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Center for Water Security and Cooperation

EIN 47-4349539 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To advance water security by understanding, evaluating and innovating in water law and governance.

Income
$135,215
Spending
$428,566
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$158,540, chair and deputy director

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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 217% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 79% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    3 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $238,386 spent. The Delivering Resources through Infrastructure to the Neediest Communities (DRINC) program continued its work under the Water Access and Equity Lab through the Water Utility Leadership Fellowship, welcoming a second set of Fellows from across the country. The fellowship allows rising leaders inside of utilities from across the country worked to develop access and affordability plans that ensure all people maintain access to water. CWSC also CWSC evaluated the effectiveness of federal water bill assistance at the state level, including data collection and reporting on shutoffs. CWSC also examined the support provided by different governance structures and legal frameworks to ensure the reliable provision of water and wastewater services.
  2. $146,875 spent. The International Water Security Challenge (IWSC) program encompasses CWSC's work on setting legal benchmarks, assessing legal frameworks, and building legal and institutional frameworks for water security worldwide. This includes research on the impacts of law on the ability of water and wastewater systems to anticipate and manage the impacts of floods and droughts, realization of the human rights to water and sanitation and WASH standards in Africa, legal and service provision data collection, assessment of existing legal frameworks governing water resources and pollution control, and other means necessary to achieve water security. This program also houses our work with local and state leaders in the Mississippi River watershed to create a more collaborative, cohesive, and comprehensive management structure for the watershed. Also included in the IWSC are education and research initiatives that encourage deeper understanding of the rule of law in water security. Additionally included is coalition building in critical watersheds to inform and empower elected leaders to develop shared principles and shared framework for governing shared resources.
  3. $10,379 spent. The Building Legal Understanding and Engagement (BLUE) phone program provided technical assistance and education on water resource management, international water law, international criminal law, human rights, international water diplomacy, and water and sanitation law in the United States, countries around the world, and in international forums.

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 October 2015.

    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.