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California Urban Water Agencies

EIN 68-0218747 · Walnut Creek, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR COMBINING THE EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES OF ITS MEMBER AGENCIES TO ADVANCE RELIABLE, HIGH-QUALITY WATER SUPPLIES FOR THE STATE'S CURRENT AND FUTURE URBAN WATER NEEDS IN A COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER FOR THE PUBLIC, THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE ECONOMY.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 54% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 25

    11 of 11 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.

  • 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 June 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. $779,629 spent. WATER AFFORDABILITY, RELIABILITY AND RESILIENCE: EXPLORE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE THE COST OF WATER AND IMPROVE CUSTOMERS' ABILITY TO PAY. SERVE AS A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA) PROVIDER TO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES WITHOUT ACCESS TO SAFE DRINKING WATER. ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE WITH STATE AGENCIES AND OTHER INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS ON INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT, PERMITTING EFFICIENCIES, LONG-TERM RESILIENCE, AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE. DEVELOP UNIFIED MESSAGING ON WATER INDUSTRY TOPICS, EXPLORE WAYS TO IMPROVE CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN TAP WATER, AND CONNECT CUWA AGENCIES ON COMMUNICATION BEST PRACTICES AND STRATEGIES.
  2. $200,476 spent. DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI): DEVELOP INDUSTRY CAREER OPPORTUNITIES MATERIALS, AND CONNECT UTILITY AGENCIES, STUDENTS, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GROUPS TO BUILD A DIVERSE, WORKFORCE PIPELINE WITHIN THE WATER INDUSTRY.
  3. $133,650 spent. WATER QUALITY: TRACK STATE AND FEDERAL DRINKING WATER REGULATORY EFFORTS, SHARE BEST PRACTICES FOR TREATING AND MONITORING DIFFERENT WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS, AND DEVELOP PUBLIC OUTREACH MATERIALS SUPPORTING CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL REQUIREMENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.

    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 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.