Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc
Organization mission: a coalition of independent programs working to protect the waters of the chesapeake and coastal bays. Waterkeepers Chesapeake inc. Amplifies the voices of each waterkeeper and mobilizes these organizations to fight pollution and champion clean water.
Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc at a glance
In short: Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc gave $90K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in Maryland. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $90,000
- +800.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +600.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,857
- +28.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $260,733
- -4.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Maryland (69% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Arundel Rivers Federation ($18K). Together the top 7 received $90K.
Grant Size Distribution
16 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 16 grants of 16 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc gives
- Giving grew 214% from 2022 to 2025. 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 $3K (2019) to $90K (2025). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $90K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Arundel Rivers Federation Edgewater, MD | To Protect the Waters of the Chesapeake | $17,500 |
| Potomac Riverkeeper Network Washington, DC | To Protect the Waters of the Chesapeake | $17,500 |
| Shorerivers Easton, MD | To Protect the Waters of the Chesapeake | $15,000 |
| Anacostia Riverkeeper Washington, DC | To Protect the Waters of the Chesapeake | $10,000 |
| Gunpowder Riverkeeper Monkton, MD | To Protect the Waters of the Chesapeake | $10,000 |
| Assateague Coastal Trust Berlin, MD | To Protect the Waters of the Chesapeake | $10,000 |
| Blue Water Baltimore Baltimore, MD | To Protect the Waters of the Chesapeake | $10,000 |
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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 | $260,733 | $312,302 | $365,852 | $90,000 | 7 | $883 |
| 2024 | $272,476 | $437,762 | $681,014 | $10,000 | 1 | $4,970 |
| 2023 | $509,754 | $309,053 | $601,341 | $23,000 | 2 | $12,636 |
| 2022 | $807,755 | $478,320 | $855,874 | $28,655 | 3 | $5,985 |
| 2021 | $1,179,540 | $524,754 | $864,310 | $52,551 | 3 | $163 |
| 2020 | $1,536,224 | $460,410 | $809,216 | $7,500 | 1 | $5,336 |
| 2019 | $1,873,923 | $1,766,138 | $658,613 | $2,666 | Total only | $8,427 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc
Based on IRS filings
Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Silver Spring, MD. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $261K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $90K. Net investment income was $883.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc is led by Robin Broder, Acting Executive Director since 2025 (on filings since 2019); none of the 13 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robin Broder
Acting Executive Director
Treasurer → Deputy Director, 2023
Deputy Director → Acting Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
32 hrs/week
$101K (2023) → $0 (2025)
Nina Beth Cardin
Chair
Board Member → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elle Bassett
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tim Hill
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Frondorf
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Evan Isaacson
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Staci Hartwell
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Dunlap
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ben Scheelk
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bill Howard
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Chris Trumbauer
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Joy Piazza
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Pluta
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Emily Franc (2020–2024) — Chair
- Former: Kathleen Liedy (2020–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Leda Huta (2023–2024) — Executive Director
- Former: David Hunke (2024) — Board Member
- Former: David Flores (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Jesse Illiff (2019–2023) — Chair
- Former: Ted Evgeniadis (2019–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Trey Sherard (2022–2023) — Board Member & Chair
- Former: Elizabeth Nicholas (2019–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Jamie Brunkow (2019–2022) — Vice Chair
- Former: Arjun Makhijani (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Dean Naujoks (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Robert Gallagher (2019–2021) — Vice Chair
- Former: Tim Trumbauer (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Adam Van Grack (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Jeff Horstman (2019) — Chair
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 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $69K, to Leda Huta (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc
How much does Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc give each year?
Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc gave $90K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $10K across 1 grant.
What is Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc's typical grant size?
Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $12,857, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc give grants?
Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc gives mostly in Maryland: 69% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (31%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Protect the Waters of the Chesapeake" (7 grants).
Who are Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc's largest grantees?
Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Arundel Rivers Federation ($17,500), Potomac Riverkeeper Network ($17,500) and Shorerivers ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc?
Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc reported $261K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $312K.
What is Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc?
Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Silver Spring, MD. It holds $261K in total assets as of 2025.
What is Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc's EIN?
Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4381850. 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 6, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 26, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 22, 2021)
Live grants for the work Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Waterkeepers Chesapeake Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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