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Chagrin River Watershed Partners Inc

EIN 34-1822374 · Eastlake, OH

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PRESERVING AND ENHANCING THE SCENIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OF THE ECOSYSTEM OF THE CHAGRIN RIVER, LAKE ERIE AND OTHER OHIO WATERSHEDS IN A MANNER WHICH ENSURES A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR PEOPLE, PLANTS AND ANIMALS.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 68%
Employees
10
Volunteers
90
Highest pay
$130,503, executive di

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: 44 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 58% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    50 of 50 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (1)
  1. $991,294 spent. CRWP IS A COLLABORATION OF 35 CITIES, VILLAGES, TOWNSHIPS, COUNTIES, AND PARK DISTRICTS WORKING ON INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO FLOODING, EROSION, AND WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACTS OF DEVELOPMENT AND LIMIT LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS. CRWP'S FOUNDING PRINCIPLES ARE: - NATURAL SYSTEMS PROVIDE FLOOD CONTROL, EROSION CONTROL, AND WATER QUALITY - IT IS MORE COST EFFECTIVE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO TAKE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT STEPS TO MAINTAIN THESE SERVICES THAN TO PAY FOR COSTLY, AND GENERALLY, LESS EFFECTIVE, REMEDIAL SOLUTIONS. CRWP RESPONDS DIRECTLY TO THE NEEDS OF MEMBER COMMUNITIES, ELECTED OFFICIALS, ENGINEERS, PLANNERS, LAW DIRECTORS, AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY HELPING THEM UPDATE COMPREHENSIVE PLANS, ZONING REGULATIONS, AND OTHER PROGRAMS GUIDING LAND USE. CRWP HAS ASSISTED COMMUNITIES BY INTRODUCING INNOVATIVE PRACTICES THAT MAINTAIN NATURAL RESOURCE FUNCTIONS AND PREVENT OR MINIMIZE FLOODING, EROSION, AND WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS. THESE PRACTICES INCLUDE CRWP'S RECOMMENDED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT TOOLS FOR PLANNING, RIPARIAN AND WETLAND SETBACKS, CONSERVATION DEVELOPMENT, IMPROVED EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL, AND COMPREHENSIVE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT. IN 2025, CHAGRIN RIVER WATERSHED PARTNERS WORKED WITH ITS MEMBERS AND PARTNERS TO LEVERAGE FUNDING TO IMPLEMENT PROJECTS FOR HEALTHY STREAMS, WETLANDS, NATURAL AREAS AND LAKE ERIE. OUR 2025 ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: PROTECTED AND/OR RESTORED 1,750 LINEAR FEET OF STREAMS AND 22 ACRES OF STREAM CORRIDOR AND WETLANDS. PLANTED 4,010 NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS. PREVENTED 10.9 MILLION GALLONS OF POLLUTED RUNOFF FROM REACHING STREAMS. ENGAGED OVER 126,000 PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE HEALTHY WATERSHEDS. PARTNERED WITH OUR MEMBER COMMUNITIES AND CENTRAL LAKE ERIE BASIN COLLABORATIVE ORGANIZATIONS TO DESIGN AND BUILD PROJECTS IN THE CHAGRIN RIVER AND OTHER OHIO WATERSHEDS WHICH WILL RESTORE OVER 8,432 LINEAR FEET OF STREAM, 28 ACRES OF RIPARIAN CORRIDOR, AND 57 ACRES OF WETLAND. IMPLEMENTED A MASTER RAIN GARDENER PROGRAM AND TAUGHT 117 RESIDENTS AND LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONALS HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD FUNCTIONAL RAIN GARDENS. THE 20 RAIN GARDENS INSTALLED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM IN 2025 PREVENTED 260,623 GALLONS OF STORMWATER RUNOFF ANNUALLY. PARTNERED WITH THE NORTHEAST OHIO REGIONAL SEWER DISTRICT, HYFI AND OTHERS TO MAINTAIN A NETWORK OF SENSOR-DRIVEN WATER LEVEL MONITORING DEVICES ALONG STREAMS, LAKES, PONDS AND STORMWATER BASINS. THE DATA COLLECTED BY THE SENSOR WILL HELP STORMWATER MANAGERS AND EMERGENCY RESPONDERS TO STAY UP TO DATE ON THE LATEST STREAM FLOW AND LEVEL CONDITIONS. CRWP IS A COLLABORATION OF 35 CITIES, VILLAGES, TOWNSHIPS, COUNTIES, AND PARK DISTRICTS WORKING ON INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO FLOODING, EROSION, AND WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACTS OF DEVELOPMENT AND LIMIT LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS. CRWP'S FOUNDING PRINCIPLES ARE: - NATURAL SYSTEMS PROVIDE FLOOD CONTROL, EROSION CONTROL, AND WATER QUALITY - IT IS MORE COST EFFECTIVE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO TAKE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT STEPS TO MAINTAIN THESE SERVICES THAN TO PAY FOR COSTLY, AND GENERALLY, LESS EFFECTIVE, REMEDIAL SOLUTIONS. CRWP RESPONDS DIRECTLY TO THE NEEDS OF MEMBER COMMUNITIES, ELECTED OFFICIALS, ENGINEERS, PLANNERS, LAW DIRECTORS, AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY HELPING THEM UPDATE COMPREHENSIVE PLANS, ZONING REGULATIONS, AND OTHER PROGRAMS GUIDING LAND USE. CRWP HAS ASSISTED COMMUNITIES BY INTRODUCING INNOVATIVE PRACTICES THAT MAINTAIN NATURAL RESOURCE FUNCTIONS AND PREVENT OR MINIMIZE FLOODING, EROSION, AND WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS. THESE PRACTICES INCLUDE CRWP'S RECOMMENDED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT TOOLS FOR PLANNING, RIPARIAN AND WETLAND SETBACKS, CONSERVATION DEVELOPMENT, IMPROVED EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL, AND COMPREHENSIVE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT. IN 2025, CHAGRIN RIVER WATERSHED PARTNERS WORKED WITH ITS MEMBERS AND PARTNERS TO LEVERAGE FUNDING TO IMPLEMENT PROJECTS FOR HEALTHY STREAMS, WETLANDS, NATURAL AREAS AND LAKE ERIE. OUR 2025 ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: PROTECTED AND/OR RESTORED 1,750 LINEAR FEET OF STREAMS AND 22 ACRES OF STREAM CORRIDOR AND WETLANDS. PLANTED 4,010 NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS. PREVENTED 10.9 MILLION GALLONS OF POLLUTED RUNOFF FROM REACHING STREAMS. ENGAGED OVER 126,000 PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE HEALTHY WATERSHEDS. PARTNERED WITH OUR MEMBER COMMUNITIES AND CENTRAL LAKE ERIE BASIN COLLABORATIVE ORGANIZATIONS TO DESIGN AND BUILD PROJECTS IN THE CHAGRIN RIVER AND OTHER OHIO WATERSHEDS WHICH WILL RESTORE OVER 8,432 LINEAR FEET OF STREAM, 28 ACRES OF RIPARIAN CORRIDOR, AND 57 ACRES OF WETLAND. IMPLEMENTED A MASTER RAIN GARDENER PROGRAM AND TAUGHT 117 RESIDENTS AND LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONALS HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD FUNCTIONAL RAIN GARDENS. THE 20 RAIN GARDENS INSTALLED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM IN 2025 PREVENTED 260,623 GALLONS OF STORMWATER RUNOFF ANNUALLY. PARTNERED WITH THE NORTHEAST OHIO REGIONAL SEWER DISTRICT, HYFI AND OTHERS TO MAINTAIN A NETWORK OF SENSOR-DRIVEN WATER LEVEL MONITORING DEVICES ALONG STREAMS, LAKES, PONDS AND STORMWATER BASINS. THE DATA COLLECTED BY THE SENSOR WILL HELP STORMWATER MANAGERS AND EMERGENCY RESPONDERS TO STAY UP TO DATE ON THE LATEST STREAM FLOW AND LEVEL CONDITIONS.

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2017.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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.