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American Water Works Association
American Water Works Association reported $38.4 million in revenue and $37.4 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $61.13 went to program services, $28.36 to management and general costs and $10.51 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 82.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $499,906 (SECRETARY/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 47 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 12% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $37MFor context, the median across 185 covered public & societal benefit charities: $88.81 programs, $11.18 management, $0.01 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $38MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 61.1% | 84.9% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 28.4% | 10.7% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 10.5% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $1.80 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 5.7% | 83.8% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.9% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 82.2% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $499,906 | $357,133 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.34% | 1.52% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 47 | 12 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 10.7 | 10.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 61 of 61 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseMember section services: awwa membership supports and equips a skilled and knowledgeable water workforce to ensure safe and sustainable water for all communities. Through membership, individuals and organizations gain access to educational resources, training, and technical guidance that advance public health and environmental protection. Membership also fosters collaboration through local sections, enabling shared learning and community-based solutions to water challenges
Publications and subscriptions: awwa publishes and delivers various scientific and educational materials through multiple platforms including periodicals, books, handbooks, and manuals of practice for use by the public and water industry. For more than 100 years awwa has developed voluntary standards of minimum requirements, materials, equipment, and practices used in water treatment supply. These standards are used by thousands of manufacturers, distributors, and facilities worldwide to ensure the highest quality products and service
Conferences and educational programs: awwa offers education to water professionals through: in-person and virtual conferences where water sector professionals can come together and learn, connect and be inspired to solve today's global water challenges; in-person and virtual seminars on trending water topics delivered by experts in the field; self-paced and instructor-led online operator courses covering all phases of water treatment and distribution operations and customer service skills courses; and safety, operator and consumer education focused on-demand videos. In 2024, six (6)…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SECRETARY/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $450,759 | $0 | $49,147 | $499,906 |
| DIRECTOR, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $277,166 | $0 | $31,877 | $309,043 |
| CHIEF MEMBERSHIP OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $248,127 | $0 | $21,874 | $270,001 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $243,950 | $0 | $22,784 | $266,734 |
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (END JUL) Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $219,345 | $0 | $35,666 | $255,011 |
| DIRECTOR - FEDERAL RELATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $202,842 | $0 | $15,240 | $218,082 |
| DIRECTOR - IT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $190,132 | $0 | $27,595 | $217,727 |
| DIRECTOR - CONFERENCE AND EVENTS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $156,669 | $0 | $45,814 | $202,483 |
47 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from American Water Works Association (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.7M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b61 · 61 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5163
- Volunteers Part I, line 65,000
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SEIBEL CONSTRUCTION Construction services | $1,129,920 |
| VINSON & ELKINS LLP Legal services | $454,802 |
| AMERICAN MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION Annual partnership with awwa to conduct | $223,287 |
| DESERT ROSE ENVIRONMENTAL Water resoueces planning & management se | $203,216 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 10 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
2 private foundations reported grants to American Water Works Association totaling $43,167 on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from American Water Works Association's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for American Water Works Association, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 American Water Works Association spent in 2024, $61.13 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Bipartisan Policy CenterWashington, DC · revenue $38M · programs 90.7% · 2024
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- New Charlotte CorporationCharlotte, NC · revenue $38M · programs 100.0% · FY2025
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All public & societal benefit charities · Largest charities in Colorado
Questions people ask
How much of American Water Works Association's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, American Water Works Association reported that 61.1% of its $37.4 million in expenses went to program services, 28.4% to management and general and 10.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does American Water Works Association pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation American Water Works Association reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $499,906, for the role of SECRETARY/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does American Water Works Association get its money?
Of $38.4 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 5.7% came from contributions and grants (including 1.9% from government grants) and 82.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is American Water Works Association a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 13-5660277 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202513149349305551 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202433199349308903 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202322099349301387 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202241879349301569 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202112249349301131 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202011839349301796 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 13-5660277: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.