The Water Research Foundation
The Water Research Foundation reported $24.3 million in revenue and $20.4 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $69.03 went to program services, $28.68 to management and general costs and $2.29 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 75.6% of the total. Government grants made up 71.7%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $500,596 (CEO/SECRETARY). 31 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 0% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $20MFor context, the median across 371 covered environment charities: $85.82 programs, $10.80 management, $3.38 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $24MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 69.0% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 28.7% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.3% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.03 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 75.6% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 71.7% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 15.9% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $500,596 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.46% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 31 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 30.4 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 32 of 32 | 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseResearch programs: wrf coordinates multiple research programs to collectively address water-related issues of subscribers and the water sector as a whole. The research programs are the research priority program, the tailored collaboration program, emerging opportunities program, unsolicited research program and facilitated research program. These programs include the cost of projects funded for research to be conducted by other organizations and other internal expenses directly related to these projects
Research management: the planning, administration, and monitoring of the research programs sponsored by wrf are the responsibility of the research managers. Specific tasks include administration of wrf's research advisory council and technical advisory committees for each program and topic area; research planning; contractor monitoring and oversight; research deliverable and product review; request for proposals preparation; project advisory committee selection and administration; and proposal review and selection. Project management, knowledgement management and research planning serve as…
Communications & marketing: wrf's communications and marketing efforts consist of publishing information and resources derived from wrf-sponsored research to ensure that the results and application of research are effectively transferred to subscribers and other stakeholders. These efforts include the development, distribution and promotion of research reports and other project resources, printed materials and e-periodicals, webcasts, workshops, the website and social media. Communications and marketing also oversee all public relations and marketing activities and collateral
Highest reported compensation
2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO/SECRETARY Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $468,509 | $0 | $32,087 | $500,596 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $315,707 | $0 | $38,940 | $354,647 |
| CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $240,282 | $0 | $41,822 | $282,104 |
| CHIEF RESEARCH OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $236,156 | $0 | $42,379 | $278,535 |
| DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH SERVICES Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $178,347 | $0 | $33,218 | $211,565 |
| DIRECTOR OF SUBSCRIBER SERVICES Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $159,410 | $0 | $44,795 | $204,205 |
| MANAGER - STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $167,240 | $0 | $16,421 | $183,661 |
| DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING, CONTROLLER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $152,533 | $0 | $22,998 | $175,531 |
31 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Water Research Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.4M (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · 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–1b32 · 32 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 4No
- 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 554
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,000
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ELEVATE SERVICES GROUP It services | $357,752 |
| KUBE3 LLC Project management | $284,081 |
| PEOPLE BEFORE THINGS Project management | $253,560 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 4 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
1 private foundation reported grants to The Water Research Foundation totaling $16 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 The Water Research Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Water Research Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Water Research Foundation spent in 2025, $69.03 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Questions people ask
How much of The Water Research Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, The Water Research Foundation reported that 69.0% of its $20.4 million in expenses went to program services, 28.7% to management and general and 2.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Water Research Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Water Research Foundation reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $500,596, for the role of CEO/SECRETARY (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Water Research Foundation get its money?
Of $24.3 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 75.6% came from contributions and grants (including 71.7% from government grants) and 15.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Water Research Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 13-6211384 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202642309349302349 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202522049349301412 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202431999349301608 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202342009349301519 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202222139349300422 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202102029349301420 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202012459349301016 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 13-6211384: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.