Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Coast Range Watershed Institute

EIN 82-2939829 · Healdsburg, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceFair57 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

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

ADVANCE THE UNDERSTANDING, MANAGEMENT AND RESTORATION OF HYDROLOGIC, GEOMORPHIC AND ECOLOGICAL RESOURCES BY CONDUCTING SCIENTIFIC STUDIES, FACILITATING DATA AND INFORMATION SHARING, AND PROVIDING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.

Income
$435,385
Spending
$405,377
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
-0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 100%
Employees
0

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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 121% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 63% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% of spending went to programs.

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

Governance

Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (5)
  1. $392,975 spent. COMPLETION OF A TWO-YEAR GRANT-FUNDED PROJECT PERFORMING OUTREACH TO LANDOWNERS TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL STREAMFLOW ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS AND EVALUATE FEASIBILITY OF THOSE PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE MILL CREEK WATERSHED NEAR HEALDSBURG,SONOMA COUNTY.
  2. COMPLEMENTATION OF A FOUR-YEAR GRANT-FUNDING PROJECT TO MODEL RIVER HYDRAULICS AND COHO SALMON HABITAT IN THE NOYO RIVER AND PUDDING CREEK WATERSHEDS IN MENDOCINO COUNTY NEAR FT. BRAGG.
  3. $3,263 spent. IMPLEMENTATION OF A MULTI-YEAR PROJECT TO MODEL RIVER HYDROLOGIC AND HYDRAULIC CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP INFORMATION TO DESIGN AND PERMIT STREAMFLOW ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS IN ATASCADERO AND GREEN VALLEY CREEK WATERSHEDS NEAR GRATON, SONOMA COUNTY.
  4. $3,427 spent. IMPLEMENTATION OF A MULTI-YEAR PROJECT TO MODEL RIVER HYDROLOGIC AND HYDRAULIC CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP INFORMATION TO DESIGN AND PERMIT STREAMFLOW ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS IN ATASCADERO AND GREEN VALLEY CREEK WATERSHEDS NEAR GRATON, SONOMA COUNTY. IMPLEMENTATION OF A MULTI-YEAR PROJECT TO UPDATE AND IMPROVE A MODEL FOR WATERSHED HYDROLOGIC AND HYDRAULIC CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP MEASURES OF EFFECTIVENESS OF EXISTING AND POTENTIAL FUTURE STREAMFLOW ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS AND ESTIMATE FUTURE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON WATERSHED HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS IN THE DUTCH BILL CREEK AND GREEN VALLEY CREEK WATERSHEDS, SONOMA COUNTY.
  5. IMPLEMENTATION OF A MULTI-YEAR PROJECT TO MODEL RIVER HYDROLOGIC AND HYDRAULIC CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP INFORMATION TO DESIGN AND PERMIT STREAMFLOW ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS IN ATASCADERO AND GREEN VALLEY CREEK WATERSHEDS NEAR GRATON, SONOMA COUNTY. IMPLEMENTATION OF A MULTI-YEAR PROJECT TO UPDATE AND IMPROVE A MODEL FOR WATERSHED HYDROLOGIC AND HYDRAULIC CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP MEASURES OF EFFECTIVENESS OF EXISTING AND POTENTIAL FUTURE STREAMFLOW ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS AND ESTIMATE FUTURE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON WATERSHED HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS IN THE DUTCH BILL CREEK AND GREEN VALLEY CREEK WATERSHEDS, SONOMA COUNTY.

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 October 2019.

    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.