Water Environment Federation
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.
Water Environment Federation at a glance
In short: Water Environment Federation gave $146K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), top state Washington. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $145,985
- +29.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- -18.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,221
- +57.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $11,036
- Total assets
- $52,285,827
- +12.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Washington (27% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Water Environment Federation
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Water Environment Federation
Fair Distinguished Engineering Educator Medal Grant
Water Environment Federation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Public Communication & Outreach Program Awards Grant
Water Environment Federation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
WEF Canham Graduate Studies Scholarship Grant
Water Environment Federation
Amount
US $25,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Water Environment Federation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was US Water Alliance ($40K). Together the top 9 received $146K.
Grant Size Distribution
42 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 42 grants of 42 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Water Environment Federation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+11%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2021) to $151K (2019). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $146K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| US Water Alliance Federal Way, WA | Program Support | $40,000 |
| Watereuse Association Alexandria, VA | Program Support | $25,000 |
| Florida WEA Orlando, FL | Program Support | $19,000 |
| National Association of Clean Water Agencies Baltimore, MD | Program Support | $15,999 |
| Virginia WEA Glen Allen, VA | Program Support | $11,036 |
| NC One Water Raleigh, NC | Program Support | $10,500 |
| Alabama's WEA Northport, AL | Program Support | $10,450 |
| WEA of Texas Austin, TX | Program Support | $7,500 |
| Louisiana Green Corps Inc New Orleans, LA | Program Support | $6,500 |
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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 | $52,285,827 | $31,015,734 | $28,586,705 | $145,985 | 9 | $724,504 |
| 2024 | $46,444,932 | $31,872,253 | $32,815,938 | $113,076 | 11 | $914,778 |
| 2023 | $41,273,797 | $26,779,126 | $27,924,125 | $94,033 | 9 | $688,825 |
| 2022 | $39,764,439 | $23,632,520 | $26,240,078 | $131,962 | 12 | $631,672 |
| 2021 | $45,041,940 | $24,449,693 | $18,529,821 | $10,000 | 1 | $1,000,717 |
| 2020 | $30,738,590 | $26,675,441 | $25,677,545 | $91,275 | 7 | $472,569 |
| 2019 | $35,793,348 | $27,540,835 | $25,782,774 | $151,000 | 8 | $948,668 |
About Water Environment Federation
Based on IRS filings
Water Environment Federation is a public charity 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.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Water Environment Federation is led by Ralph Exton Starting, Secretary & Wef Executive Director on the 2025 filing; 11 of 25 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ralph Exton Starting
Secretary & Wef Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
37.5 hrs/week
$201K (2025)
Howard Carter Pres-Elect
President
New on the 2025 filing
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie D Jones
Managing Director & Event Strategy
Managing Director & Professional Development → Mgn Director & Professional Development, 2024
Mgn Director & Professional Development → Managing Director & Event Strategy, 2025
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$144K (2020) → $179K (2025)
Raymond L Bianchi
Managing Director & Business Development
Mgn Director Business Development → Managing Director & Business Development, 2025
On filings since 2024
37.5 hrs/week
$197K (2024) → $181K (2025)
Renee M Kayal
Managing Director & Governance
Mgn. Director, Governor & Associate Engagement → Managing Director & Governance, 2025
On filings since 2024
37.5 hrs/week
$168K (2024) → $210K (2025)
Lorna EJ Ernst
Managing Director & Publishing
New on the 2025 filing
37.5 hrs/week
$214K (2025)
Catherine LThomson
Senior Director & Information Technology
New on the 2025 filing
37.5 hrs/week
$225K (2025)
Nancy Cornwell
Director & Facilities Management
New on the 2025 filing
37.5 hrs/week
$201K (2025)
Diego Rosso
Trustee
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Janet Cann
Trustee
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Corey Williams
Trustee
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Sanders
Trustee
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kalpna Solanki
Trustee
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tracy Ekola
Trustee
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Persing
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Walid Khoury
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cari F McBride
Account Manager
On filings since 2019
37.5 hrs/week
$155K (2019) → $202K (2025)
Karen A Powderly
Chief Financal Officer
Chief Financial Officer → Chief Financal Officer, 2025
On filings since 2023
37.5 hrs/week
$154K (2023) → $209K (2025)
Jonathan K Ikeda
Chief Mission Officer
New on the 2025 filing
37.5 hrs/week
$223K (2025)
Kathleen Waugh Ending
Chief Operating Officer
New on the 2025 filing
37.5 hrs/week
$159K (2025)
Ifetayo Venner
Past President
Vice President & President Elect → President Elect & President, 2023
President Elect & President → Past President, 2025
On filings since 2019
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christine Volkay-Hilditch
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Aimee Killeen Presthru
Past President
New on the 2025 filing
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Keith Hobson VPthru
Pres-Elect
New on the 2025 filing
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Schuler
Vice President
New on the 2025 filing
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (36)
- Former: Jamie Eichenberger (2019–2024) — Past President
- Former: Walter Marlowe (2020–2024) — Fmr Executive Director
- Former: Shellie Chard (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Kathleen C Waugh (2022–2024) — COO
- Former: Andrea E Pellegrino (2023–2024) — Mgn Director Membership, Marketing & Communications
- Former: Gustavo Gallo (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Larissa O Hanpeter (2023–2024) — Mgn Director & Human Resources
- Former: Aimee Killeen Pres Elect (2024) — President
- Former: Howard Carter VPThru (2024) — President Elect
- Former: Ifetayo Venner PresThru (2024) — Past President
- Former: Keith Hobson Treasurer (2024) — Vice President
- Former: Ralph Exton (2024) — Secretary & Executive Director
- Former: Aimee Killeen (2019–2023) — Vice President & President-Elect
- Former: Barry Liner (2019–2023) — Chief Technical Officer
- Former: Lynn Broaddus (2019–2023) — Past President
- Former: Howard Carter (2020–2023) — Trustee & Vice President
- Former: John Trofatter (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Keith Hobson (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Jacqueline A. Jarrell (2019–2022) — Past President
- Former: Lynn Thomson (2019–2022) — Senior Director & Information Technology
- Former: Penny Young (2019–2022) — Chief Financial Officer
- Former: Rajendra Bhattarai (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Sacha Carey (2019–2022) — Senior Director & Corporate Development
- Former: Gustavo Gallo-Chacon (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Claudio Terneiden (2022) — Senior Director & Government Affairs
- Former: Claudio Ternieden (2019–2021) — Senior Director & Gov Affairs
- Former: Mark Poling (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Thomas Kunetz (2019–2021) — Imm Past President
- Former: Timothy Williams (2019–2021) — Former Deputy Executive Director
- Former: Lisa Ruane (2021) — Senior Director & Association Engagement
- Former: Eileen O'Neill (2019–2020) — Secretary & Executive Director Term.
- Former: Jenny Hartfelder (2019–2020) — Past President
- Former: Pamela Henry (2019–2020) — Deputy Executive Director Term
- Former: Peter Vanrolleghem (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Joan Hawley (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Rick Warner (2019) — Past President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $225K, to Catherine LThomson (Sr. Director, Information Technology). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Water Environment Federation
How much does Water Environment Federation give each year?
Water Environment Federation gave $146K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $113K across 11 grants.
What is Water Environment Federation's typical grant size?
Water Environment Federation's median grant in 2025 was $11,036, and its average grant was $16,221, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Water Environment Federation give grants?
Water Environment Federation's top state is Washington, with 27% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Virginia (25%) and Florida (13%).
Does Water Environment Federation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Water Environment Federation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (9 grants).
Who are Water Environment Federation's largest grantees?
Water Environment Federation's largest 2025 grantees include US Water Alliance ($40,000), Watereuse Association ($25,000) and Florida WEA ($19,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Water Environment Federation?
Water Environment Federation reported $52.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $31.0M.
What is Water Environment Federation?
Water Environment Federation is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Alexandria, VA. It holds $52.3M in total assets as of 2025.
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.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 17, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 24, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 3, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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Browse active grant opportunities in Water Environment Federation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Water Environment Federation down — hundreds of funders to go?