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Pure Oakland Water

EIN 46-2471091 · Waterford, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ORGANIZATION'S MISSION OR MOST SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES. PURE OAKLAND WATER (POW) IS A MICHIGAN ORGANIZATION THAT IS DEDICATED TO PROTECTING OAKLAND COUNTY'S REGIONAL WATER RESOURCES THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION, COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY, AND THE PROMOTION OF A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. PUBLIC EDUCATION: IN AN EFFORT TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING OF OUR CURRENT AND FUTURE WATER NEEDS AND CHALLENGES, PURE OAKLAND WATER IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ABOUT SUSTAINING AND PROTECTING WATER RESOURCES. POW WILL DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION TO COMMUNITY GROUPS, SCHOOLS, STAKEHOLDERS, POLICYMAKERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN AN EFFORT TO PROMOTE A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH SEMINARS, TOWN HALL MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, PRINTED MATERIALS, WATER FESTIVALS, AND OTHER PUBLIC OUTREACH. POW WILL HELP WITH THE EDUCATION OF WATER FLOW PROCESSES, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND SUSTAINABILITY. THIS WILL INCLUDE STORM WATER AND WASTEWATER OPERATIONS AND THE METHODS OF MAINTAIN

Income
$135,632
Spending
$92,839
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
22.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
0

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 September 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 (5)
  1. $15,000 spent. PURE OAKLAND WATER PROVIDED THESE FUNDS TO CRANBROOK INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE TO SUPPORT THE EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR REGIONAL STUDENTS ON WATER CONSERVATION, RIVER, LAKE AND STREAM PROTECTION, POLLUTION PREVENTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION TECHNIQUES DURING THEIR ANNUAL ROUGE RIVER WATER FESTIVAL.
  2. $15,000 spent. PURE OAKLAND WATER PROVIDED THESE FUNDS TO OAKLAND UNIVERSITY TO SUPPORT THE EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR REGIONAL STUDENTS ON WATER CONSERVATION, RIVER, LAKE, AND STREAM PROTECTION, POLLUTION PREVENTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION TECHNIQUES DURING THEIR ANNUAL CLINTON RIVER WATER FESTIVAL.
  3. $13,000 spent. PURE OAKLAND WATER PROVIDED THESE FUNDS TO FOUR ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS FOR REGIONAL STUDENTS ON WATER CONSERVATION, RIVER, LAKE, AND STREAM PROTECTION, POLLUTION PREVENTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION TECHNIQUES.
  4. $34,961 spent. ALL OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS COMPRISE EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT, AND PROMOTING AWARENESS OF, WATER RESOURCE PRESERVATION.
  5. ALL OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS COMPRISE EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT, AND PROMOTING AWARENESS OF, WATER RESOURCE PRESERVATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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 September 2025.

    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 December 2013.

    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.