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Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation

EIN 45-3597466 · Casco, ME

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceWeak25 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To enhance the wilderness character of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, protect its environment, preserve its historic and cultural values and foster knowledge and understanding of the Waterway.

Income
$230,471
Spending
$264,551
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
9.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0

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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 62% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% 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

Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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)
  1. $175,472 spent. To enhance the wilderness character of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, protect its environment, preserve its historic and cultural values and foster knowledge and understanding of the Waterway.
  2. $63,136 spent. YOUTH PROGRAMS- CANOE DAY CAMP & MULTI-DAY TRIPS. THESE WILDERNESS TRIPS INTRODUCE YOUTHS TO EXPLORE NEARBY WATERS & LEARN THE BASICS OF PADDLING & "LEAVE NO TRACE", TO LEARN LIFE-LONG RECREATION, WELLNESS & LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AS WELL AS NATURAL, HISTORIC & CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE ALLAGASH RIVER AND THE ST. JOHN VALLEY.
  3. $16,410 spent. NATURAL RESOURCES ASSESSMENT- INVOLVES A COMPREHENSIVE INVENTORY OF THE ALLAGASH WATERWAY INCLUDING THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, BIODIVERSITY, ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE PRE-1841 ALLAGASH WATERSHED, AND CURRENT & FUTURE RESILIENCE OF THE WATERWAY IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE AND LAND USE CHANGES
  4. $9,533 spent. CLASSROOM TO RIVER- IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GREAT SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP & ST. JOHN VALLEY SCHOOLS, THIS PROJECT HELPS MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS DEVELOP PROJECT-BASED, OUTDOOR LEARNING UNITS SO THAT ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM PROJECT- AND PLACE-BASED CURRICULUM & NATURAL & CULTURAL LEARNING UNITS IN THE ALLAGASH AND ST. JOHN VALLEY.

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

  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 June 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 September 2012.

    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.