The Freshwater Trust
The Freshwater Trust reported $11.4 million in revenue and $10.8 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $68.16 went to program services, $21.68 to management and general costs and $10.16 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 66.7% of the total. Government grants made up 34.8%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $305,795 (PRESIDENT). 12 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 16% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $11MFor context, the median across 245 covered animal-related charities: $83.96 programs, $9.42 management, $6.62 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 $11M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$31.34 $3.6M
- Government grants$34.24 $4.0M
- Program service revenue$34.42 $4.0M
Investment income was negative: −$46,981. The bar shows the positive sources only.
Other revenue was negative: −$153K. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 68.2% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 21.7% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 10.2% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.14 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 66.7% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 34.8% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 35.0% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $305,795 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.83% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 12 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 2.2 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 20 of 20 | 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 expenseWater quality trading & watershed analytics - the Freshwater Trust uses data to identify and illustrate the specific action or actions necessary to change the trajectory of a watershed's current condition; uses that insight to drive the policy changes, funders, and social buy-in necessary to understand and implement that optimal pathway; and then develops the operational/supply chain capacity and innovative conservation financing approaches necessary to deploy those solutions. Water quality trading is one important approach for converting this insight into high quality on-the-ground results.…
Habitat - the Freshwater Trust actively restores aquatic habitat in the western united states through its habitat restoration program. From placing logs instream to create river complexity and planting trees to stabilize streambanks and provide shade to lower water temperature, the organization advances science-based, ecologically-sound restoration projects to restore habitat function critical to salmon productivity
On farm & water transactions - the Freshwater Trust works collaboratively with water users to design conservation solutions that improve water use efficiency, enhance underlying groundwater conditions, and help create more streamflow in rivers
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $262,714 | $0 | $43,081 | $305,795 |
| DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT & ANALYTICS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $182,125 | $0 | $21,652 | $203,777 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF WATER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $161,381 | $0 | $37,408 | $198,789 |
| LEAD TECHNICAL SCIENTIST Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $155,858 | $0 | $19,293 | $175,151 |
| REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT CALIFORNIA Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $145,646 | $0 | $27,661 | $173,307 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE & POLICY Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $132,369 | $0 | $36,008 | $168,377 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF PEOPLE & OPERATIONS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $153,392 | $0 | $9,294 | $162,686 |
| SCIENCE DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $133,660 | $0 | $17,519 | $151,179 |
12 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Freshwater Trust (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.0M (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–1b20 · 20 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 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 556
- Volunteers Part I, line 623
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| AQUATIC CONTRACTING LLC In-stream restoration | $506,325 |
| COLUMBIA HELICOPTERS INC Helicopter delivery of project supplies | $373,763 |
| ICS CONSULTING Consulting | $210,291 |
| M & M SERVICES LLC In-stream restoration | $145,397 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 6 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
14 private foundations reported grants to The Freshwater Trust totaling $755K 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 Freshwater Trust'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 Freshwater Trust, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 The Freshwater Trust spent in 2024, $68.16 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Questions people ask
How much of The Freshwater Trust's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, The Freshwater Trust reported that 68.2% of its $10.8 million in expenses went to program services, 21.7% to management and general and 10.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Freshwater Trust pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Freshwater Trust reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $305,795, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Freshwater Trust get its money?
Of $11.4 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 66.7% came from contributions and grants (including 34.8% from government grants) and 35.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Freshwater Trust a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 93-0843521 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 202513189349316126 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202403199349315610 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202303049349302650 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021 (amended), object 202303049349302380 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202102709349301510 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202001969349302975 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 93-0843521: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.