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Coos Watershed Association

EIN 93-1146207 · Coos Bay, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY AND ECONOMIC STABILITY WITHIN THE COOS WATERSHED BY INCREASING COMMUNITY CAPACITY TO DEVELOP, TEST, PROMOTE, AND IMPLEMENT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THE INTERESTS OF WATERSHED HEALTH.

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 79%
Employees
29
Volunteers
125
Highest pay
$131,022, executive director

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: 43 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 40% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 39% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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 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. $1.9 million spent. RESTORATION: WE ARE DEDICATED TO CREATING HEALTHY STREAM HABITATS THROUGH BOTH IN-STREAM AND RIPARIAN RESTORATION EFFORTS. IN-STREAM RESTORATION FOCUSES ON IMPROVING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF STREAMS BY PLACING WOOD FEATURES LIKE LOG JAMS, UPGRADING STREAM CROSSING INFRASTRUCTURE, MEANDERING CHANNELS, AND PULLING BACK ERODED BANKS. THESE EFFORTS RESTORE NATURAL STREAM FUNCTIONS AND ENHANCE HABITATS FOR FISH AND OTHER AQUATIC LIFE.RIPARIAN RESTORATION TARGETS THE AREAS ALONGSIDE STREAMS TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND STABILIZE BANKS. THIS INCLUDES PLANTING ENDEMIC TREES AND SHRUBS, INSTALLING FENCING TO PROTECT SENSITIVE AREAS, AND CREATING OFF-CHANNEL WATERING SOURCES FOR LIVESTOCK. THESE PRACTICES REDUCE SEDIMENTATION AND WATER TEMPERATURES, HELPING THE ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM.A KEY PART OF RIPARIAN RESTORATION IS ADDRESSING THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES. AS ENDEMIC PLANTS ARE REPLACED BY ORNAMENTAL OR INVASIVE ONES, THE ECOLOGICAL FOOD WEB BEGINS TO UNRAVEL. TO SUPPORT ENDEMIC BIODIVERSITY, WE OPERATE AN ENDEMIC PLANT NURSERY CAPABLE OF PRODUCING UP TO 20,000 PLANTS ANNUALLY FOR USE IN RESTORATION PROJECTS. WE ALSO MONITOR AND CONTROL NOXIOUS WEEDS THAT THREATEN COASTAL HABITATS AND LOCAL ECONOMIES.URBAN ENVIRONMENTS OFFER UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESTORATION AND STEWARDSHIP. SOME OF OUR MOST INNOVATIVE AND ENGAGING PROJECTS TAKE PLACE RIGHT IN THE HEART OF TOWN, OFTEN IN COLLABORATION WITH STUDENTS AND VOLUNTEERS. THROUGH STORMWATER EDUCATION AND ECOLOGICAL LANDSCAPING PROGRAMS, WE WORK TO IMPROVE WATERSHED HEALTH EVEN IN DEVELOPED AREAS.
  2. $366,882 spent. MONITORING: EFFECTIVE, ON-THE-GROUND MONITORING IS ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR RESTORATION EFFORTS. ACROSS THE COOS WATERSHED, WE TRACK KEY INDICATORS OF WATERSHED HEALTH, INCLUDING STREAM FLOW, WATER QUALITY, HABITAT CONDITIONS, AND FISH ABUNDANCE AND MIGRATION. THIS DATA HELPS US EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF OUR WORK AND IDENTIFY PRIORITIES FOR FUTURE RESTORATION.OUR MONITORING PROGRAM PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN ASSESSING THE STATUS AND TRENDS OF COHO SALMON POPULATIONS, AS WELL AS TRACKING WATER QUALITY AND HYDROLOGY THROUGHOUT COOS BASIN STREAMS. IN ADDITION TO LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL MONITORING, WE ALSO CONDUCT IMPLEMENTATION AND EFFECTIVENESS MONITORING FOR OUR IN-STREAM AND RIPARIAN RESTORATION PROJECTS. THIS ENSURES THAT OUR PROJECTS NOT ONLY MEET THEIR IMMEDIATE GOALS BUT ALSO SUPPORT LASTING IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERSHED HEALTH.
  3. $170,483 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: WE BELIEVE THAT LASTING WATERSHED HEALTH DEPENDS ON STRONG COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS. THROUGH VOLUNTEER EVENTS, NURSERY WORK DAYS, FESTIVALS, WORKSHOPS, SERVICE PROJECTS, AND HANDS-ON CAREER MENTORING AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS, WE ENGAGE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES IN MEANINGFUL, PLACE-BASED EXPERIENCES. THESE PROGRAMS FOSTER ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, CONNECT INDIVIDUALS TO LOCAL RESOURCES, AND EMPHASIZE THE SHARED RESPONSIBILITY WE ALL HAVE IN CARING FOR OUR WATERSHED.OUR YOUTH ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS INCLUDE PARTNERSHIPS WITH ALL THREE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS, WHERE STUDENTS LEARN PRACTICAL RESTORATION SKILLS WHILE IMPROVING THE ECOLOGICAL HEALTH OF THEIR SCHOOL CAMPUSES. COOS WATERSHED ASSOCIATION'S SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM GIVES STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON MEANINGFUL, COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS WHILE BUILDING JOB SKILLS AND PROVIDING PAID WORK EXPERIENCE. WE OFFER A UNIQUE SUMMER OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION, JOB READINESS, AND OUTDOOR ADVENTURE. STUDENTS GAIN HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE, CONTRIBUTE TO REAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS, AND GROW THEIR CONNECTION TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR COMMUNITY. THIS IS ALL PART OF OUR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT NATURAL RESOURCE CAREER DEVELOPMENT SO THAT THERE WILL BE ENTHUSIASTIC, KNOWLEDGEABLE PROFESSIONALS TO MAINTAIN AND PROGRESS THE HEALTH OF THE COOS WATERSHED IN THE FUTURE. WE DO THIS THROUGH TEACHING YOUNG PEOPLE JOB SKILLS IN OUR YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS, HOSTING INTERNS IN OUR MONITORING PROGRAM, AND SUPPORTING CAREER GROWTH AND MENTORSHIP THROUGH OUR STAFFING STRUCTURE. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE TAKE PART IN LOCAL FESTIVALS AND FARMERS' MARKETS TO SHARE WATERSHED KNOWLEDGE, CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND BUILD MOMENTUM FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION. WE ALSO HOST THE ANNUAL MAYFLY FESTIVAL, A FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENT THAT BRINGS THE WATERSHED TO LIFE THROUGH GAMES, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, AND INTERACTIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES. IN MEMORY OF TEDDY VILLERS (2004-2015), AN AVID YOUNG STEWARD WHO TRAGICALLY PASSED AWAY WHILE WORKING ON A SALMON HABITAT PROJECT, THE VILLERS FAMILY AND THE COOS WATERSHED ASSOCIATION OFFER THE TEDDY VILLERS NATURAL RESOURCES SCHOLARSHIP. AWARDED ANNUALLY TO A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL, HOME-SCHOOL, OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT PURSUING A CAREER IN NATURAL RESOURCES, THE SCHOLARSHIP HONORS TEDDY'S LEGACY AND INSPIRES FUTURE GENERATIONS TO FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS, MAKING A LASTING IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

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 August 1996.

    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.