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Anchorage Waterways Council

EIN 92-0111510 · Anchorage, AK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceFair50 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROTECT, RESTORE, AND ENHANCE THE WATERWAYS, WETLANDS, AND ASSOCIATED UPLANDS OF ANCHORAGE

Income
$153,680
Spending
$149,380
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
6.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 70%
Employees
0
Volunteers
8,001,000

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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 51% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% 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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 (2)
  1. $13,567 spent. MONITORING: THE CITIZENS' ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROGRAM (CEMP) CONTINUED IN ITS 29TH YEAR. EACH VOLUNTEER WATER QUALITY MONITOR SPENDS APPROXIMATELY 60 HOURS/YEAR TESTING CREEKS, TAKING PHOTOS, INCUBATING FECAL COLIFORM TESTS AND COUNTING THE RESULTANT COLONIES, AND FILLING OUT DATA SHEETS TO REPORT THEIR RESULTS. THE MONOFILAMENT (FISHING LINE) COLLECTION PROGRAM CONTINUES WITH VOLUNTEERS EMPTYING THE BINS AND RETURNING THE MONOFILAMENT TO A COMPANY FOR RECYCLING INTO FISH HABITAT. TO DATE, OVER 140 MILES OF USED FISHING LINE HAVE BEEN RECYCLED. WE ARE NOW ENCOURAGING FISHERMEN TO SWITCH FROM LEAD TACKLE TO NON-LEAD CHOICES. AN AWC BOARD MEMBER, DR. HAGEDORN,CONTINUES TO TAKE SAMPLES OF CREEK WATER AND STORMWATER RUNOFF TO LOOK FOR A CHEMICAL COMPOUND CALLED 6PPD-QUINONE THAT COMES FROM TIRE WEAR AND AFFECTS COHO SALMON MONITORING: THE CITIZENS' ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROGRAM (CEMP) CONTINUED IN ITS 29TH YEAR. EACH VOLUNTEER WATER QUALITY MONITOR SPENDS APPROXIMATELY 60 HOURS/YEAR TESTING CREEKS, TAKING PHOTOS, INCUBATING FECAL COLIFORM TESTS AND COUNTING THE RESULTANT COLONIES, AND FILLING OUT DATA SHEETS TO REPORT THEIR RESULTS. THE MONOFILAMENT (FISHING LINE) COLLECTION PROGRAM CONTINUES WITH VOLUNTEERS EMPTYING THE BINS AND RETURNING THE MONOFILAMENT TO A COMPANY FOR RECYCLING INTO FISH HABITAT. TO DATE, OVER 140 MILES OF USED FISHING LINE HAVE BEEN RECYCLED. WE ARE NOW ENCOURAGING FISHERMEN TO SWITCH FROM LEAD TACKLE TO NON-LEAD CHOICES. AN AWC BOARD MEMBER, DR. HAGEDORN,CONTINUES TO TAKE SAMPLES OF CREEK WATER AND STORMWATER RUNOFF TO LOOK FOR A CHEMICAL COMPOUND CALLED 6PPD-QUINONE THAT COMES FROM TIRE WEAR AND AFFECTS COHO SALMON
  2. $78,070 spent. OUTREACH: AWC HAS FOUR PRIMARY OUTREACH PROGRAMS. "CREEKS AS CLASSROOMS" WORKS WITH OVER 3,000 YOUTH ANNUALLY ALONG ANCHORAGE'S CREEKS. STORMWATER RUNOFF AND WATERSHED EDUCATION IS PROVIDED TO ALL CITIZENS IN ANCHORAGE THROUGH A VARIETY OF MEANS IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF RUNOFF INTO LOCAL WATERWAYS. THIS IS PART OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE'S STORMWATER APDES PERMIT (ALASKA POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM) THAT IS ADMINISTERED BY THE ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION ON BEHALF OF THE EPA. EVERY MAY FOR THE PAST 41 YEARS, AWC CONDUCTS A LARGE CREEK CLEANUP EVENT. IN 2025, 750 VOLUNTEERS CLEANED CREEKS AND LAKES IN MAY. TRASH AND RECYCLABLES ARE PULLED FROM LOCAL WATERWAYS AND DISPOSED OF PROPERLY. AWC'S SCOOP THE POOP PROGRAM IS AIMED AT REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF PET WASTE THAT IS NOT PICKED UP WHICH ENDS UP IMPAIRING LOCAL CREEKS AND LAKES. A SCOOP THE POOP DAY IS HELD IN APRIL TO CLEAN UP SOME LOCAL DOG PARKS AND EDUCATE PET OWNERS. OUTREACH: AWC HAS FOUR PRIMARY OUTREACH PROGRAMS. "CREEKS AS CLASSROOMS" WORKS WITH OVER 3,000 YOUTH ANNUALLY ALONG ANCHORAGE'S CREEKS. STORMWATER RUNOFF AND WATERSHED EDUCATION IS PROVIDED TO ALL CITIZENS IN ANCHORAGE THROUGH A VARIETY OF MEANS IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF RUNOFF INTO LOCAL WATERWAYS. THIS IS PART OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE'S STORMWATER APDES PERMIT (ALASKA POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM) THAT IS ADMINISTERED BY THE ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION ON BEHALF OF THE EPA. EVERY MAY FOR THE PAST 41 YEARS, AWC CONDUCTS A LARGE CREEK CLEANUP EVENT. IN 2025, 750 VOLUNTEERS CLEANED CREEKS AND LAKES IN MAY. TRASH AND RECYCLABLES ARE PULLED FROM LOCAL WATERWAYS AND DISPOSED OF PROPERLY. AWC'S SCOOP THE POOP PROGRAM IS AIMED AT REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF PET WASTE THAT IS NOT PICKED UP WHICH ENDS UP IMPAIRING LOCAL CREEKS AND LAKES. A SCOOP THE POOP DAY IS HELD IN APRIL TO CLEAN UP SOME LOCAL DOG PARKS AND EDUCATE PET OWNERS.

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 1987.

    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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