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Environment : Environmental Protection and Conservation

Blue Water Baltimore

Clean Water. Strong Communities.

four stars

91.16

2631 Sisson Street Baltimore, MD 21211
tel: (410) 254-1577   Web Site
EIN: 52-1420138

Board Leadership
Kevin Shea
Chair

CEO
Jenn Aoisa
Executive Director

 
 
  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 91.16 four stars
  Financial 87.50 three stars
  Accountability & Transparency 100.00 four stars
This rating was published 04/01/2020 and includes data from FY2018, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

Blue Water Baltimore's mission is to restore the quality of Baltimore's rivers, streams and harbor in order to foster a healthy environment, a strong economy, and thriving communities. To achieve our mission, we monitor water quality, train citizens to report pollution, advocate for stronger environmental laws and take legal action against polluters. We remove hard surfaces such as concrete and replace it with green infrastructure such as bioretention which treats polluted runoff before it reaches our waterways. We implement these projects on public and private lands by engaging neighborhood residents, local schools and city agencies as partners. We engage schoolchildren in hands-on activities to teach them about the relationship between community health and healthy waterways. We plant and maintain thousands of trees each year in order to increase Baltimore City's tree canopy. Our work comprehensively addresses greening and public health goals in addition to improved water quality.

Blue Water Baltimore's mission is to restore the quality of Baltimore's rivers, streams and harbor in order to foster a healthy environment, a strong economy, and thriving communities. To achieve our mission, we monitor water quality, train citizens to report pollution, advocate for stronger environmental laws and take legal action against polluters. We remove hard surfaces such as concrete and replace it with green infrastructure such as bioretention which treats polluted runoff before it reaches our waterways. We implement these projects on public and private lands by engaging neighborhood residents, local schools and city agencies as partners. We engage schoolchildren in hands-on activities to teach them about the relationship between community health and healthy waterways. We plant and maintain thousands of trees each year in order to increase Baltimore City's tree canopy. Our work comprehensively addresses greening and public health goals in addition to improved water quality.

Impact Information

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GuideStar is Charity Navigator's trusted partner in sharing information on how this organization seeks impact.  GuideStar has recognized this organization with a Platinum Seal of Transparency for voluntarily and publicly sharing information about how they measure their progress and results.  Learn More about Impact Information.
Reported Results
Showing 3 of 4
Total in 2019
Total pounds of debris collected
13,000
Number of trees planted
900
Hours of volunteer service
865
Number of native plants sold
28,000
This organization has earned a GuideStar's Platinum Seal of Transparency by voluntarily sharing the measures of progress and results they use to pursue their mission. Organizations earn Platinum Seals by selecting from a catalog of over 900 expert recognized metrics or by creating a new metric that best fits their work. This information is reported by the organization and displayed publicly on their GuideStar Nonprofit Profile. With over 1.6 million Nonprofit Profiles, 9 million annual visitors and over 200 data partners, GuideStar is the world's leading source of information about nonprofit organizations. A nonprofit itself, GuideStar is dedicated to providing better data for better decisions for a better world.
This impact information is current as of August 2020, when it was provided to us by GuideStar. At this time, Impact information published on this organization's page has no effect on its rating per our methodology.

Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

three stars

87.50

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

100.00

This rating was published 04/01/2020 and includes data from FY2018, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 85.5%
  Administrative Expenses 10.1%
  Fundraising Expenses 4.2%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.05
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 0.16
  Program Expenses Growth 15.9%
  Liabilities to Assets 35.8%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Blue Water Baltimore on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Blue Water Baltimore on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Information Provided on the Form 990  
  Independent Voting Board Members
  No Material diversion of assets
  Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
  Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
  Documents Board Meeting Minutes
  Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
  Conflict of Interest Policy
  Whistleblower Policy
  Records Retention and Destruction Policy
  CEO listed with salary
  Process for determining CEO compensation
  Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?  
  Donor Privacy Policy
  Board Members Listed
  Audited Financials
  Form 990
  Key staff listed

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Blue Water Baltimore (MD) 91.16 four stars
River Network (CO) 94.78 four stars
Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (GA) 94.13 four stars
Stroud Water Research Center (PA) 91.86 four stars
Loyalhanna Watershed Association (PA) 89.33 three stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $1,238,140
   Federated Campaigns $0
   Membership Dues $81,140
   Fundraising Events $0
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $431,744
Total Contributions $1,751,024
   Program Service Revenue $1,811,802
Total Primary Revenue $3,562,826
   Other Revenue $375,976
TOTAL REVENUE $3,938,802
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $3,249,342
   Administrative Expenses $482,004
   Fundraising Expenses $170,542
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $3,901,888
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $36,914
   
Net Assets $655,811

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Program Name Amount Spent % of Program Expenses
Stormwater Reduction $1,420,693 43.7%
Greening/Environmental Construction $1,189,540 36.6%
Education, Advocacy, and Outreach $250,861 7.7%

Ratings History

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2018-12 04/01/2020 91.16 four stars
2018-12 02/01/2020 90.91 four stars
2017-12 04/01/2019 89.35 three stars
2016-12 03/01/2018 90.95 four stars
2015-12 02/01/2017 91.57 four stars
2014-12 06/01/2016 92.52 four stars
 
CN 2.0
2014-12 12/01/2015 92.69 four stars
2013-12 06/01/2015 92.26 four stars
2013-12 05/01/2015 88.15 three stars
2012-12 11/01/2013 92.73 four stars

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 52-1420138
Name in IRS Master File BLUE WATER BALTIMORE
NTEE Code C01
NTEE Classification Alliance/Advocacy Organizations
NTEE Type Environmental Quality, Protection and Beautification
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities (351) Combating or preventing pollution (air, water, etc)
Foundation Status Organization that normally receives no more than one-third of its support from gross investment income and unrelated business income and at the same time more than one-third of its support from contributions, fees, and gross receipts related to exempt purposes.  509(a)(2)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
Affiliation Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations).
Group Name [Not Applicable]
Ruling Date August, 1994
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End December
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • December, 2018
  • December, 2017
  • December, 2016
  • December, 2015
  • December, 2014
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$116,805 2.99% Jennifer Aiosa Executive Director

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Blue Water Baltimore (MD) 91.16 four stars
Delaware Riverkeeper Network (PA) 86.94 three stars
American Rivers (DC) 91.28 four stars
American Whitewater (NC) 97.05 four stars
Columbia Riverkeeper (OR) 86.28 three stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Charity Contact Info

Blue Water Baltimore
2631 Sisson Street
Baltimore, MD 21211
tel: (410) 254-1577
fax: (443) 872-8574
EIN: 52-1420138

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Kevin Shea
Chair

CEO

Jenn Aoisa
Executive Director

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