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Tippecanoe Environmental Lake & Watershed Foundation Inc

EIN 35-2020845 · North Webster, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE WORK TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN THE LAKES AND STREAMS OF THE UPPER TIPPECANOE RIVER WATERSHED. WE DO THIS BY IMPLEMENTING SOLUTIONS TO STOP POLLUTION, ENGAGING YOUTH & ADULTS AND UNITING PARTNERS.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$965,800
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
12.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
7
Volunteers
303

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 51% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $774,246 spent. WATERSHED MANAGEMENT: THE UPPER TIPPECANOE RIVER WATERSHED IS 236 SQ. MILES IN PARTS OF 3 COUNTIES & CONTAINS MORE THAN 60 LAKES AND STREAMS. OVER THE PAST 28 YEARS, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND LANDOWNERS TO COMPLETE >375 PROJECTS TO REDUCE POLLUTION AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY. RECENT PROJECTS INCLUDE: (1)HEALTHY SHORES INITIATIVE ENCOURAGES INSTALLATION OF GLACIAL STONES AND NATIVE PLANTS ON OUR LAKESHORES.(2) WETLAND RESTORATION PROJECTS FILTER SEDIMENT AND NUTRIENTS.(3) SOIL HEALTH-BEST FARM PRACTICES ARE INSTALLED TO KEEP SOIL IN PLACE, REDUCE FERTILIZERS, AND TRAP RUNOFF. THESE POLLUTION REDUCTION PROJECTS PREVENT THE GROWTH OF MORE THAN ONE BILLION POUNDS OF WEEDS AND ALGAE IN AREA LAKES AND STREAMS EACH YEAR.
  2. $27,232 spent. EDUCATION & OUTREACH: ACTIVITIES ON THE LAND ULTIMATELY AFFECT OUR LAKES AND STREAMS, SO WATER QUALITY IS ULTIMATELY ABOUT PEOPLE. IT'S THE CHOICES THEY MAKE AND THE ACTIONS THEY TAKE THAT TRULY MAKE A DIFFERENCE; THEREFORE, EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT ARE KEY TO OUR EFFORTS. WE DIRECTLY REACH MORE THAN 3,000 PEOPLE THROUGH EVENTS AND PROGRAMS ANNUALLY, INCLUDING RIVER SCHOOL & WATERSHED TOURS AND WORKSHOPS. WE COMMUNICATE WITH THE PUBLIC VIA OUR WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, PRINT AND E-NEWSLETTERS. WE WON THE 2012 GOVERNOR'S AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE FOR OUR WWW.CLEARCHOICESCLEANWATER.ORG CAMPAIGN. MORE THAN 6,800 PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN A PLEDGE TO MAKE CLEAR CHOICES FOR CLEAN WATER. IN 2021 WE HOSTED THE SMITHSONIAN WATER WAYS EXHIBIT AND ENGAGED 2,200 VISITORS.
  3. $18,050 spent. WATER MONITORING: TESTING WATER QUALITY IS IMPORTANT FOR SHOWING IMPROVEMENT OR DECLINE AND FINDING NEW PROBLEMS AND SOURCES. WE CONDUCT A MONTHLY STREAM MONITORING PROGRAM FOR WATER CHEMISTRY AND FLOW, AND WE INTEND TO MAINTAIN THIS DATA COLLECTION LONG-TERM. EVERY 5 YEARS, WE CONDUCT A BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE INFLOWING STREAMS IN THE WATERSHED. NINE OF THE 10 SITES HAVE SHOWN SIGNIFICANT WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN THE LAST 15 YEARS. IN ADDITION TO THESE MONITORING EFFORTS CONDUCTED BY STAFF AND SCIENTISTS, WE TRAIN AND SUPPORT A NETWORK OF VOLUNTEER STREAM MONITORS AND CONDUCTED A SNAPSHOT WATER MONITORING DAY AT 100 SITES EACH YEAR SINCE 2017.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1998.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.