Western Watersheds Project Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROTECT AND RESTORE WESTERN WATERSHEDS AND WILDLIFE THROUGH EDUCATION, PUBLIC POLICY INTIATIVES AND LEGAL ADVOCACY.
- Income
- $2.1 million
- Spending
- $2.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 3.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 92%
- Employees
- 18
- Highest pay
- $122,356, executive di
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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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)
- $951,285 spent. MONITORING - IDENTIFY DAMAGED WATERSHEDS AND DOCUMENT ABUSIVE LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. REPORT THE FOLLOWING: - LIVESTOCK NUMBERS ON GRAZING ALLOTMENTS - TURNOUT TIMES - ABUSIVE GRAZING - DEGREDATION OF STREAMS AND STREAM BANKS - DESTRUCTION OF RIPARIAN AND UPLAND HABITAT - DEGREDATION OF CULTURAL, HISTORIC, ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND SCENIS RESOURCES - ILLEGAL DIVERSIONS OF WATER - NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO WILDERNESS VALUES, ROADLESS AREAS, WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS AND DESIGNATED WILDERNESS. MONITORING - IDENTIFY DAMAGED WATERSHEDS AND DOCUMENT ABUSIVE LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. REPORT THE FOLLOWING: - LIVESTOCK NUMBERS ON GRAZING ALLOTMENTS - TURNOUT TIMES - ABUSIVE GRAZING - DEGREDATION OF STREAMS AND STREAM BANKS - DESTRUCTION OF RIPARIAN AND UPLAND HABITAT - DEGREDATION OF CULTURAL, HISTORIC, ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND SCENIS RESOURCES - ILLEGAL DIVERSIONS OF WATER - NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO WILDERNESS VALUES, ROADLESS AREAS, WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS AND DESIGNATED WILDERNESS.
- $407,694 spent. RESTORATION AND EDUCATION - WESTERN WATERHEDS PROJECT SUCCESSFULLY BRINGS THE ORGANIZATION'S CONSERVATION CAMPAIGN TO TEH ATTENTION OF NATIONAL PRESS AND POLICYMAKERS. IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, MORE THAN 450 NEWS STORIES HAVE APPEARED ABOUT THE WORK OF WWP.
- $339,744 spent. LITIGATION - PROTECT IMPERILED WILDLIFE, PUBLIC LANDS, AND WESTERN WATERSHEDS THROUGH VIGOROUS LITIGATION UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT, CLEAN WATER ACT, FEDERAL LAND POLICY MANAGEMENT ACT, AND OTHER STATUTES THAT PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT. THE ORGANIZATION HOLDS OVER 4,000 ACREAS OF SCHOOL ENDOWMENT LAND LEASEHOLDS OBTAINED THROUGH COMPETITIVE BIDDING THAT ARE BEING MANAGED FOR WILDLIFE HABITAT AND CONSERVATION PURPOSES.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1994.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.