Clean Water Action

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Public policy research and lobbying: legislative contact and educational outreach, engaging individuals, organizations and public officials in the efforts to understand and improve policies and their implementation related to Water, environment health, toxics and the environment. Major emphasis on Water quality and safety and environmental health risks from polluting power plant emissions.

501(c)(4) social-welfare organization; gifts are not tax-deductible as charitable contributions.
58¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 45 volunteers and 447 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

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FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(4)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
No
Donations are not tax-deductible
Worth a look: the IRS does not list gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $67K a year · 1% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
58%
of spending
Worth a look: 58% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$441K
to officers and key staff · 7% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 7% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.3 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $1K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$942K
50% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 50% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
12
of 12 voting members
Looks good: 12 of 12 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$5.9M
+13% vs prior year
Spent
$6.1M
To programs
58%
Net assets
$952K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$5.9M
FY2024▲ +13%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$6.6M
FY2021$5.7M
FY2022$6.5M
FY2023$5.2M
FY2024$5.9M
Expenses
$6.1M
FY2024▲ +12%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$6.2M
FY2021$5.4M
FY2022$6.4M
FY2023$5.5M
FY2024$6.1M
Net assets
$952K
FY2024▼ -19%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$1.0M
FY2021$1.4M
FY2022$1.4M
FY2023$1.2M
FY2024$952K

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Nov 1973.

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

Where the money goes

58 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 58% · $3.5M Management & general 19% · $1.2M Fundraising 23% · $1.4M

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

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Who runs it and what they're paid

18 people listed on the 990; $441K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Phone Canvas
$128,040Pt VII · Sec A
Regional Can
$107,452Pt VII · Sec A
Phone Canvas
$104,548Pt VII · Sec A
$46,940Pt VII · Sec A
Corporate Se
$34,252Pt VII · Sec A
Assistant Se
$19,644Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

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

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Shanna Serrano$128,040$119,834$114,806$106,166$111,059
Adam Fischer$104,548$114,482$108,678$112,179—
Mary Carbone$107,452$108,304———
Kathleen Aterno———$61,705$63,890
Robert Wendelgass——$32,691$41,576$49,143
Jeffrey Carter$46,940$34,179———
Lewanda Gipson$34,252$33,604$30,872$6,798—
Margaret Armstrong$19,644$16,199$15,440$8,146$8,574

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.

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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 cleaner water and healthier environments through research, education, and policy influence.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $3.5M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Other

Programs to educate and engage the public on clean energy and energy efficiency.

$3.2Mprogram expense
02

Making Democracy Work

We harness grassroots power by engaging our members and the public in lobbying for and supporting clean water leaders from local to the national level. Reforming our democracy is essential to protecting our water, public health, and our communities.

$227Kprogram expense
03

Public Education

Citizen contact & educational outreach, providing information for individual and community involvement in public policy and local impacts on issues related to water, enviromental health, toxics and the environment.

$98Kprogram 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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$1K
Grants paid · 1 grant · $9K · 2024–2024

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$5.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.8M
Other incomeLn 4–11$66K
Investment incomeLn 3$16K
Money outPt IX
$6.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.5M
Managementcol C$1.2M
Fundraisingcol D$1.4M
Owns and owesPt X
$952K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$675K
Total assetsLn 16$1.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$942K
PeoplePt VI, VII
18
listed · VII A
PaidVII A6
Voting boardVI 1a12
IndependentVI 1b12
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.8M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$23K
Investment incomeLn 3$16K
Other incomeLn 4–11$66K
Total revenueLn 12$5.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$675K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$675K
Other assetsLn 15$1.1M
Total assetsLn 16$1.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$942K
Net assetsLn 32$952K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5447
VolunteersI 645
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.3M$675K
Total assetsLn 16$2.0M$1.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$820K$942K
Net assetsLn 32$1.2M$952K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$9K$9K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$4.5M$2.9M$692K$958K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$36K$36K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$243$243
Office expensesLn 13$769K$323K$230K$216K
OccupancyLn 16$320K$188K$75K$56K
TravelLn 17$186K$65K$44K$76K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$70K$29K$17K$23K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$7K$7K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$179K$25K$127K$27K
Total functional expensesLn 25$6.1M$3.5M$1.2M$1.4M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $5.9M$6.1M−$219K$952K 990 PDF
FY2023 $5.2M$5.5M−$262K$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2022 $6.5M$6.4M$102K$1.4M 990 PDF
FY2021 $5.7M$5.4M$317K$1.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 $6.6M$6.2M$398K$1.0M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $5,903,614 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $5,124,771$5,822,280
I-9 Program service revenue$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $14,921$15,646
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $80,062$65,688
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $5,219,754$5,903,614
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$9,000
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $3,938,374$4,546,879
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $18,224$35,758
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,525,650$1,530,999
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $5,482,248$6,122,636
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$262,494−$219,022
Part VI · Governance 12 of 12 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body12
VI-1b Independent voting members12
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 $5,903,614 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$5,822,280
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$23,000
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$5,822,280
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $15,646$15,646
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$64,220
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $1,468$1,468
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $17,114$5,903,614
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $6,122,636 across 10 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $9,000$9,000
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,896,972 · Management $692,309 · Fundraising $957,598$4,546,879
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $35,758$35,758
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $243$243
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $323,349 · Management $229,612 · Fundraising $216,182$769,143
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $188,217 · Management $75,472 · Fundraising $56,420$320,109
IX-17 TravelPrograms $65,112 · Management $44,319 · Fundraising $76,150$185,581
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $29,481 · Management $17,124 · Fundraising $23,224$69,829
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $7,171$7,171
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $24,891 · Management $126,590 · Fundraising $27,442$178,923
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,537,265 · Management $1,192,597 · Fundraising $1,392,774$6,122,636
Part X · Balance sheet $1,894,430 assets, 12 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,321,213$674,643
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $85,003$66,400
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $57,521$74,221
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $520,139$1,079,166
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,991,047$1,894,430
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $549,870$689,152
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $270,152$253,275
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $820,022$942,427
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,099,146$720,951
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $71,879$231,052
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,171,025$952,003
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,991,047$1,894,430
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $952,003 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$5,903,614
XI-2 Total expenses$6,122,636
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$219,022
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,171,025
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$952,003

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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