California Waterfowl Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 65 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
California Waterfowl Association is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect the future of waterfowl conservation and hunting in California, through advocacy, education, and habitat stewardship.
- Income
- $29.6 million
- Spending
- $25.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- 6.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 47%
- Employees
- 72
- Volunteers
- 1,000
- Highest pay
- $230,740, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 65 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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)
- $15.2 million spent. The Waterfowl and Wetlands Department works to protect, restore, enhance and manage wetland, riparian and grassland habitats for the benefit of waterfowl and other wetland dependent species. Our biologists monitor and evaluate the health of Californias waterfowl populations to ensure our conservation efforts are providing habitat to meet the full life cycle requirements of waterfowl in California and the Pacific Flyway.
- $1.7 million spent. The Hunting and Education Department focuses on inspiring conservation by providing hunting access and high-quality outdoor experiences. Thousands of people, including new hunters and veterans, benefit from the California Waterfowl Hunt Program each year.
- $386,955 spent. AdvocacyCalifornia Waterfowl's Advocacy team works to keep the "wet" in wetlands, ensuring that water is available for California's breeding population of waterfowl as well as the millions of migrating waterfowl that winter in the state. Advocacy efforts support legislation designed to increase and improve wetlands and upland nesting habitat in California, as well as fighting policies that erode interest in hunting, which correspondingly erodes funding for wildlife habitat.California Waterfowls Annual Report is published online at https://calwaterfowl.org/annual-report
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2026.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1980.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 7, 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.