Water Foundation
Water Foundation reported $22.3 million in revenue and $18.3 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $96.72 went to program services, $2.76 to management and general costs and $0.52 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 97.8% of the total. Government grants made up 10.8%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $386,617 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 16 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 55% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $18MFor 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 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $22MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 96.7% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 2.8% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.5% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 97.8% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 10.8% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $386,617 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.11% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 16 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 20.4 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 11 of 12 | 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 expenseThe states and basins program includes state, regional, and local efforts to secure clean and affordable drinking water, build urban and rural climate resilience, and/or advance solutions that restore and protect freshwater ecosystems. Grants from the Water Foundation in 2024 supported sustainable, inclusive groundwater management and safe and affordable drinking water in california; community engagement in green stormwater infrastructure projects in los angeles county; a campaign to restore the columbia-snake river basin in the pacific northwest; coalitions supporting the protection of…
National - national programs include efforts to maximize the environmental and community benefits of federal infrastructure funding and to strengthen a national movement for water. Grants in 2024 supported the capacity of water organizations, coalitions, and leaders; effective implementation of water-related public funding; the design and development of water infrastructure, watershed restoration, and climate resilience projects; and efforts to establish a permanent federal program to support affordable drinking water
Water table - the water table is a funder collaborative hosted by the Water Foundation that advances a sustainable and resilient water future in the U.S. Table members pool and align funding toward water solutions to achieve greater collective impact. The table's 2024 priority areas for coordinated investment and/or learning include: a national clean water effort, urban water solutions, climate smart agriculture in the west, sustainable water management in texas, tribal partnerships, and activation of federal funding for water projects. The table also works to increase field and funder…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Director/trustee, officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $336,284 | $0 | $50,333 | $386,617 |
| CHIEF FINANCE & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $237,778 | $0 | $31,134 | $268,912 |
| CHIEF PROGRAMS & STRATEGY OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $228,850 | $0 | $35,640 | $264,490 |
| CHIEF PARTNERSHIP OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $212,865 | $0 | $34,505 | $247,370 |
| SENIOR PROGRAM OFF & POLICY ADVISOR Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $198,068 | $0 | $27,832 | $225,900 |
| SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $168,218 | $0 | $26,453 | $194,671 |
| SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $169,073 | $0 | $22,204 | $191,277 |
16 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Water Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $656K (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–1b12 · 11 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14No
- 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 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 527
- Volunteers Part I, line 610
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| AB PARTNERS PBC Consulting | $515,000 |
| EVERGREEN STRATEGY GROUP INC Consulting | $315,000 |
| FGS GLOBAL US LLC Consulting | $247,250 |
| TRATTENPRICE CONSULTING Consulting | $150,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 9 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
15 private foundations reported grants to Water Foundation totaling $17M 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 Water 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 Water Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Water Foundation spent in 2024, $96.72 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Memorial Park ConservancyHouston, TX · revenue $22M · programs 71.1% · FY2025
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- Maine Coast Heritage TrustTopsham, ME · revenue $22M · programs 73.0% · 2024
- NaturebridgeSausalito, CA · revenue $22M · programs 82.8% · FY2025
- Forth Mobility FundPortland, OR · revenue $22M · programs 84.4% · 2024
Questions people ask
How much of Water Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Water Foundation reported that 96.7% of its $18.3 million in expenses went to program services, 2.8% to management and general and 0.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Water Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Water Foundation reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $386,617, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Water Foundation get its money?
Of $22.3 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 97.8% came from contributions and grants (including 10.8% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Water Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 37-1833985 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. 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 202523219349312157 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202433209349321103 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202313109349303956 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202202979349300800 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202133029349302373 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202003149349302965 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 37-1833985: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.