Kansas Rural Water Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To provide educational and technical information to public water systems located in Kansas.
- Income
- $3.9 million
- Spending
- $3.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 47.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 52%
- Employees
- 26
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $222,282, general manager
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 47.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (1)
- $3.2 million spent. Training and Technical Assistance: In 2025, KRWA provided 133 in-person training events and 14 online webinars. These 147 sessions were attended by 7,282 people; operators represented the largest category with 4,749 attendees. KRWA also had 17 operators in the Apprenticeship Program. The Association conducted 152 water loss surveys, locating 698 gallons per minute of water loss. The cost of that loss in production or purchase is $1,444,136 annually.KRWA also conducted smoke testing of five wastewater systems and measured sludge in lagoons for 16 wastewater systems. KRWA provided GPS mapping services to 50 cities and RWDs. A total of 25 Energy Efficiency Assessments were conducted. KRWA provided help with processing and posting 243 Water Quality Reports on the KRWA website. Staff provided help with water rights and source water protection plans, water conservation plans, emergency response plans, valve locating and exercising, fire hydrant testing, master and residential meter testing, pipeline locates, well drawdown and motor phase imbalance checks and worked with water and wastewater utilities on the full spectrum of water and wastewater treatment issues, management and operations.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1989.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.