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Clinton River Watershed Council

EIN 38-3216864 · Rochester Hls, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak42 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROTECT, ENHANCE AND CELEBRATE THE CLINTON RIVER, ITS WATERSHED, AND LAKE ST. CLAIR. VISION: INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIONS PROTECT AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE CLINTON RIVER, ASSURING THAT ITS NATURAL, ECONOMIC, AND RECREATIONAL VALUE ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THOSE WHO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY IN THE CLINTON RIVER WATERSHED AND LAKE ST. CLAIR.

Income
$901,221
Spending
$896,248
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 57%
Employees
17
Volunteers
2,984
Highest pay
$109,100, executive di

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

Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 53% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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, 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 (5)
  1. $14,453 spent. THE CLINTON RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL OFFERS A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE STREAM BANK RESTORATION, NATIVE PLANT INSTALLATION, INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL, RAIN GARDEN INSTALLATION, STORM DRAIN STENCILING, CLEAN UP AND STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES, WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAMS, PUBLIC STORMWATER EDUCATION AND MUCH MORE. EVENTS INCLUDE RIVER DAY, CLINTON CLEAN-UP, THE ANNUAL MEETING, NOURISHED BY NATURE, AND VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION EVENTS.
  2. $126,299 spent. THE STORM WATER EDUCATION PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED THROUGH MUNICIPAL CONTRACTS. THE CLINTON RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL DOES ACTIVITIES IN CONJUNCTION WITH CITIES, TOWNSHIPS, SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT STORMWATER IMPACTS AND SOLUTIONS. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMUNITIES MS4 STORMWATER PERMITS REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.
  3. $23,886 spent. CRWC'S PROGRAMS INCLUDE STREAM LEADERS, ADOPT-A-STREAM, AND CLINTON RIVER COLDWATER CONSERVATION PROJECT (CRCCP). STREAM LEADERS WORKS WITH MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN WATER QUALITY MONITORING IN THEIR COMMUNITY. CRWC GRADUATES OVER 2,000 STUDENTS A YEAR THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. ADOPT-A-STREAM HAS 360 VOLUNTEERS COVERING 50 MONITORING SITES. THIS PROGRAM IS DONE TWICE A YEAR. CRCCP HAS OVER 100 VOLUNTEERS WHO WORK ON PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE RESTORATION ON THE PAINT CREEK TRIBUTARY TO THE CLINTON RIVER.
  4. $522,902 spent. TOTAL OF REMAINING PROGRAMS - CRWC LEADS THE PUBLIC ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR THE CLINTON RIVER AREA OF CONCERN (AOC) INCLUDING CONTINUED MONITORING OF 11 HABITAT PROJECTS ANNUALLY WITHIN THE AOC. CRWC LED THE REMOVAL OF TROUT CREEK DAM IN THE BALD MOUNTAIN RECREATION AREA, INVENTORIED SITES ACROSS THE WATERSHED FOR INVASIVE RED SWAMP CRAYFISH, DEVELOPED THE RAIN SMART REBATE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE RAIN GARDENS, TREES OR RAIN BARRELS TO RESIDENTS LIVING WITHIN THE GEORGE W KUHN DRAINAGE AREA OF OAKLAND COUNTY, HOSTED PARTICIPANTS ON FUNGI WALKS, KAYAK TRIPS, AND BIRDING EXPEDITIONS THROUGH NOURISHED BY NATURE, AND PROVIDED VISIONING FOR SEVERAL COMMUNITIES TO IMPLEMENT LARGE SCALE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THROUGH THE WATERTOWNS PROGRAM.
  5. TOTAL OF REMAINING PROGRAMS - CRWC LEADS THE PUBLIC ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR THE CLINTON RIVER AREA OF CONCERN (AOC) INCLUDING CONTINUED MONITORING OF 11 HABITAT PROJECTS ANNUALLY WITHIN THE AOC. CRWC LED THE REMOVAL OF TROUT CREEK DAM IN THE BALD MOUNTAIN RECREATION AREA, INVENTORIED SITES ACROSS THE WATERSHED FOR INVASIVE RED SWAMP CRAYFISH, DEVELOPED THE RAIN SMART REBATE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE RAIN GARDENS, TREES OR RAIN BARRELS TO RESIDENTS LIVING WITHIN THE GEORGE W KUHN DRAINAGE AREA OF OAKLAND COUNTY, HOSTED PARTICIPANTS ON FUNGI WALKS, KAYAK TRIPS, AND BIRDING EXPEDITIONS THROUGH NOURISHED BY NATURE, AND PROVIDED VISIONING FOR SEVERAL COMMUNITIES TO IMPLEMENT LARGE SCALE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THROUGH THE WATERTOWNS PROGRAM.

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 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 2024.

    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 January 1995.

    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.