Coastal Watershed Council
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CWC is pursuing its mission of protecting and preserving coastal watersheds through a strategic focus on the lower San Lorenzo River, transforming the river into a treasured community asset and destination that Santa Cruz is proud of.
- Income
- $633,707
- Spending
- $750,413
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 65%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 482
- Highest pay
- $118,613, executive dir.
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: 68 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $682,049 spent. THE COASTAL WATERSHED COUNCIL (CWC), A 501(C)(3) PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION, WAS FORMED IN 1995 IN RESPONSE TO THE DECLINING HEALTH OF WATERSHEDS CONNECTED TO THE MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY. CWCS MISSION IS TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT COASTAL WATERSHEDS THROUGH STEWARDSHIP, EDUCATION AND MONITORING. OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, CWC HAS EDUCATED THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS AND TRAINED THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS TO PROTECT THE NATURAL RESOURCES ALONG CALIFORNIAS CENTRAL COAST. TODAY, CWC IS USING THIS EXPERTISE TO REVITALIZE THE SAN LORENZO RIVER IN SANTA CRUZ, CA, BY INSPIRING PEOPLE TO EXPLORE, ENHANCE AND PROTECT IT. IN ITS 2024-25 FISCAL YEAR, CWC ACHIEVED ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL OUTCOMES IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:RECRUITED 482 VOLUNTEERS TO HELP INCREASE BIODIVERSITY BY REMOVING 4458 SQUARE FEET OF HIGHLY INVASIVE SPECIES AND SEEDING NEW NATIVE PLANTS COMPRISING 7 UNIQUE SPECIES.EDUCATED 780 YOUTH THROUGH THE WATERSHED RANGERS PROGRAM, WHERE THEY LEARNED ABOUT AND TOOK ACTION TO HELP THEIR RIVERTAUGHT 164 LESSONS ACROSS THE SCHOOL YEAR AT 8 SCHOOLS WITH 27 TEACHERS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 7TH GRADES, INCLUDING LEADING 630 YOUTH ON FIELD TRIPS TO THE LOWER SAN LORENZO RIVERENGAGED MULTI-GENERATIONAL FAMILIES THROUGH EVENTS LIKE FIESTA DE LOS ARTESIMPROVED EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IN RIVER-ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOODS TO RESPOND TO FLOODING AND CLIMATE IMPACTSCONTINUED A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DOWNTOWN STREETS TEAM TO TRAIN PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN RIVER RESTORATION TECHNIQUES AT THE SAN LORENZO RIVER.COLLABORATED WITH THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ TO ENSURE A SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE RIVERWALK PARK
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
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 June 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 January 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.
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