The California Water Impact Network
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $476,550
- Spending
- $592,179
- Spent on programs
- 98%
- Reserves
- 2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $68,100, secretary
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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 24% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1598% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 10 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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)
- $580,263 spent. LITIGATION CONCERNING APPROPRIATE USES OF CALIFORNIA WATER: C-WIN IS INVOLVED IN MULTIPLE CONCURRENT LAWSUITS. (A) WE HAVE THREE ACTIVE SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ACT VALIDATION CASES FILED AGAINST BIGGS-WEST GRIDLEY WATER DISTRICT, COLUSA GROUNDWATER AUTHORITY AND VINA GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY TO PREVENT THE GROUNDWATER BASINS FROM GOING INTO A SEVERE OVERDRAFT CONDITION. (B) DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT LAWSUIT TO STOP THE $23 BILLION DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES (DWR) PROPOSED SINGLE TUNNEL PROJECT THROUGH THE USE OF THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) FOR DWR'S FAILURE TO ACCOUNT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS. (C) SITES PROJECT AUTHORITY - TO PREVENT THE CONSTRUCTION OF SITES RESERVOIR BASED ON WATER RIGHTS THAT DO NOT EXIST. (D) THREE SEPARATE LAWSUITS AGAINST WESTLANDS WATER DISTRICT FOR EXTENDING THEIR FEDERAL WATER CONTRACTS INDEFINITELY. WESTLANDS WATER DISTRICT IS APPEALING OUR WIN, THE OTHER TWO CASES ARE STILL PENDING. (E) DELTA PLAN AND ITS EIR: C-WIN SUSTAINS A LAWSUIT TO HALT APPROVAL AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DELTA PLAN BECAUSE IT DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CALIFORNIA DELTA REFORM ACT OF 2009.
- COMMUNICATION, RESEARCH AND PUBLIC EDUCATION: (A) PART OF A COALITION OF OTHER CONSUMER, ENVIRONMENTAL AND DELTA PROTECTION GROUPS THAT ARE FIGHTING THE PROPOSED SINGLE TUNNEL PROJECT ALSO KNOWN AS THE DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT. (B) C-WIN IS MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR LEGAL CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE 26 RIVERS OF THE DELTA WATERSHED AND THE 26 MILLION RATEPAYERS SOUTH OF THE DELTA FROM CATASTROPHIC COSTS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL ONLY PRODUCE DEBT AND NO NEW WATER SUPPLIES.
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 February 2002.
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.