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Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay Inc

EIN 54-1060924 · Annapolis, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION ACTIVITIES. THE MISSION OF THE ALLIANCE IS TO BRING TOGETHER INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENTS TO INSPIRE LOCAL ACTION, TO BUILD A STRONG COMMITMENT TO STEWARDSHIP AND TO DELIVER INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT THE LAND, WATERS AND RESIDENTS OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND BAY WATERSHED.

Income
$16.0 million
Spending
$15.5 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 97%
Employees
73
Volunteers
50,000
Highest pay
$183,938, chief executive officer

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: 54 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 65% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    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.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $5.7 million spent. GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE - THE ALLIANCE REDUCES STORMWATER RUNOFF AND POLLUTION BY IMPLEMENTING CONSERVATION LANDSCAPING PRACTICES THAT IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND SUPPORT HEALTHY LANDSCAPES THROUGHOUT THE CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED.
  2. $2.9 million spent. AGRICULTURE- THE ALLIANCE SUPPORTS FARMERS IN IMPLEMENTING AGRICULTURAL BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO RESTORE THE HEALTH OF LOCAL RIVERS AND STREAMS WITHIN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED.
  3. $2.5 million spent. STEWARDSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT- THE ALLIANCE ENGAGES COMMUNITIES, COMPANIES, AND CONSERVATIONISTS TO BUILD A MORE RESILIENT LANDSCAPE AND FOSTER A DEEPER COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING OUR LOCAL LANDS AND WATERS IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED.
  4. $2.5 million spent. OTHER WATERSHED RESTORATION PROGRAMS - THE ALLIANCE DESIGNS, IMPLEMENTS, AND COORDINATES A VARIETY OF ON-THE GROUND PROJECTS THAT REDUCE POLLUTED RUNOFF IN DEVELOPED AREAS THROUGH GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE STORMWATER PRACTICES, INSTALL EFFECTIVE BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON AGRICULTURAL LANDS, RUNOFF IN DEVELOPED AREAS THROUGH GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE STORMWATER PRACTICES, INSTALL EFFECTIVE BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON AGRICULTURAL LANDS, CONDUCT MONITORING OF LOCAL STREAMS THROUGH TRAINING AND MOBILIZATION OF CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS, CARRY OUT STREAM CLEANUP AND RESTORATION ACTIVITIES, ASSIST LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN DEVELOPING LOCAL PLANS AND IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS FOR WATERSHED PROTECTION AND RESTORATION, AND CREATING EDUCATION AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONSERVATION PROFESSIONALS.
  5. OTHER WATERSHED RESTORATION PROGRAMS - THE ALLIANCE DESIGNS, IMPLEMENTS, AND COORDINATES A VARIETY OF 2499364. 0. 2863074.

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? 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.

  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 April 1978.

    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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