Middle Colorado Watershed Council
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 74 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO EVALUATE, PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE HEALTH OF THE MIDDLE COLORADO RIVER WATERSHED THROUGH THE COOPERATIVE EFFORT OF WATERSHED STAKEHOLDERS.
- Income
- $984,711
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- -0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 85%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $98,000, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 15 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 128% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 59% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 74 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (3)
- $908,287 spent. THE MIDDLE COLORADO WATERSHED COUNCIL INTEGRATED WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION WITH WATER USERS, WATER RIGHTS HOLDERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND VESTED STAKEHOLDERS, CONSISTING OF MULTIPLE PROJECTS TO IMPROVE SECURITY FOR ALL WATER USES IN THE MIDDLE COLORADO RIVER BY UNDERSTANDING AND PROTECTING EXISTING USES, MEETING SHORTAGES, AND MAINTAINING HEALTHY RIVERINE ECOSYSTEMS AND AGRICULTURE IN THE FACE OF INCREASED FUTURE DEMAND AND CLIMATE UNCERTAINTY.
- $59,960 spent. WILDFIRE PROGRAMS FOR THE GRIZZLY CREEK POST-FIRE RESTORATION AND MITIGATION, THE WILDFIRE READY ACTION PLAN FOR REDUCING WILDFIRE RISKS AND MITIGATING POST-FIRE IMPACTS IN THE MIDDLE COLORADO WATERSHED, AND THE GLENWOOD CANYON SIGN REPLACEMENT PROJECT. THESE WILDFIRE PROGRAMS ARE PRIMARILY FUNDED THROUGH REIMBURSEMENT-TYPE GRANTS FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO FIRE RESTORATION AND MITIGATION, RAIN GUAGES AND SOIL MOISTURE MANAGEMENT, WILDFIRE READINESS AND OTHER GENERAL POST-FIRE RESTORATION.
- $69,108 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS SUPPORTING THE LONG-TERM HEALTH OF THE MIDDLE COLORADO RIVER WATERSHED FOR THE WELLBEING OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE LOCAL ECONOMY THROUGH EDUCATION AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION REGARDING: PROTECTING AND ENHANCING WATER QUALITY; PROMOTING SMART, EFFICIENT WATER USE AND CONSERVATION; INCREASING KNOWLEDGE, AWARENESS AND INTEREST IN THE WATERSHED; CREATING PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION AMONG STAKEHOLDERS; PROMOTING BALANCED STEWARDSHIP OF THE COLORADO RIVER WATERSHED.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.