Cawaco Resource Conservation and Development Area
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SUPPORTS ACTIVITIES THAT INCREASE THE CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES, IMPROVE LOCAL ECONOMIES, AND PROVIDE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT.
- Income
- $3.1 million
- Spending
- $2.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 8.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 63%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $71,123, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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)
- $1.2 million spent. AARCDC GRANT PROGRAM: CAWACO RECEIVES FUNDS FROM THE ALA ASSOC OF RC&DS TO PROVIDE COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO SMALL TOWNS AND NONPROFITS THAT WOULD LIKELY NOT RECEIVE FUNDING FROM MAJOR FUNDERS OR AGENCIES. THESE FUNDS CHAMPION PROJECTS LED BY LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS, SCHOOLS, AND MUNICIPALITIES. IN 2025, PROJECTS FUNDED INCLUDED PARKS AND OUTDOOR RECREATION, FIRST RESPONDER EQUIPMENT, SCHOOL EQUIPMENT, COMMUNITY MURALS, SUMMER CAMPS, FOOD INSECURITY PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY GARDENS.
- $584,538 spent. STRATEGIC HABITAT PROGRAM: CAWACO PROVIDES ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE ALABAMA RIVERS & STREAMS NETWORK. THE NETWORK IS A GROUP OF STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, UTILITIES, PRIVATE COMPANIES, AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE RESTORATION AND RECOVERY OF IMPERILED AQUATIC SPECIES THROUGH COLLABORATION USING SCIENCE-BASED METHODS. THE PRIMARY ACTION OF THIS GROUP IS TO COORDINATE FIELD WORK AND STUDIES AND IMPLEMENT ON-THE-GROUND PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE HABITAT.
- $473,705 spent. COOL GREEN TREES: (IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE JEFFERSON COUNTY DEPT OF HEALTH AND UNIV OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM) CREATED A MAP THAT IDENTIFIES AND PRIORITIZES AREAS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY (COOL GREEN TREES MAP) WHERE PRESENT AND FUTURE EXTREME HEAT WILL MOST AFFECT HUMAN HEALTH. TREES ARE STRATEGICALLY PLANTED IN PRIORITY AREAS USING THIS DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH. THE PROJECT IS SUPPORTED BY THE JEFFERSON COUNTY DEPT OF HEALTH, US FOREST SERVICE, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. TO DATE, 1,249 TREES HAVE BEEN PLANTED IN 5 NEIGHBORHOODS WITH OVER 400 VOLUNTEERS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. 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)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1996.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.