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Water Foundation

EIN 37-1833985 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WATER FOUNDATION AND OUR PARTNERS ADVANCE LASTING SOLUTIONS TO SECURE SAFE WATER FOR PEOPLE, RESTORE AND SUSTAIN FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, AND BUILD CLIMATE RESILIENCE.

Income
$22.3 million
Spending
$18.3 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
8.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
27
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$386,617, chief executive officer

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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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, 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)
  1. $9.9 million spent. THE STATES AND BASINS PROGRAM INCLUDES STATE, REGIONAL, AND LOCAL EFFORTS TO SECURE CLEAN AND AFFORDABLE DRINKING WATER, BUILD URBAN AND RURAL CLIMATE RESILIENCE, AND/OR ADVANCE SOLUTIONS THAT RESTORE AND PROTECT FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS. GRANTS FROM THE WATER FOUNDATION IN 2024 SUPPORTED SUSTAINABLE, INCLUSIVE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT AND SAFE AND AFFORDABLE DRINKING WATER IN CALIFORNIA; COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY; A CAMPAIGN TO RESTORE THE COLUMBIA-SNAKE RIVER BASIN IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST; COALITIONS SUPPORTING THE PROTECTION OF SURFACE WATER, WETLANDS, AND FLOODPLAINS IN NEW MEXICO; AND EFFORTS TO ADVANCE SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT THAT BENEFITS PEOPLE AND NATURE IN TEXAS.
  2. $6.0 million spent. NATIONAL - NATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE EFFORTS TO MAXIMIZE THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS OF FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING AND TO STRENGTHEN A NATIONAL MOVEMENT FOR WATER. GRANTS IN 2024 SUPPORTED THE CAPACITY OF WATER ORGANIZATIONS, COALITIONS, AND LEADERS; EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF WATER-RELATED PUBLIC FUNDING; THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, WATERSHED RESTORATION, AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE PROJECTS; AND EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT FEDERAL PROGRAM TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE DRINKING WATER.
  3. $1.5 million spent. WATER TABLE - THE WATER TABLE IS A FUNDER COLLABORATIVE HOSTED BY THE WATER FOUNDATION THAT ADVANCES A SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT WATER FUTURE IN THE U.S. TABLE MEMBERS POOL AND ALIGN FUNDING TOWARD WATER SOLUTIONS TO ACHIEVE GREATER COLLECTIVE IMPACT. THE TABLE'S 2024 PRIORITY AREAS FOR COORDINATED INVESTMENT AND/OR LEARNING INCLUDE: A NATIONAL CLEAN WATER EFFORT, URBAN WATER SOLUTIONS, CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE IN THE WEST, SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT IN TEXAS, TRIBAL PARTNERSHIPS, AND ACTIVATION OF FEDERAL FUNDING FOR WATER PROJECTS. THE TABLE ALSO WORKS TO INCREASE FIELD AND FUNDER COORDINATION, BUILD COMMUNITY POWER, AND INVEST IN FIELD CAPACITY TO DRIVE WATER SOLUTIONS.
  4. $373,689 spent. TRANSITIONING STRATEGIES: IN 204, WATER FOUNDATION GRANTS SUPPORTED AN ASSESSMENT OF HEADWATER FOREST MANAGEMENT IN THE WEST THAT IDENTIFIED OPPORTUNITIES TO ENSURE CLEAN, RELIABLE WATER THROUGH FOREST RESTORATION AND PROTECTION.

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

  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 2024.

    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 November 2016.

    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.