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Water Environment Federation

Foundation · Grantmaker Alexandria, VA EIN: 53-0225129 Website

WEF's mission is inspiring the water community in pursuit of human and environmental well-being. WEF is a global environmental leader committed to water quality education and technical best practices. WEF connects water professionals; enriches the expertise of water professionals; increases the awareness of the impact and value of water; and provides a platform for water section innovation.

Key facts about Water Environment Federation

EIN
53-0225129
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$145,985
Grants made (2025)
9
Average grant
$16,221
Median grant
$11,036
Total assets
$52,285,827
Primary geography
Washington (27% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Who Water Environment Federation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Water Environment Federation's 9 itemized 2025 grants were Washington (27%), Virginia (25%) and Florida (13%). None of its 9 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (9 grants).

How Water Environment Federation gives

  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+11%). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$52.3M

+12.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$146K

+29.1% YoY

Grant Count

9

-18.2% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$16K

+57.8% YoY

About Water Environment Federation

Based on IRS filings

Water Environment Federation is a nonprofit organization focused on Environment & Animals, based in Alexandria, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $52.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $146K. Net investment income was $725K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

25states

Share of all 9 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

WashingtonAustinNorthportDenverOmahaWoburnAlexandriaAnchorageBaltimoreCrystal LakeGettysburgGlen AllenLas VegasNew OrleansSyracuseWest ChicagoAmesBathFederal WayGig Harbor

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$9M$18M$27M$36M2019202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$52,285,827$46,444,932$41,273,797
Revenue$31,015,734$31,872,253$26,779,126
Expenses$28,586,705$32,815,938$27,924,125
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income$724,504$914,778$688,825
Distributable Amount———

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$38K$76K$113K$151K8 grants20197 grants20201 grants202112 grants20229 grants202311 grants20249 grants2025

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 9 recipients in 2025

US Water Alliance: $40KUS Water Alliance$40KWatereuse Association: $25KWatereuse Association$25KFlorida WEA: $19KFlorida WEA$19KNational Association of Clean Water Agencies: $16KNational Association of CleanWater Agencies$16KVirginia WEA: $11KVirginia WEA$11KNC One Water: $11KNC One Water$11KAlabama's WEA: $10KAlabama's WEA$10KWEA of Texas: $8KWEA of Texas$8KLouisiana Green Corps Inc: $7KLouisiana Green Corps Inc$7K

Grant Size Distribution

42 grants across all recorded years

42<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Open Grants

3 open opportunities from Water Environment Federation

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include US Water Alliance ($40,000), Watereuse Association ($25,000), Florida WEA ($19,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
US Water Alliance Federal Way, WAProgram Support$40,000
Watereuse Association Alexandria, VAProgram Support$25,000
Florida WEA Orlando, FLProgram Support$19,000
National Association of Clean Water Agencies Baltimore, MDProgram Support$15,999
Virginia WEA Glen Allen, VAProgram Support$11,036
NC One Water Raleigh, NCProgram Support$10,500
Alabama's WEA Northport, ALProgram Support$10,450
WEA of Texas Austin, TXProgram Support$7,500
Louisiana Green Corps Inc New Orleans, LAProgram Support$6,500

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Catherine LThomson — Sr. Director, Information Technology: $225KCatherine LThomsonSr. Director, Information…$225KJonathan K Ikeda — Chief Mission Officer: $223KJonathan K IkedaChief Mission Officer$223KLorna EJ Ernst — Managing Dir., Publishing: $214KLorna EJ ErnstManaging Dir., Publishing$214KRenee M Kayal — Managing Dir., Governance: $210KRenee M KayalManaging Dir., Governance$210KKaren Powderly — Chief Financal Officer: $209KKaren PowderlyChief Financal Officer$209KCari F McBride — Account Manager: $202KCari F McBrideAccount Manager$202KRalph Exton Starting 0724 — Secretary & WEF Executive Director: $201KRalph Exton Starting…Secretary & WEF Executive…$201KNancy Cornwell — Dir., Facilities Management: $201KNancy CornwellDir., Facilities Management$201KRaymond Bianchi — Managing Dir., Business Development: $181KRaymond BianchiManaging Dir., Business…$181KStephanie Jones — Managing Dir., Event Strategy: $179KStephanie JonesManaging Dir., Event Strategy$179KKathleen Waugh Ending 0624 — Chief Operating Officer: $159KKathleen Waugh Ending…Chief Operating Officer$159K

From 2025 IRS filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
Ifetayo VennerPast President (thru 10/24)6—
Aimee Killeen Presthru 1024Past Pres (thru 10/25)6—
Howard Carter Pres-Elect(thru 10/24), Pres (thru 10/25)6—
Keith Hobson VPthru 1024Pres-Elect (thru 10/25)6—
Paul SchulerVice President (as of 10/24)6—
Christine Volkay-HilditchTreasurer6—
Janet CannTrustee (through 10/24)4—
Tracy EkolaTrustee4—
Walid KhouryTrustee (as of 10/24)4—
Brian PersingTrustee (as of 10/24)4—
Diego RossoTrustee (thru 10/24)4—
Stephen SandersTrustee4—
Kalpna SolankiTrustee4—
Corey WilliamsTrustee4—
Ralph Exton Starting 0724Secretary & WEF Executive Director37.5$201,422
Karen PowderlyChief Financal Officer37.5$209,131
Jonathan K IkedaChief Mission Officer37.5$223,058
Raymond BianchiManaging Dir., Business Development37.5$180,543
Stephanie JonesManaging Dir., Event Strategy37.5$179,170
Kathleen Waugh Ending 0624Chief Operating Officer37.5$158,762
Catherine LThomsonSr. Director, Information Technology37.5$225,079
Lorna EJ ErnstManaging Dir., Publishing37.5$213,654
Renee M KayalManaging Dir., Governance37.5$209,888
Cari F McBrideAccount Manager37.5$201,697
Nancy CornwellDir., Facilities Management37.5$201,087

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Water Environment Federation?

Water Environment Federation is a nonprofit organization focused on Environment & Animals, based in Alexandria, VA. It holds $52.3M in total assets as of 2025.

How large is Water Environment Federation?

As of 2025, Water Environment Federation holds $52.3M in total assets with $31.0M in annual revenue. It awarded 9 grants totaling $146K in 2025.

Where does Water Environment Federation operate?

Water Environment Federation has awarded grants in Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington.

What size grants does Water Environment Federation award?

In 2025, Water Environment Federation awarded 9 grants totaling $146K — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is Water Environment Federation's EIN?

Water Environment Federation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 53-0225129. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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