American Public Works Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION (APWA) EXISTS TO DEVELOP AND SUPPORT THE PEOPLE, AGENCIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT PLAN, BUILD, MAINTAIN, AND IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITIES. WORKING TOGETHER, APWA AND ITS MEMBERSHIP CONTRIBUTE TO A HIGHER AND SUSTAINABLE QUALITY OF LIFE.
- Income
- $34.4 million
- Spending
- $30.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 16.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 81%
- Employees
- 59
- Volunteers
- 3,016
- Highest pay
- $542,469, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 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 June 30, 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 (4)
- $12.3 million spent. CHAPTER SERVICES: THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGIC PLANNING, TRAINING, CHAPTER CAPACITY BUILDING AND MENTORING SERVICES TO OUR 62 CHAPTERS AND MORE THAN 90 BRANCHES AND THE VOLUNTEER MEMBERS SERVING IN LEADERSHIP ROLES THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA. PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE FUNDING A BI-ANNUAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING, A "COUNCIL OF CHAPTERS" MEETING TO ADDRESS INFO-SHARING, BEST PRACTICES, STRATEGIC PLANNING, MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION AND INVOLVEMENT OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)APWA FUNDS TRAVEL FOR NATIONAL STAFF AND NATIONAL BOARD MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL APWA LEADERSHIP (STRATEGIC PLANNING) MEETINGS AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS; GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE; REBATES TO HELP FUND LOCAL INITIATIVES AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH DOING BUSINESS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL ARE FUNDED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM AS WELL.CHAPTER ACTIVITIES: ON A LOCAL LEVEL, WE HAVE 62 ACTIVE CHAPTERS AND MORE THAN 90 ACTIVE BRANCHES WHICH PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL TRAINING TO LOCAL MEMBERS OF APWA WELL AS OTHER PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS VIA EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES, SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS, TECHNICAL TOURS AND TRAINING COURSES ON VARIOUS TOPICS SURROUNDING THE PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSION. THESE CHAPTERS ALSO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES VIA PUBLIC OUTREACH TO K-12 STUDENTS, FUNDING STIPENDS/SPONSORSHIPS OF LOCAL AGENCY EFFORTS FOR TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ENTERING THE ENGINEERING OR PUBLIC WORKS RELATED FIELDS.
- $8.2 million spent. AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, APWA PROVIDES SERVICES TO MORE THAN 30,000 MEMBERS IN NORTH AMERICA. IN A TYPICAL YEAR, MORE THAN 10,000 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATION-RELATED ACTIVITIES, OF WHICH ABOUT 25% ARE NON-MEMBERS. OUR PRIMARY SERVICES INCLUDE E-LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, WEBINARS, EDUCATIONAL FORUMS, CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, EXHIBITS, PUBLICATIONS, TRAINING PROGRAMS, CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS, CREDENTIALING PROGRAMS, AND ACCREDITATION PROGRAMS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE RESULTS OF OUR SERVICES TO PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THE INDIVIDUAL AND TRULY BENEFITS THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH EACH OF THESE INDIVIDUALS SERVES, PROVIDING SERVICES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: ASSET MANAGEMENT, SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT; ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION; FLEET MANAGEMENT; FACILITIES AND GROUNDS; LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT; SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT; TRANSPORTATION; WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT; UTILITIES AND PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY SERVICES. WE ALSO PARTNER WITH OTHER PEER ASSOCIATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO EXTEND INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE BEYOND OUR OWN SERVICES. THE TRAINING AND RESOURCES MADE AVAILABLE BY APWA TO THE PUBLIC AGENCY WORKERS INCREASES THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF BEST PRACTICES AND PROVIDES RESOURCES THEY ARE ABLE TO APPLY TO THEIR WORK, IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, ON A DAILY BASIS.
- $2.1 million spent. CONFERENCES: THE 2025 PWX (PUBLIC WORKS EXPOSITION) NATIONAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE, ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING AND TRADE SHOW EXHIBIT FOR PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS WAS HELD IN ATLANTA. THE 2025 NORTH AMERICAN SNOW CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW EXHIBIT WAS HELD IN GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN (SEE SCHEDULE O). THE PWX EVENT BROUGHT MORE THAN 5,600 PUBLIC WORKS AND INDUSTRY-RELATED PROFESSIONALS TOGETHER IN ONE FORUM WITH MORE THAN 165 EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS, OVER 94,000 SQUARE FEET EXHIBITS SHOWCASING NEW TECHNOLOGY, PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC WORKS SECTOR. THIS MEETING ALSO SERVES AS OUR ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING FOR OUR VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS, NATIONAL COMMITTEES AND CHAPTER LEADERSHIP. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE 2025 NORTH AMERICAN SNOW CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW EXHIBIT FOR SNOW FIGHTERS AND WINTER MAINTENANCE PROFESSIONALS WAS HELD IN GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. THIS EVENT BROUGHT TOGETHER NEARLY 2,000 SNOW FIGHTERS FROM CITIES AND TOWNSHIPS, COUNTY AND RURAL STREETS DIVISIONS, AND STATE AND PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION. IT IS FOUR DAYS OF EDUCATION AND NETWORKING, FEATURING AN EXHIBIT FLOOR WITH THE NEWEST EQUIPMENT AND PRODUCTS AVAILABLE, QUALITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND TECHNICAL TOURS, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO EXCHANGE IDEAS WITH MANUFACTURERS, DISTRIBUTORS, CONSULTANTS AND OTHER PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS.
- $521,558 spent. REPORTER MAGAZINE/TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS: MONTHLY MAGAZINE PROVIDED TO THE APWA MEMBERSHIP. ARTICLES CONTAIN INFORMATION ON ASSET MANAGEMENT, SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION, FLEET MANAGEMENT, FACILITIES AND GROUNDS, LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT, SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT, TRANSPORTATION, WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT, UTILITIES AND PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY SERVICES. EDITORIAL CONTENT IS FOCUSED ON SUBJECT MATTER IN THE AREAS OF WATER RESOURCES, FLEET MANAGEMENT, CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION, ENVIRONMENTAL, SOLID WASTE, MUNICIPAL ENGINEERING, TRANSPORTATION, EQUIPMENT SERVICES, FACILITIES AND GROUNDS, WINTER MAINTENANCE, SUSTAINABILITY, APWA ACCREDITATION AND CERTIFICATION, INTERNATIONAL, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, APWA CHAPTER SUCCESS STORIES, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, IN AND AROUND APWA, AND OTHER PUBLIC WORKS-RELATED TOPICS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 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 June 1951.
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.