Save Our Springs Alliance Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Our mission is to educate and advocate on behalf of the Edwards Aquifer and the natural heritage of the Hill Country region and its watersheds with special emphasis on Barton Springs.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- -5.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $150,964, executive director
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
Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 188% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 44% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 8 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (1)
- $1.0 million spent. In 2024, Central Texas faced soaring temperatures and severe drought, drying up springs and river flows. In furtherance of its mission to protect the flows of the Edwards Aquifer, its springs and contributing streams, SOS worked to educate the public about water conservation, to oppose new pumping permits, and to support public purchase and defense against takings of key water quality protection lands. SOS expanded its program to bring people into nature with outdoor educational outings and hosted Barton Springs University Day at Barton Springs, attended by 1,000 high school students and a few hundred others. We partnered with Save the Pedernales to protect Hamilton Pool Preserve, Roy Creek Canyon, and the Pedernales River from pumping and development, and we helped advance scientific research and provided legal support to protect spring-dependent endangered species in the Blanco, Pedernales, and Barton Springs watersheds. Our legal staff continued representing SOS members and other conservation groups in administrative and court proceedings to protect the endangered Golden-cheeked warbler and other wildlife, to keep treated sewage and urban runoff out of our Central Texas streams and aquifers, and to reduce harm to public health and the environment from the proposed expansions of Interstate 35, Mopac South/Loop 1, and other proposed highway and major road projects. We also expanded our litigation efforts to address functional local democracy necessary to protect our natural and cultural heritage and engage citizen participation, with key court successes under the Texas Open Meetings Act and Texas Public Information Act.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1993.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.