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Michigan Water Environment Association Inc

EIN 38-2160283 · Lansing, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BE AND CREATE STEWARDS FOR THE WATER ENVIRONMENT OF MICHIGAN. PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION FOR MICHIGAN'S WATER PROFESSIONALS. EDUCATE AND INFORM POLICY MAKERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. PROMOTE SCIENTIFICALLY SOUND ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES AND REGULATION.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 76%
Employees
8
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$105,748, executive director

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    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, 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 (2)
  1. $617,740 spent. THE CONTINUING EDUCATION PROVIDED TO OUR DUES PAYING MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS IS A PROCESS INVOLVING VARIOUS EDUCATION CLASSES, SEMINARS, CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE HOST OVER 100 CLASSES SPECIFIC TO WASTEWATER EDUCATION. THOSE CLASSES HAVE EDUCATIONAL WORKBOOKS THAT FOLLOW THE SAME CURRICULUM AND ARE TAUGHT BY ONE OF OUR TRAINING PROGRAM INSTRUCTORS. ALL OTHER EVENTS FEATURE SPEAKERS THAT FOCUS ON VARIOUS WATER SECTOR ISSUES AND EMERGING TRENDS. SINCE THE ASSOCIATION IS A STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION, THERE ARE LOCAL SECTIONS OF THE ASSOCIATION THAT CONDUCT ACTIVITIES RELATED TO WATER SECTOR ISSUES IN THEIR LOCAL AREA AS WELL. ALL THESE ACTIVITIES GENERATE A VARIETY OF REVENUE THAT ARE ALL USED FOR THE ASSOCIATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE.
  2. $158,624 spent. AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS HELD DURING THE YEAR TO HONOR OUTSTANDING EFFORTS IN WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. THE CONFERENCE PROVIDES TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND ENCOURAGES OTHERS TO EXCEL WHILE PROVIDING A FOCAL POINT FOR ITS MEMBERS. 333 MEMBERS ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE.

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 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 August 1985.

    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.