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Peaks to People Water Fund

EIN 82-3779406 · Fort Collins, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PEAKS TO PEOPLE WATER FUND AIMS TO PROTECT RESOURCES IN THE CACHE LA POUDRE AND BIG THOMPSON WATERSHEDS BY RESTORING FORESTS TO REDUCE THE RISK OF SEVERE WILDFIRES. THESE FOREST RESTORATION PROJECTS NOT ONLY PROTECT WATER FROM SEDIMENTATION AND DEBRIS, BUT ALSO IMPROVE FOREST HEALTH AND HABITAT, DECREASE FIREFIGHTING COSTS, AND REDUCE HOME LOSS AND INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE. OUR GOAL IS TO DRAMATICALLY ACCELERATE FOREST RESTORATION TO REDUCE THE THREAT OF SEVERE WILDFIRE BY ENGAGING DOWNSTREAM WATER USERS TO DONATE FUNDS FOR THIS WORK.

Income
$641,187
Spending
$569,154
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 54%
Employees
2
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$107,067, exec. direct

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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 63% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 93% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    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 (1)
  1. $463,278 spent. OVER THE PAST FISCAL YEAR, PEAKS TO PEOPLE WORKED TO PROTECT WATER RESOURCES IN THE CACHE LA POUDRE AND BIG THOMPSON WATERSHEDS FROM THE THREAT OF WILDFIRE. WE SUPPORTED FOREST HEALTH PROJECTS TO PROTECT IMPORTANT DRINKING WATER SOURCES, AND SCOPED ADDITIONAL PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. WE CONVENED THE BIG THOMPSON WATERSHED HEALTH PARTNERSHIP AND WE ARE COORDINATING THIS COLLABORATIVE GROUP TO INCREASE THE PACE AND SCALE OF WORK IN THE WATERSHED. WE CONTINUED OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COLORADO FOREST RESTORATION INSTITUTE TO FURTHER DEVELOP THE SCIENCE IN THE FIELD TO ENSURE FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED TO THE MOST EFFECTIVE FOREST MANAGEMENT PROJECTS AND TO CONTINUOUSLY-IMPROVED METHODS FOR FOREST RESTORATION. THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, BLOGGING AND SOCIAL MEDIA, WE EDUCATED THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WILDFIRE MITIGATION AND WATER RESOURCES. OVER THE PAST FISCAL YEAR, PEAKS TO PEOPLE WORKED TO PROTECT WATER RESOURCES IN THE CACHE LA POUDRE AND BIG THOMPSON WATERSHEDS FROM THE THREAT OF WILDFIRE. WE SUPPORTED FOREST HEALTH PROJECTS TO PROTECT IMPORTANT DRINKING WATER SOURCES, AND SCOPED ADDITIONAL PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. WE CONVENED THE BIG THOMPSON WATERSHED HEALTH PARTNERSHIP AND WE ARE COORDINATING THIS COLLABORATIVE GROUP TO INCREASE THE PACE AND SCALE OF WORK IN THE WATERSHED. WE CONTINUED OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COLORADO FOREST RESTORATION INSTITUTE TO FURTHER DEVELOP THE SCIENCE IN THE FIELD TO ENSURE FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED TO THE MOST EFFECTIVE FOREST MANAGEMENT PROJECTS AND TO CONTINUOUSLY-IMPROVED METHODS FOR FOREST RESTORATION. THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, BLOGGING AND SOCIAL MEDIA, WE EDUCATED THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WILDFIRE MITIGATION AND WATER RESOURCES.

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 August 2018.

    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.

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