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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: January 2026 Expires: January 2028

Kentucky Waterways Alliance

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards

330 N Hubbards Ln
Louisville, KY, 40207

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Kentucky Waterways Alliance meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:

To protect, restore, and celebrate the unique waterways of the Commonwealth.

Year, State Incorporated:
1993, KY

Kentucky Waterways Alliance (KWA) safeguards Kentucky’s water resources through advocacy, education, and community engagement. It firmly believes that access to clean and safe water is a fundamental human right and that protecting waterways is vital to ensure a sustainable future. KWA’s core objectives and programmatic areas of focus are as follows: 

Watershed Protection
Collaborating with local communities, government agencies, and other environmental organizations, KWA focuses on preserving and restoring watersheds across the state, enhancing water quality and habitat for aquatic life. 

Advocacy Initiatives
KWA actively engages in advocacy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels, promoting robust environmental policy that addresses water pollution, climate change impacts, and equitable water access. 

Environmental Education
KWA firmly believes in the power of education to drive change. It strives to raise awareness about water-related issues, inspiring residents to become stewards of their local water resources.

For the year ended December 31, 2024, Kentucky Waterways Alliance's program expenses were:

Program services $5,454,316
Total Program Expenses $5,454,316

Chief Executive
Meg Kelly, Interim Executive Director

Chair of the Board
Martin Hjalm

Board Size
12

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Membership appeals

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Kentucky Waterways Alliance's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Source of Funds
Federal government grants $835,685
Contributions and non-government grants $418,671
Investment income $397,713
Contributions of nonfinancial assets $17,632
Local government grants $8,000
Other income $7,158
State government grants $7,000
Special events, net $-5,944
Total Income $1,685,915

Programs: 96% Fundraising: 1% Administrative: 4%

Total Income $1,685,915
Total expenses: $5,683,402
  Program expenses $5,454,316
  Fundraising expenses $28,817
  Administrative expenses $200,269
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $-3,997,487
Beginning Net Assets $11,296,496
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $7,299,009
Total Liabilities $750,780
Total Assets $8,049,789
Ending net assets as reported above include $321,911 without donor restrictions and $6,977,098 with donor restrictions.

Total assets as reported above include $2,462 in property and equipment, net.

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

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Report completed by:
BBB serving Greater Kentucky and South Central Indiana