American Waterways Operators Inc
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
THE AMERICAN WATERWAYS OPERATORS IS THE TUGBOAT, TOWBOAT, AND BARGE INDUSTRY'S ADVOCATE, RESOURCE AND UNITED VOICE FOR SAFE, SUSTAINABLE AND EFFICIENT TRANSPORATION ON AMERICA'S WATERWAYS, OCEANS, AND COASTS.
- Income
- $8.0 million
- Spending
- $7.6 million
- Employees
- 35
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $750,879, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)
- ADVOCACY - AWO SERVES AS THE LEADING NATIONAL ADVOCATE FOR THE TUGBOAT, TOWBOAT AND BARGE INDUSTRY WITH THE U.S. CONGRESS, ADMINISTRATION, FEDERAL AGENCIES, AND STATE GOVERNMENTS. AWO PROMOTES THE INDUSTRY'S VALUE TO THE NATION AS A DRIVER OF THE U.S. ECONOMY THAT PROVIDES FAMILY-WAGE JOBS AND MOVES THE NATION'S FREIGHT SAFELY WHILE REDUCING AIR AND WATER POLLUTION, RELIEVING TRAFFIC CONGESTION, AND PROTECTING HOMELAND SECURITY. AWO STAFF AND MEMBERS ADVOCATE FOR SOUND LEGISLATION, REGULATION AND PUBLIC POLICY THAT ENABLES THE INDUSTRY TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE JOBS AND MOVE THE NATION'S COMMERCE SAFELY, SUSTAINABLY AND EFFICIENTLY.
- SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY - AWO SUPPORTS MEMBERS IN BUILDING THE COMPETENCIES, BEST PRACTICES AND CAPACITY TO OPERATE AT THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF SAFETY, SUSTAINABILITY, EFFICIENCY AND INNOVATION. TO THAT END, AWO SETS SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM STANDARDS; PROVIDE FORUMS FOR SAFETY PROFESSIONALS; CREATES AND DISTRIBUTES MARINE SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS; DEVELOPS SAFETY AND SUSTAINABILITY TOOLS AND RESOURCES; SUPPORTS COMPLIANCE WITH SAFETY AND SECURITY REGULATIONS; AND ENGAGES AND ADVOCATES THROUGH SAFETY PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR ENTITIES.
- PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS - AWO GENERATES PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS AND MEDIA COVERAGE TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS OF THE TUGBOAT, TOWBOAT AND BARGE INDUSTRY'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE U.S. ECONOMY, SECURITY, AND ENVIRONMENT AMONG POLICYMAKERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND CRAFTS COMMUNICATIONS TO INFORM THE AWO MEMBERSHIP OF PUBLIC POLICY DEVELOPMENTS AND ENCOURAGE MEMBER ENGAGEMENT IN AWO'S WORK.
- MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS - AWO CONDUCTS MEETINGS AT THE NATIONAL AND REGIONAL LEVELS TO EDUCATE MEMBERS ON PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES FACING THE TUGBOAT, TOWBOAT, AND BARGE INDUSTRY AND PROMOTE SAFETY, SECURITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. IN 2024, AWO HELD TWO IN-PERSON BOARD MEETINGS/NATIONAL CONVENTIONS, THREE IN-PERSON ANNUAL REGIONAL MEETINGS AND TWO IN-PERSON SAFETY MEETINGS. ATTENDANCE AT THESE EVENTS RANGED FROM 55-175 MEMBERS. AWO ALSO HELD A SERIES OF SMALLER HYBRID REGIONAL ROUNDTABLE GATHERINGS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)(6) business league.
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? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(6) business league as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 2024.
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 May 1945.
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.