Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Haw River Assembly Inc

EIN 58-1510282 · Bynum, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HAW RIVER ASSEMBLY WAS FOUNDED IN 1982 TO PROTECT THE WATERS OF THE HAW RIVER, JORDAN LAKE AND TRIBUTARIES. WE ADVOCATE FOR CLEAN WATER AND CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, STREAM MONITORING, RIVER CLEAN-UPS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT ENGAGE VOLUNTEERS AND THE PUBLIC.

Income
$397,564
Spending
$586,399
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
32.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
7
Volunteers
692
Highest pay
$87,727, past exec di

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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 32.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 47% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 73% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    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

    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

    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. $173,683 spent. WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM: THE HAW RIVER WATCH PROGRAM TRAINS AND EQUIPS VOLUNTEERS TO EVALUATE WATER QUALITY IN CREEKS AND RIVER SITES IN THE HAW RIVER WATERSHED. WE TEACH VOLUNTEERS TO MONITOR AND IDENTIFY SOURCES FOR SEDIMENT IN OUR STREAMS THROUGH THE MUDDY WATER WATCH PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, WE COLLECT WATER SAMPLES FOR ANALYSIS OF INDUSTRIAL CONTAMINANTS, CAFO NUTRIENTS, AND MICRO-PLASTICS. WE TEST POPULAR SWIMMING SITES ON THE HAW RIVER AND JORDAN LAKE FOR E-COLI LEVELS EACH WEEK DURING THE SUMMER AND PUBLISH THE RESULTS IN OUR ONLINE SWIM GUIDE. VOLUNTEERS ALSO ASSIST US IN INSTALLING AND MAINTAINING TRASH TRAPS ON URBAN STREAMS TO REMOVE SINGLE USE PLASTICS AND OTHER TRASH. 261 VOUNTEERS TOOK PART IN THESE POLLUTION MONITORING, CLEAN UP, AND RESTORATION PROGRAMS.
  2. $177,240 spent. HAW RIVER WATERSHED EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM:THE HAW RIVER WATERSHED EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM FOR SCHOOLS AND THE PUBLIC INCLUDES THE ANNUAL HAW RIVER LEARNING CELEBRATION OUTDOOR PROGRAM FOR SCHOOLS, WHERE STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT THE RIVER ECOSYSTEM AND CULTURAL HISTORY. WE HOLD AN ANNUAL FREE RIVER FESTIVAL FOR THE PUBLIC EACH MAY, AND AN ANNUAL RIVER CLEAN-UP OF OUR WATERWAYS WITH HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS. OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE FILM STREAMINGS AND GUIDED HIKES AND PADDLES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. 394 VOUNTEERS TOOK PART IN THESE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS REACHING OVER 800 CHILDREN AND ADULTS.
  3. $182,653 spent. HAW RIVERKEEPER PROGRAM: HAW RIVERKEEPER PROGRAM FOCUSES ON ADVOCACY FOR CLEAN WATER IN THE PUBLIC ARENA. WE CONDUCT PROGRAMS AND PRESENTATIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY, AGENCES, AND ELECTED OFFICIALS ABOUT THREATS TO CLEAN WATER, AND PROMOTING THE CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES. WE WORK TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO STOP INDUSTRIES FROM CONTAMINATING THE HAW RIVER WITH PFAS AND OTHER UNREGULATED CHEMICALS, AND TO REDUCE NUTRIENT AND SEDIMENT POLLUTION INTO THE HAW RIVER.

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 May 1983.

    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.