National Rural Water Association
The National Rural Water Association (NRWA) is a public charity based in Duncan, Oklahoma. It supports water and wastewater professionals serving small and rural communities through training, technical assistance, and a nationwide network of affiliated State Rural Water Associations. The associations have more than 31,000 utility system members across all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
National Rural Water Association at a glance
In short: National Rural Water Association gave $60.9M across 49 grants in 2025 (avg $1.2M), top state California. 2% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $60,867,870
- +6.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 49
- -3.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,242,201
- +10.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,266,316
- Total assets
- $89,126,630
- +10.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 2% first-time grantees (1 of 49, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (3% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to National Rural Water Association
- Contact
Mailing address: 2915 S 13Th Street, Duncan, OK 73533
Phone: (580) 252-0629
Website: https://nrwa.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who National Rural Water Association funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was California Rural Water Assoc ($2.0M). Together the top 10 received $16.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
249 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 139 grants of 249 (56%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
NRWA provides training and technical assistance nationwide through affiliated State Rural Water Associations in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Its 2025 grant data lists recipients in states including California, Minnesota, Texas, South Dakota, and Kansas; each of those states accounted for 3% of grant dollars.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 49 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is National Rural Water Association open to new grantees?
2%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 49 grantees (2%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1.3M; repeat grants $1.2M. How we count
Medians: $1.3M first-time, $1.3M repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $43.2M (2021) to $60.9M (2025). In 2025 it made 49 grants totaling $60.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California Rural Water Assoc Sacramento, CA | Sub-Award | $2,025,432 |
| Minnesota Rural Water Assoc Elbow Lake, MN | Sub-Award | $1,851,153 |
| Texas Rural Water Assoc Austin, TX | Sub-Award | $1,715,841 |
| South Dakota Assoc of Rural Water Sioux Falls, SD | Sub-Award | $1,618,628 |
| Kansas Rural Water Assoc Seneca, KS | Sub-Award | $1,566,682 |
| South Carolina Rural Water Assoc Clinton, SC | Sub-Award | $1,553,784 |
| Kentucky Rural Water Assoc Bowling Green, KY | Sub-Award | $1,544,929 |
| Florida Rural Water Assoc Tallahassee, FL | Sub-Award | $1,509,761 |
| Missouri Rural Water Assoc Ashland, MO | Sub-Award | $1,495,123 |
| Mississippi Rural Water Assoc Raymond, MS | Sub-Award | $1,490,844 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $89,126,630 | $81,786,877 | $74,539,636 | $60,867,870 | 49 | $6,276,170 |
| 2024 | $80,853,175 | $71,767,101 | $68,193,714 | $57,100,505 | 51 | $832,873 |
| 2023 | $73,396,041 | $65,286,342 | $62,333,478 | $52,567,258 | 51 | $1,043,637 |
| 2022 | $71,914,464 | $57,280,479 | $52,106,861 | $44,136,630 | 49 | $2,013,913 |
| 2021 | $65,416,148 | $53,975,148 | $50,040,265 | $43,157,780 | 49 | $975,972 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
NRWA’s stated mission is to strengthen State Associations. Its 2024 filing describes its mission as cultivating opportunities for State Associations to succeed for the benefit of their members.
NRWA provides training and technical assistance on operating, managing, and financing water and wastewater utilities. Its programs include water and wastewater assistance, source water protection, energy efficiency, and apprenticeship programs. The organization also provides a Rural Water Loan Fund for eligible public entities serving up to 10,000 people, or rural areas with no population limits. That fund offers loans for short-term repairs, small capital projects, and pre-development costs; it is not a grant program.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, NRWA reported 49 grants totaling $60,867,870. Awards ranged from $429,025 to $2,025,432, with a median of $1,266,316. The largest listed grants were to affiliated State Rural Water Associations; each was designated for a “SUB-AWARD.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing include Phillip Combs, President; Chris Kenyon, Senior Vice President; David Peterson, Vice President; Paul Fulgham, Secretary; and Tom Goulette, Treasurer. Other listed directors are John O’Connell, Immediate Past President; John Choate, Tom Speer, and Jimmy Folco, Executive Directors; and Eric Hill, Member.
National Rural Water Association is led by Matthew Holmes, CEO on every filing since 2021; 7 of 56 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Matthew Holmes
CEO
On filings since 2021
48 hrs/week
$280K (2021) → $379K (2025)
John Choate
Executive Director
Member → Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Phillip Combs
President
Vice President → Senior Vice President, 2023
Senior Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Speer
Executive Director
Member → Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jimmy Folco
Executive Director
Member → Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Simpson
Legislative Director
Legislative Director → Chief of Staff, 2024
Chief of Staff → Legislative Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$425K (2021) → $343K (2025)
Charles Stephens
Senior Executive Policy Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$220K (2024) → $262K (2025)
Brian Churchman
CFO
On filings since 2021
45 hrs/week
$187K (2021) → $265K (2025)
Michael Preston
Deputy Director of Leg. Af
Legislative Analyst → Deputy Director of Leg. Affair, 2024
Deputy Director of Leg. Affair → Deputy Director of Leg. Af, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$164K (2021) → $248K (2025)
Vern Steel
COO
Deputy CEO → COO, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$215K (2023) → $246K (2025)
Shannan Walton
Apprenticeship Programs Manager
Director of Workforce Development → Apprenticeship Programs Manager, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$140K (2024) → $151K (2025)
Alan Haught
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Allen Kelm
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bill Shroyer
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brad Andersen
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Kenyon
Senior Vice President
Secretary → Vice President, 2023
Vice President → Senior Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chuck F. McVey
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dannie McMillan
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Baird
Member
Past President → Immediate Past President, 2024
Immediate Past President → Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Peterson
Vice President
Treasurer → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Waller
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Mackie
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jana Littlewood
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Day
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John L. Covington
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John L. Jones
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John O'Connell III
Immediate Past President
Senior Vice President → President, 2023
President → Immediate Past President, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jon Thornton
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kent Watson
Member
Past President → Member, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Mraz
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda Evans
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mack Lee
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michele Schommer
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Neil Carpenter
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Fulgham
Secretary
Executive Director → Treasurer, 2024
Treasurer → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rick Jeffares
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Moore
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Munro
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Russell Cooper
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Fletcher
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Delbridge
Member
Member → Executive Director, 2023
Executive Director → Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Goulette
Treasurer
Member → Executive Director, 2022
Executive Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tony Carrasco
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Don Zuern
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Gobeille
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Rencher
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Randy Pleima
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Hill
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Coffey
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Luke Heikkila
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ron Gillen
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bob Blough
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Craig Sollberger
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Faron Young
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Latchum
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pam Minella
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (27)
- Former: Clifford Kip Matthews (2021–2024) — Member
- Former: Shelby Jackson (2022–2024) — Member
- Former: Tony Howard (2022–2024) — Member
- Former: Claude Swope (2023–2024) — Member
- Former: Robert Blough (2024) — Member
- Former: Brad Reed (2021–2023) — Program Manager
- Former: Bruce B. Bottomley (2021–2023) — Member
- Former: Cameron McKay (2021–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: George Crum (2021–2023) — Member
- Former: Larry Wasland (2021–2023) — Member
- Former: Michael Keegan (2021–2023) — Legislative Analyst
- Former: Randolph Hall (2021–2023) — Member
- Former: Anthony Prince (2022–2023) — Development Director
- Former: Jennifer Palmiotto (2023) — Senior Federal Policy Advisor
- Former: Les Anderson (2023) — Member
- Former: Steven Harper (2023) — Federal Programs Director
- Former: Leslie Anderson (2021–2022) — Member
- Former: Randal Pleima (2021–2022) — Member
- Former: Kevin Colligan (2022) — Member
- Former: Bill O'Connell (2021) — Program Manager
- Former: Ellen Yates (2021) — Member
- Former: Glen Womack (2021) — Vice President
- Former: John Sasur (2021) — Member
- Former: Lance Hoyt (2021) — Member
- Former: Randy Norden (2021) — Program Manager
- Former: Sam Wade (2021) — Former CEO
- Former: Tom Reese (2021) — Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $379K, to Matthew Holmes (CEO). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about National Rural Water Association
How much does National Rural Water Association give each year?
National Rural Water Association gave $60.9M across 49 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $57.1M across 51 grants.
What is National Rural Water Association's typical grant size?
National Rural Water Association's median grant in 2025 was $1,266,316, and its average grant was $1,242,201, across 49 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from National Rural Water Association that year got $1.3M on average.
Does National Rural Water Association give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 49 grants with a stated purpose on National Rural Water Association's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Sub-Award" (49 grants).
Who are National Rural Water Association's largest grantees?
National Rural Water Association's largest 2025 grantees include California Rural Water Assoc ($2,025,432), Minnesota Rural Water Assoc ($1,851,153) and Texas Rural Water Assoc ($1,715,841), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 9% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is National Rural Water Association?
National Rural Water Association reported $89.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $81.8M.
What does National Rural Water Association fund?
NRWA’s stated mission is to strengthen State Associations. Its 2024 filing describes its mission as cultivating opportunities for State Associations to succeed for the benefit of their members. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from National Rural Water Association?
National Rural Water Association has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check nrwa.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does National Rural Water Association make grants?
NRWA provides training and technical assistance nationwide through affiliated State Rural Water Associations in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Its 2025 grant data lists recipients in states including California, Minnesota, Texas, South Dakota, and Kansas; each of those states accounted for 3% of grant dollars.
What is National Rural Water Association's EIN?
National Rural Water Association's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 73-1006395. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 29, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 22, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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National Rural Water Association down — hundreds of funders to go?