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International Water Management Institute

EIN 52-1412580 · Alexandria, VA

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE WATER SOLUTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE, CLIMATE-RESILIENT DEVELOPMENT

Income
$50.0 million
Spending
$48.8 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
2
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$381,184, director general

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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 63% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (4)
  1. $19.2 million spent. WATER, FOOD AND ECOSYSTEMS (WFE): AGRICULTURE IS THE ENGINE OF FOOD SECURITY, THE LARGEST GLOBAL USER OF WATER AND, IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF EMPLOYMENT FOR POOR PEOPLE. AS COMPETITION FOR WATER INTENSIFIES, FOOD SYSTEMS MUST BECOME MORE SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT, AND BETTER ABLE TO MEET THE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF GROWING POPULATIONS WITHOUT UNDERMINING THE LANDSCAPES AND ECOSYSTEMS ON WHICH THEY DEPEND. RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO ENHANCE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY, DEVELOP TECHNOLOGIES AND POLICIES THAT PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL INTENSIFICATION, AND IDENTIFY WAYS TO INTEGRATE NATURE-BASED INFRASTRUCTURE INTO THE MANAGEMENT OF RURAL LANDSCAPES.
  2. $11.7 million spent. WATER, CLIMATE CHANGE AND RESILIENCE (WCR): ENHANCED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND MORE RESILIENT WATER SERVICES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR ADAPTATION TO THE ADVERSE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, AND FOR STRENGTHENING THE RESILIENCE OF COMMUNITIES, ECOSYSTEMS AND ECONOMIES. RESEARCH IS NEEDED, FOR EXAMPLE, ON SCENARIOS FOR WATER MANAGEMENT AND ALLOCATION IN AGRICULTURE AND ACROSS SECTORS UNDER FUTURE CLIMATES, POLICIES AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE, CLIMATE-SMART STRATEGIES FOR WATER STORAGE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF FINANCIAL REMEDIATION SCHEMES SUCH AS INSURANCE.
  3. $8.5 million spent. WATER, GROWTH AND INCLUSION (WGI): WATER SECURITY IS KEY FOR SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE GROWTH, UNDERPINNING ALMOST ALL TYPES OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY - FROM FARMING TO MANUFACTURING, ENERGY, AND TRANSPORT. WATER SCARCITY, FLOODS, POLLUTION AND CONFLICT OVER WATER ALL POSE THREATS TO PEOPLE AND ECONOMIES. HOW WATER IS ALLOCATED BETWEEN AGRICULTURE AND CITIES OR AMONG COMPETING SECTORS AFFECTS GROWTH AND THE SHARING OF ITS BENEFITS ACROSS SOCIETIES. WATER MANAGEMENT SHOULD OCCUPY A CENTRAL PLACE IN DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND STRATEGIES, HELPING TO ACHIEVE EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE GROWTH. RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO EXPLAIN HOW WATER AFFECTS THE DYNAMICS OF GROWTH, THE IMPLICATIONS OF WATER RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND WATER POLICIES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE ROLES OF INSTITUTIONS AND INCENTIVES IN WATER MANAGEMENT, ITS IMPACTS ON GENDER AND INCLUSION, AND THE REAL OR PERCEIVED TRADE-OFFS BETWEEN GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY.
  4. $3.2 million spent. - WATER DATA SCIENCE & DIGITAL INNOVATION- PROGRAM MANAGEMENT UNIT OF CGIAR RESEARCH PROGRAM ON WATER, LAND AND ECOSYSTEMS- OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAM SERVICES

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? Caution.

    The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(3) charitable organization as not 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 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 January 1986.

    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.

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