Clean Lakes Alliance Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO CHAMPION OUR LAKES AND WATERSHED STEWARDSHIP FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL.
- Income
- $938,969
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 1.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 27
- Volunteers
- 565
- Highest pay
- $202,482, president/chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 29% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 38% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 26% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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, 2024, 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)
- $476,416 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMMING WATERSHED ENGAGEMENT IS A VITAL PART OF PROGRAMMING IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE CLEAN LAKES ALLIANCE (CLA)'S VISION THAT EVERYONE REALIZES THAT THE LAKES ARE THE CENTER OF OUR COMMUNITY. THERE ARE DIVERSE PROGRAMS TO ENGAGE DIVERSE GROUPS OF PEOPLE IN THE LAKE EFFORTS. THE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO EDUCATE BOTH DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY. THE IDEA IS THAT ISSUE-LITERACY LEADS TO OWNERSHIP, OWNERSHIP LEADS TO CARING, AND CARING LEADS TO PROGRESS. THE CLEAN LAKES ALLIANCE WATERSHED ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FROZEN ASSETS FESTIVAL, CLEAN LAKES 101, LAKE EXPLORER CAMP, RENEW THE BLUE VOLUNTEER DAYS, YAHARA WATERSHED ACADEMY, LUNCH-N-LEARN COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS, MENDOTA FREEZE CONTEST, REIMAGINE WARNER BEACH DESIGN CONTEST, RAKE FOR THE LAKE CAMPAIGN, MY FAVORITE LAKE YOUTH ART COMPETITION, FARM TOURS, SAVES OUR LAKES COMMUNITY BREAKFAST, LOOP THE LAKE BIKE RIDE, AND CITIZEN WATER QUALITY MONITORING. THESE EFFORTS HELP IMPROVE COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF THE YAHARA LAKES, THEREBY EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS TO ADVOCATE FOR AND HELP MAKE PROGRESS TOWARDS IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF OUR WATERS.
- $442,685 spent. WATERSHED PROGRAMMING WATERSHED RESTORATION IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF CLEAN LAKES ALLIANCE, HELPING TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF 50% PHOSPHORUS REDUCTION BY 2025. THE PROGRAMS HAVE INCLUDED YAHARA PRIDE FARMS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, CLEAN LAKES GRANTS, STATE OF THE LAKES PROGRESS REPORTING, YAHARA CLEAN COMPACT COLLABORATIONS, DEMONSTRATION PILOTS, AND POLICY ADVOCACY. ON THE GROUND, THESE PROGRAMS CREATE THE FRAMEWORK TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF OUR WATERS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 2024.
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 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 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.