE OF THE GRAND CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY. THE WATER COUNCIL CLEARLY UNDERSTANDS THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE AND IS WORKING WITH A WIDE RANGE OF EXPERTS TO FIND SOLUTIONS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, WATER-RELATED RESEARCHERS IN OUR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, ENGINEERS WITH OUR WATER BUSINESSES AND TECHNICIANS WITH OUR PUBLIC WATER UTILITIES.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2009.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.