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Clean Okeechobee Waters Foundation

EIN 84-2593203 · Gainesville, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceWeak25 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 1% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

CLEAN OKEECHOBEE WATERS FOUNDATION INC WILL ENGAGE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES AND PRODUCE PUBLICATIONS TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF THE MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH REGARDING THE IMPACT ON PUBLIC HEALTH FROM HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOMS (HABS) IN FLORIDA. CLEAN OKEECHOBEE WATERS FOUNDATION INC WILL ADDRESS FLORIDA'S PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS STEMMING FROM THE INFESTATION OF ITS FRESHWATER BY CYANOBACTERIA AND OTHER HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOMS BY INFORMING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE LONG-TERM HEALTH RISKS OF EXPOSURE TO THE TOXINS PRODUCED BY HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOMS. THIS INFORMATION IS ESSENTIAL SO THAT ALL FLORIDIANS CAN TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY, TO STIMULATE GREATER ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS, AND DEVELOPMENT OF POLICIES BY LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE SAFETY OF FLORIDA WATERS.

Income
$105,000
Spending
$103,484
Spent on programs
1%
Reserves
6.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    1% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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.

  • 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. $1,100 spent. N/A
  2. $126 spent. DEPRECIATION EXPENSE FOR COMPUTER PURCHASED.
  3. DEPRECIATION EXPENSE FOR COMPUTER PURCHASED.

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 June 2020.

    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.