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Black Warrior Riverkeeper Inc

EIN 72-1537394 · Birmingham, AL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROTECT AND RESTORE THE BLACK WARRIOR RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES.

Income
$651,633
Spending
$669,319
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
22.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
5
Volunteers
452
Highest pay
$66,883, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 25

    10 of 10 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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, 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. $178,199 spent. OUR RIVER PATROL STAFF PATROLLED THE BLACK WARRIOR RIVER WATERSHED TO LOOK FOR POTENTIAL ILLEGAL DUMPING OF WASTE AND HAS PERFORMED REGULAR WATER TESTING AND POLLUTION PERMIT REVIEWS TO MONITOR FOR POLLUTION VIOLATIONS.
  2. $271,693 spent. OUR EDUCATION STAFF HAS EMAILED NEWSLETTERS, HAS MAINTAINED A WEBSITE, AND HAS HELD EVENTS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT IMPROVING WATER QUALITY, THE WILDLIFE HABITAT, RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND PUBLIC HEALTH. OUR NEWSLETTER AND WEBSITE ALSO PROVIDE INFORMATION CONCERNING LAWSUITS AGAINST GROUPS AND ENTITIES WHO ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE WATER POLLUTION VIOLATIONS. OUR STAFF ALSO RECRUITED 452 VOLUNTEERS WHO GENEROUSLY DONATED 2,595 COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS ON A WIDE VARIETY OF PROJECTS TO HELP THE BLACK WARRIOR RIVER WATERSHED.
  3. $163,735 spent. OUR LEGAL TEAM HAS FILED LAWSUITS AGAINST ENTITIES BELIEVED TO BE POLLUTING THE BLACK WARRIOR RIVER WATERSHED. THE LEGAL TEAM HAS ALSO CONTINUALLY FILED PUBLIC COMMENT LETTERS WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WHO ARE CONSIDERING THE RENEWAL OF VARIOUS POLLUTION PERMITS THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 September 2003.

    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.