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American Water Works Association

EIN 52-1182688 · Tilghman, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceWeak48 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AS A SECTION OF THE AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION (AWWA) IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY REGION, CSAWWA STRIVES TO CARRY OUT, LOCALLY, AWWA'S MISSION "PROVIDING SOLUTIONS TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE WATER, THE WORLD'S MOST IMPORTANT RESOURCE" WHILE PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFEGUARDING THE ENVIRONMENT, PURSUING EXCELLENCE, ACTING WITH INTEGRITY, PROVIDING VALUE, AND FOSTERING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION WHILE PROVIDING EDUCATION TO LICENSED PROFESSIONALS, OPERATORS AND SUPERINTENDENTS AMONG FORTY-THREE (43) NORTH AMERICAN SECTIONS; SHARING A COMMON VISION OF "A BETTER WORLD THROUGH BETTER WATER."

Income
$408,710
Spending
$378,975
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
12.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 88%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.5 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 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 74% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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. CSAWWA'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND BUSINESS MEETING IS A JOINT EVENT WITH CHESAPEAKE WATER ENVIRONMENT, INC. (CHESAPEAKE WEA) AND WATER AND WASTE OPERATORS ASSOCIATION (WWOA). THE TRI-ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE WAS HELD AT THE ROLAND POWELL CONVENTION CENTER, OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND FROM AUGUST 27, 2024 - AUGUST 30, 2024. EVENT HIGHLIGHTS: APPROXIMATELY 1,765 MEMBERS AND PARTNERS OF THE THREE ASSOCIATIONS ATTENDED. THERE WERE 234 EXHIBITOR BOOTHS AND 130 TECHNICAL SESSIONS AND ONE PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP. OPERATOR COMPETITIONS INCLUDED THE ANNUAL OPERATIONS CHALLENGE.
  2. $127,486 spent. 1.) FEBRUARY 16, 2024, A CAREER FAIR WAS HELD WITH CHESAPEAKE WEA IN BOWIE, MARYLAND. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 48 ORGANIZATIONS AND UTILITIES AND 39 STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN INTERVIEWS AND NETWORKING. 2.) THE ANNUAL SPRING MEETING WAS HELD JOINTLY WITH CHESAPEAKE WEA ON MAY 23, 2024 AT WOLF LODGE, PERRYVILLE, MARYLAND. 3.) TWO MEMBER APPRECIATION EVENTS WERE HELD ONE IN ROCKVILLE, MD AND ANOTHER IN NEWARK, DE. 4.) THE ASSET MANAGEMENT AND WATER QUALITY COMMITTEES PRESENTED WEBINARS. 5.) IN OCTOBER, 2024 THE BOARD PARTICIPATED IN THE REGIONAL MEETING OF SECTION OFFICERS HELD IN ASBURY, NJ. 6.) DECEMBER 2024, A WATER DISTRIBUTION SEMINAR WAS HELD AT THE RESERVOIR CENTER IN WASHINGTON, DC. THERE WAS A FULL DAY OF TECHNICAL PROGRAMMING.
  3. $153,459 spent. IN APRIL, 2024, CSAWWA AND CHESAPEAKE WEA PRESENTED A TWO DAY MID-ATLANTIC UTILITY CONFERENCE IN HANOVER, MD. THERE WERE 450 ATTENDEES, 50 EXHIBITOR BOOTHS AND 1.5 DAYS OF TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS ON TWO TRACKS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 December 2024.

    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 May 1969.

    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 November 4, 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.