The Groundwater Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE GROUNDWATER FOUNDATION CONNECTS PEOPLE, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH LOCAL GROUNDWATER EDUCATION AND ACTION, MAKING US ALL A PART OF THE SOLUTION FOR CLEAN, SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER.
- Income
- $413,216
- Spending
- $343,581
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- 48 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 79%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $266,723, ceo
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
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 48.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 43% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
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 (4)
- $2,745 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS/CONTRIBUTIONS - THE GROUNDWATER FOUNDATION PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS FOR STEM EDUCATION SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO GROUNDWATER; TO FUND LEADING-EDGE PROGRAMMING THAT STIMULATES NEW KNOWLEDGE, INFORMATION, PROGRAMS AND PRODUCTS TO ADVANCE GROUNDWATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; AND TO BENEFIT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD WITHOUT ACCESS TO PLENTIFUL SUPPLIES OF POTABLE GROUND WATER.
- $75,037 spent. USA GROUNDWATER FUND - THE GROUNDWATER FOUNDATION ASSISTS NEEDY FAMILES WITH ACCESS TO GROUND WATER BY PROVIDING GRANTS AND COORDINATING WITH LOCAL GROUNDWATER PROFESSIONALS. THE FUND HAS A THREE PART PURPOSE; EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF GROUNDWATER PROFESSIONALS, PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARNESS, AND TO HELP FUND THE DRILLING AND REPAIR OF WATER WELL FOR STRUGGLING FAMILES.
- $23,473 spent. STUDENT EDUCATION - THE GROUNDWATER FOUNDATION CREATED THE ULTIMATE GROUNDWATER EDUCATION TOOL, KNOWN AS THE AWESOME AQUIFER KIT. THE KIT IS A FUN AND EDUCATIONAL GROUNDWATER KIT WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO BUILD AN AQUIFER MODEL AND TEACH STUDENTS THE IMPORTANCE OF CLEAN AND SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER. THROUGH DONATIONS AND FUNDRAISING THE FOUNDATION WAS ABLE TO EDUCATION OVER 200,000 STUDENTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF GROUNDWATER SCIENCE.
- $124,406 spent. THE GROUNDWATER FOUNDATION ALSO DIRECTS A VARIETY OF OTHER PROGRAMS TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF CONDUCTING EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES RELATED TO GROUND WATER AND THE GROUND WATER INDUSTRY.
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 January 1995.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: The Foundation (Houston, TX), EIN 92-0742101. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.