Waterkeeper Alliance INC

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501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
78¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 17 volunteers.
Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
The IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $308K a year · 3% of revenue · last 6 filings
A surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
78%
of spending
78% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.6M
to officers and key staff · 22% of spending
Pay to officers and key staff is 22% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
1.1 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $4.9M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
1.1 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
46
named funders · $4.4M
46 funders name it on their filings.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$2.3M
33% of total assets
Liabilities are 33% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
17
of 17 voting members
17 of 17 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$8.5M
+33% vs prior year
Spent
$7.3M
To programs
78%
Net assets
$4.7M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$8.5M
FY2025▲ +33%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$17.3M
FY2021$11.7M
FY2022$15.2M
FY2023$8.8M
FY2024$6.4M
FY2025$8.5M
Expenses
$7.3M
FY2025-0.3%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$17.8M
FY2021$10.0M
FY2022$16.8M
FY2023$6.9M
FY2024$7.3M
FY2025$7.3M
Net assets
$4.7M
FY2025▲ +38%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.2M
FY2021$4.0M
FY2022$2.3M
FY2023$4.2M
FY2024$3.4M
FY2025$4.7M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jan 2000.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

78 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 78% · $5.7M Management & general 10% · $696K Fundraising 12% · $882K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

26 people listed on the 990; $1.6M paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Chief Executive Officer
$278,187Pt VII · Sec A
Deputy Director
$250,231Pt VII · Sec A
General Counsel/Legal Director
$221,843Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Finance & Operations Officer
$194,074Pt VII · Sec A
Development Director
$170,000Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Attorney
$148,652Pt VII · Sec A
Communications & Marketing Director
$140,394Pt VII · Sec A
Advocacy Director
$135,000Pt VII · Sec A

Marc Yaggi’s $278K as Chief Executive Officer is at the 95th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1851 $1–10M environment nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Marc Yaggi$278,187$278,187$262,249$282,248$211,918$231,716
Mary Beth Postman$250,231$245,564$231,944$243,680$194,040$204,840
Daniel Estrin$221,843$209,376$198,598$209,222$168,585$182,034
Rachel Cook$194,074$187,715$180,440$173,850$131,911$142,910
Michael Yerdon$170,000—————
Kelly Hunter Foster$148,652$140,950$139,085———
Kelly Foster———$146,266$115,947$125,492
Kathryn Cecil——$144,456———

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Waterkeeper Alliance INC executive salaries →

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Advocates for clean water access in communities globally.

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3 programs · $3.3M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Waterkeeper Organizing

See schedule o.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 13-4071318) · Dispute this line
$1.8Mprogram expense
02

Global Conference and Regional Summits

Global CONFERENCE& regional summits corrected language - regional meetings afford waterkeeper groups the opportunity to develop regional advocacy strategies, share resources, and continue capacity building and technical learning. A global conference was held in september 2024.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 13-4071318) · Dispute this line
$914Kprogram expense
03

Pure Farms Pure Waters Campaign

See schedule o.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 13-4071318) · Dispute this line
$588Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 46 funders →
Grants paid · 86 grants · $2.2M · 2019–2024
Riverkeeper INCNY · FY2024$42,000
BaykeeperCA · FY2024$24,000
Cape Fear River WatchNC · FY2024$15,139
Biscayne Bay Waterkeeper INCFL · FY2024$15,000
Los Angeles WaterkeeperCA · FY2024$15,000
Good Stewards of RockinghamNC · FY2024$13,975
Patuxent RiverkeeperMD · FY2024$13,327
Cook InletkeeperAK · FY2023$75,000
Riverkeeper INCNY · FY2023$30,200
BaykeeperCA · FY2023$30,000
Biscayne Bay Waterkeeper INCFL · FY2023$25,000
Patuxent RiverkeeperMD · FY2023$12,219
Yadkin Riverkeeper INCNC · FY2023$10,600
Winyah Rivers Foundation INCSC · FY2023$10,535
See all 86 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$8.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$8.1M
Other incomeLn 4–11$233K
Investment incomeLn 3$143K
Money outPt IX
$7.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$5.7M
Managementcol C$696K
Fundraisingcol D$882K
Owns and owesPt X
$4.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$643K
Total assetsLn 16$7.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
26
listed · VII A
PaidVII A9
Voting boardVI 1a17
IndependentVI 1b17
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$8.1M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$4.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$143K
Other incomeLn 4–11$233K
Gains on assetsLn 7$70K
Total revenueLn 12$8.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$643K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$643K
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$70K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$26K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$4.9M
Other assetsLn 15$1.3M
Total assetsLn 16$7.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.3M
Net assetsLn 32$4.7M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 617
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Grants to other countriesSch F Pt II–III$894K
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$4.0M
Investment feesPt IX, Sch D
Investment fees, as reportedPt IX 11f$8K
Share of the $2.6M endowmentSch D 1g0.32%
Typical, median of 2,202 orgs0.44%
EndowmentSch D · Pt V
LineFY25FY24FY23FY22FY21
End of yearLn 1g$2.6M$3.1M$2.5M$1.3M$2.0M
AddedLn 1b$1.8M$4.3M$3.5M$10.6M$5.0M
SpentLn 1d–1f$2.2M$3.8M$2.3M$11.3M$5.4M
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.4M$643K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.5M$4.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$7K$3K
Total assetsLn 16$7.9M$7.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.5M$2.3M
Net assetsLn 32$3.4M$4.7M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$183K$183K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$894K$894K
Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5$1.0M$770K$155K$111K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.8M$1.3M$270K$194K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$525K$390K$79K$56K
Payroll taxesLn 10$214K$159K$32K$23K
Accounting feesLn 11c$13K$10K$1K$1K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$16K$16K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$81K$81K
Investment management feesLn 11f$8K$8K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$340K$285K$2K$53K
Office expensesLn 13$210K$149K$26K$35K
OccupancyLn 16$492K$355K$83K$53K
TravelLn 17$61K$36K$21K$5K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$4K$4K
InsuranceLn 23$39K$28K$7K$4K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.4M$1.1M$6K$261K
All other expensesLn 24e$10K$6K$944$4K
Total functional expensesLn 25$7.3M$5.7M$696K$882K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS May 13, 2026 $8.5M$7.3M$1.2M$4.7M 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS May 15, 2025 $6.4M$7.3M−$916K$3.4M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS May 14, 2024 $8.8M$6.9M$1.9M$4.2M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS May 10, 2023 $15.2M$16.8M−$1.6M$2.3M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS May 11, 2022 $11.7M$10.0M$1.7M$4.0M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS May 12, 2021 $17.3M$17.8M−$482K$2.2M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support B · Donors C · Political and lobbying D · Assets and endowments F · Foreign G · Fundraising I · Grants J · Pay M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990
Part I · Summary $8,517,767 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $6,234,357$8,141,343
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $124,607$143,362
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $64,988$233,062
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $6,423,952$8,517,767
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $1,556,058$1,076,610
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $3,402,765$3,578,794
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $78,000$81,000
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,302,788$2,584,818
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $7,339,611$7,321,222
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$915,659$1,196,545
Part VI · Governance 17 of 17 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body17
VI-1b Independent voting members17
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $8,517,767 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$8,141,343
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$4,043,059
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$8,141,343
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $73,241$73,241
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $70,121$70,121
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $233,062$233,062
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $233,062 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $143,362$8,517,767
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $7,321,222 across 18 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $182,791$182,791
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $893,819$893,819
IX-5 Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Programs $770,048 · Management $155,105 · Fundraising $111,455$1,036,608
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,339,760 · Management $269,857 · Fundraising $193,915$1,803,532
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $389,833 · Management $78,521 · Fundraising $56,424$524,778
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $158,878 · Management $32,002 · Fundraising $22,996$213,876
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $10,276 · Management $1,364 · Fundraising $1,160$12,800
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $15,889$15,889
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $81,000$81,000
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $8,365$8,365
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $284,974 · Management $1,898 · Fundraising $53,369$340,241
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $149,010 · Management $26,209 · Fundraising $35,243$210,462
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $355,423 · Management $83,237 · Fundraising $53,448$492,108
IX-17 TravelPrograms $35,961 · Management $20,689 · Fundraising $4,697$61,347
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $4,438$4,438
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $28,025 · Management $6,712 · Fundraising $3,943$38,680
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,123,281 · Management $6,209 · Fundraising $260,638$1,390,128
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $5,876 · Management $944 · Fundraising $3,540$10,360
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $5,743,844 · Management $695,550 · Fundraising $881,828$7,321,222
Part X · Balance sheet $7,016,094 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,355,146$642,886
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $119,475$70,200
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $184,280$26,455
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $7,397$2,959
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,485,382$4,939,215
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $3,762,519$1,334,379
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $7,914,199$7,016,094
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $507,224$714,155
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $75,131$50,000
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $3,907,899$1,539,472
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $4,490,254$2,303,627
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $355,581$2,067,097
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $3,068,364$2,645,370
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,423,945$4,712,467
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $7,914,199$7,016,094
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $4,712,467 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$8,517,767
XI-2 Total expenses$7,321,222
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,196,545
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,423,945
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$91,977
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$4,712,467

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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