California Waterfowl Association
California Waterfowl Association reported $40.1 million in revenue and $23.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026. Of every $100 it spent, $63.87 went to program services, $3.89 to management and general costs and $32.24 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 55.5% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $252,437 (Chief Executive Officer). 6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 243% between FY2020 and FY2026. Source: Form 990, FY2026.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending March 31, 2026 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $23MFor 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
The fiscal year ending March 31, 2026 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $40MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2026 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 63.9% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 3.9% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 32.2% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.49 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 38.4% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 55.5% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $252,437 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.07% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 33.6 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 15 of 15 | 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
FY2026 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseThe Waterfowl and Wetlands Department works to protect, restore, enhance and manage wetland, riparian and grassland habitats for the benefit of waterfowl and other wetland dependent species. Our biologists monitor and evaluate the health of Californias waterfowl populations to ensure our conservation efforts are providing habitat to meet the full life cycle requirements of waterfowl in California and the Pacific Flyway
The Hunting and Education Department focuses on inspiring conservation by providing hunting access and high-quality outdoor experiences. Thousands of people, including new hunters and veterans, benefit from the California Waterfowl Hunt Program each year
AdvocacyCalifornia Waterfowl's Advocacy team works to keep the "wet" in wetlands, ensuring that water is available for California's breeding population of waterfowl as well as the millions of migrating waterfowl that winter in the state. Advocacy efforts support legislation designed to increase and improve wetlands and upland nesting habitat in California, as well as fighting policies that erode interest in hunting, which correspondingly erodes funding for wildlife habitat.California Waterfowls Annual Report is published online at https://calwaterfowl.org/annual-report
Highest reported compensation
FY2026 · 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 Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $207,132 | $0 | $45,305 | $252,437 |
| VP Membership Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $179,335 | $0 | $38,522 | $217,857 |
| VP Advocacy Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $174,774 | $0 | $36,439 | $211,213 |
| VP Conservation Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $161,931 | $0 | $32,674 | $194,605 |
| Dir Wetland Prg Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $156,900 | $0 | $32,340 | $189,240 |
| Dir Finance/Admn Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $145,879 | $0 | $28,840 | $174,719 |
6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from California Waterfowl Association (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $252K (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
FY2026 · 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–1b15 · 15 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 11aNo
- 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 575
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,000
Largest outside contractors
FY2026 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Dirt Devil Earthworks Construction | $1,411,522 |
| Mustin Pipeline Construction Inc Construction | $1,256,102 |
| GE Stephens Construction Construction | $817,040 |
| Colusa Indian Community EDC Construction | $463,037 |
| Tulelake Irrigation District Construction | $430,194 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 26 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
21 private foundations reported grants to California Waterfowl Association totaling $103K 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 California Waterfowl 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 California Waterfowl Association, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 California Waterfowl Association spent in FY2026, $63.87 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Napa County Land TrustNapa, CA · revenue $40M · programs 80.9% · 2024
- The Pennsylvania Horticultural SocietyPhiladelphia, PA · revenue $41M · programs 75.4% · FY2025
- Center for Energy and EnvironmentMinneapolis, MN · revenue $40M · programs 79.6% · 2025
- Slipstream GroupMadison, WI · revenue $41M · programs 72.8% · 2024
- Product CARE Association of CanadaCanada, · revenue $39M · programs 82.3% · 2024
Questions people ask
How much of California Waterfowl Association's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, California Waterfowl Association reported that 63.9% of its $23.5 million in expenses went to program services, 3.9% to management and general and 32.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does California Waterfowl Association pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation California Waterfowl Association reported for one person in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026 was $252,437, for the role of Chief Executive Officer (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does California Waterfowl Association get its money?
Of $40.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, 38.4% came from contributions and grants and 55.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is California Waterfowl Association a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 94-1149574 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, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2026: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, object 202642379349302209 · read the filing
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, object 202502519349301625 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, object 202413469349300121 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, object 202400389349301910 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, object 202243069349301334 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, object 202113129349304796 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020, object 202140409349301554 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 94-1149574: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.