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Center for Watershed Protection

EIN 54-1644387 · Fulton, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROTECT, RESTORE AND ENHANCE OUR STREAMS, RIVERS, LAKES, WETLANDS AND BAYS.

Income
$3.8 million
Spending
$3.7 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
6.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 70%
Employees
30
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$265,181, executive director/ceo

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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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. $2.8 million spent. STORMWATER AND WATERSHED SERVICES ENCOMPASSES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STATES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, WATERSHED ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHERS TO CONDUCT FIELD ASSESSMENTS, DEVELOP IMPLEMENTATION PLANS, CONDUCT RETROFIT INVENTORIES, OR OTHER RELATED WORK. PROGRAM; YORK COUNTY BANK ASSESSMENT FOR NON-POINT SOURCE CONSEQUENCES OF SEDIMENT; AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN OFFSITE MITIGATION GUIDANCE DOCUMENT FOR REGULATED MASSACHUSETTS MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEMS.
  2. $398,569 spent. TRAINING INCLUDES CONFERENCES, WEBCASTS, FOCUSED TRAINING THROUGH CLIENT REQUESTS, USUALLY ON SUBJECTS ABOUT VARIOUS WATERSHED AND STORMWATER SUBJECTS.
  3. $105,129 spent. WATERSHED RESEARCH IS THE PROGRAM THAT DEVELOPS OR ADAPTS NEW TOOLS FOR WATERSHED PROTECTION AND RESTORATION, AND INCLUDES MANUALS AND PRODUCTS RELATED TO SMALL WATERSHED RESTORATION, FORESTRY, WETLANDS, WATERSHED PLANNING, STATE-WIDE STORMWATER MANUALS, POST-CONSTRUCTION STORMWATER GUIDANCE, ETC. THE PRIMARY FUNDERS INCLUDE STATES, FEDERAL AGENCIES AND FOUNDATIONS.
  4. $101,333 spent. MEMBERSHIP IS OUR ASSOCIATION PROGRAM FOR PRACTICIONERS AND IS FUNDED BY MEMBERSHIP DUES. MEMBERS CONSIST OF INDIVIDUALS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, NON-PROFITS, UNIVERSITIES, LIBRARIES, AND CORPORATIONS.
  5. MEMBERSHIP IS OUR ASSOCIATION PROGRAM FOR PRACTICIONERS 101333. 0. 59966.

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 October 13, 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 March 1993.

    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 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.