Anne Arundel County Watershed Stewards Academy Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Our mission is to train and mobilize community leaders to drive change for sustainable landscapes and clean waters.
- Income
- $1.9 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 60%
- Reserves
- 13 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 50%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 6,236
- Highest pay
- $176,752, 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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1560% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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 (2)
- $457,733 spent. Master Watershed Steward Certification Course: This educational course provides 70 hours of field and classroom training to equip Stewards (volunteer community members) with the skills and resources needed to mobilize their communities to reduce pollution through projects such as tree planting, conservation landscapes, large stormwater projects, and raising awareness about actions that can reduce pollution. Stormwater Success and Tree Trooper Training: Stormwater Success is designed for HOA leaders and property managers and focuses on stormwater management and maintenance, while Tree Trooper Training provides training and resources for community leaders developing tree planting projects. WSA also directly supports the development of dozens of additional stormwater management projects and assists volunteers in maintaining existing projects and clearing invasive plants. Spring into Action Annual Conference: This conference brings together over 300 community leaders and restoration professionals to learn, network, and plan restoration efforts for the year.
- $377,402 spent. Continuing education and engagement programs: These cover a variety of topics such as native plants, GIS mapping tools, and site assessments. WSA offers a variety of restoration programs and technical support for project leaders to develop, install, and maintain environmental restoration projects. Our RePlant Anne Arundel and RePlant Annapolis program plants thousands of trees in communities throughout Anne Arundel County and the City of Annapolis, while our RePollinate program distributes native plants to increase pollinator habitat. Our Save Our Trees initiative aims to clear invasive vines from canopy trees.
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 June 2011.
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.
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.