Attach to Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.
Go to
www.irs.gov/Form990 for instructions and the latest information.
| (i) Name of supported organization | (ii) EIN | (iii) Type of organization (described on lines 1- 10 above (see instructions)) | (iv) Is the organization listed in your governing document? | (v) Amount of monetary support (see instructions) | (vi) Amount of other support (see instructions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | |||||
|
Total |
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Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2016 | (b) 2017 | (c) 2018 | (d) 2019 | (e) 2020 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grant.") .. | 949,554 | 735,053 | 852,312 | 821,298 | 1,073,183 | 4,431,400 |
| 2 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf.... | ||||||
| 3 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge.. | ||||||
| 4 | Total. Add lines 1 through 3 | 949,554 | 735,053 | 852,312 | 821,298 | 1,073,183 | 4,431,400 |
| 5 | The portion of total contributions by each person (other than a governmental unit or publicly supported organization) included on line 1 that exceeds 2% of the amount shown on line 11, column (f).. | 310,838 | |||||
| 6 | Public support. Subtract line 5 from line 4. | 4,120,562 | |||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2016 | (b) 2017 | (c) 2018 | (d) 2019 | (e) 2020 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Amounts from line 4.. | 949,554 | 735,053 | 852,312 | 821,298 | 1,073,183 | 4,431,400 |
| 8 | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources... | 2,558 | 2,444 | 1,587 | 3,145 | 2,029 | 11,763 |
| 9 | Net income from unrelated business activities, whether or not the business is regularly carried on.. | ||||||
| 10 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.).. | 372,292 | 910,102 | 885,147 | 407,685 | 665,371 | 3,240,597 |
| 11 | Total support. Add lines 7 through 10 | 7,683,760 | |||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2016 | (b) 2017 | (c) 2018 | (d) 2019 | (e) 2020 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grants.") . | ||||||
| 2 | Gross receipts from admissions, merchandise sold or services performed, or facilities furnished in any activity that is related to the organization's tax-exempt purpose | ||||||
| 3 | Gross receipts from activities that are not an unrelated trade or business under section 513 ..... | ||||||
| 4 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf... | ||||||
| 5 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge | ||||||
| 6 | Total. Add lines 1 through 5 | ||||||
| 7a | Amounts included on lines 1, 2, and 3 received from disqualified persons | ||||||
| b | Amounts included on lines 2 and 3 received from other than disqualified persons that exceed the greater of $5,000 or 1% of the amount on line 13 for the year. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 7a and 7b.. | ||||||
| 8 | Public support. (Subtract line 7c from line 6.) | ||||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2016 | (b) 2017 | (c) 2018 | (d) 2019 | (e) 2020 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Amounts from line 6... | ||||||
| 10a | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources.. | ||||||
| b | Unrelated business taxable income (less section 511 taxes) from businesses acquired after June 30, 1975. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 10a and 10b. | ||||||
| 11 | Net income from unrelated business activities not included in line 10b, whether or not the business is regularly carried on. | ||||||
| 12 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.) .. | ||||||
| 13 | Total support. (Add lines 9, 10c, 11, and 12.).. | ||||||
| Section A - Adjusted Net Income | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Net short-term capital gain | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Other gross income (see instructions) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Add lines 1 through 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Depreciation and depletion | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Portion of operating expenses paid or incurred for production or collection of gross income or for management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for production of income (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Other expenses (see instructions) | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Adjusted Net Income (subtract lines 5, 6 and 7 from line 4) | 8 | ||||
| Section B - Minimum Asset Amount | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Aggregate fair market value of all non-exempt-use assets (see instructions for short tax year or assets held for part of year): | 1 | ||||
| a | Average monthly value of securities | 1a | ||||
| b | Average monthly cash balances | 1b | ||||
| c | Fair market value of other non-exempt-use assets | 1c | ||||
| d | Total (add lines 1a, 1b, and 1c) | 1d | ||||
| e |
Discount claimed for blockage or other factors (explain in detail in Part VI): |
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| 2 | Acquisition indebtedness applicable to non-exempt use assets | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Subtract line 2 from line 1d | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Cash deemed held for exempt use. Enter 0.015 of line 3 (for greater amount, see instructions). | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Net value of non-exempt-use assets (subtract line 4 from line 3) | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Multiply line 5 by 0.035 | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Minimum Asset Amount (add line 7 to line 6) | 8 | ||||
| Section C - Distributable Amount | Current Year | |||||
| 1 | Adjusted net income for prior year (from Section A, line 8, Column A) | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Enter 85% of line 1 | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Minimum asset amount for prior year (from Section B, line 8, Column A) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Enter greater of line 2 or line 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Income tax imposed in prior year | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Distributable Amount. Subtract line 5 from line 4, unless subject to emergency temporary reduction (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| Section D - Distributions | Current Year | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Amounts paid to supported organizations to accomplish exempt purposes | 1 | |
|
2
Amounts paid to perform activity that directly furthers exempt purposes of supported organizations, in excess of income from activity |
2 | |
| 3 Administrative expenses paid to accomplish exempt purposes of supported organizations | 3 | |
| 4 Amounts paid to acquire exempt-use assets | 4 | |
| 5 Qualified set-aside amounts (prior IRS approval required - provide details in Part VI) | 5 | |
| 6 Other distributions (describe in Part VI). See instructions | 6 | |
| 7Total annual distributions. Add lines 1 through 6. | 7 | |
|
8
Distributions to attentive supported organizations to which the organization is responsive (provide details in Part VI). See instructions |
8 | |
| 9 Distributable amount for 2020 from Section C, line 6 | 9 | |
| 10 Line 8 amount divided by Line 9 amount | 10 | |
| Section E - Distribution Allocations (see instructions) |
(i) Excess Distributions |
(ii) Underdistributions Pre-2020 |
(iii) Distributable Amount for 2020 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Distributable amount for 2020 from Section C, line 6 | ||||
|
2
Underdistributions, if any, for years prior to 2019 (reasonable cause required-- explain in Part VI). See instructions. |
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| 3 Excess distributions carryover, if any, to 2020: | ||||
| a From 2015....... | ||||
| b From 2016....... | ||||
| c From 2017....... | ||||
| d From 2018....... | ||||
| e From 2019....... | ||||
| fTotal of lines 3a through e | ||||
| g Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| h Applied to 2020 distributable amount | ||||
|
i
Carryover from 2015 not applied (see instructions) |
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| j Remainder. Subtract lines 3g, 3h, and 3i from line 3f. | ||||
| 4Distributions for 2020 from Section D, line 7: | ||||
| $ | ||||
| a Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| b Applied to 2020 distributable amount | ||||
| c Remainder. Subtract lines 4a and 4b from line 4. | ||||
|
5
Remaining underdistributions for years prior to 2020, if any. Subtract lines 3g and 4a from line 2. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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|
6
Remaining underdistributions for 2020. Subtract lines 3h and 4b from line 1. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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7 Excess distributions carryover to 2021. Add lines 3j and 4c. |
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| 8 Breakdown of line 7: | ||||
| a Excess from 2016..... | ||||
| b Excess from 2017..... | ||||
| c Excess from 2018..... | ||||
| d Excess from 2019..... | ||||
| e Excess from 2020..... | ||||
| Facts And Circumstances Test |
|---|
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Schedule A, Part II, Line 10, Explanation of Other Income: | Other Income - 2016 Amount: $ 7,820. 2017 Amount: $ 23,627. 2018 Amount: $ 7,573. 2019 Amount: $ 7,939. 2020 Amount: $ 13,480. Special Projects - 2016 Amount: $ 364,472. 2017 Amount: $ 886,475. 2018 Amount: $ 877,574. 2019 Amount: $ 399,746. 2020 Amount: $ 651,891. |
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| Software Version: |
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 6 | Membership shall be open to individuals and organizations that have an interest in promoting the mission and objectives of the Alliance; membership shall be effective upon payment of dues and approval of membership application. There shall be one class of members. Members shall have the right to attend the annual meeting of the Alliance and participate in policy discussions. Members shall have no right to vote on resolutions binding the Alliance. All members, voting or nonvoting, of chapters of the Alliance shall be members of the Alliance. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11b | Form 990 is prepared by a firm of certified public accountants and reviewed by the President and CEO, Accountant, and Director of Operations. Subsequently, the Board of Directors is provided a copy of Form 990 for their review and approval prior to filing. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c | The organization has a Conflict of Interest Policy that requires that all Board directors disclose their conflicts of interest in any matter involving the organization or its policies. Every Board director files an annual statement attesting to their receipt of and subscription to the policy, and opportunities to declare potential conflicts of interest are provided at the beginning of every Board meeting. The minutes of the Board meetings record any such disclosures offered. Further, staff for the organization monitors all votes taken by the Board of Directors to ensure that no conflicts occur. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 15 | The Board of Directors meets in an Executive Session and the President and CEO's current employment contract is reviewed. Board members and officers receive no compensation other than reimbursement for travel expenses. Compensation for the President and CEO of the organization is determined by a vote of the Board of Directors. Compensation for the organization employees is determined by the President and CEO. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 | AWE's Annual Report is always posted on the AWE website and contains summary financial information from the yearly audits: www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org/impact/annual-reports. The Annual Report is usually posted by June of the following year once the audit is completed. Also posted on the AWE website is AWE's most recent Strategic Plan, along with Strategic Plans adopted in the past: www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org/about/strategic-plans. Policies and other governance documents are made freely available to the public upon request. |
| Form 990, Part IX, line 11g | Consultant and program costs: Program service expenses 538,854. Management and general expenses 14,669. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 553,523. |
| Form 990, Part XII, line 2c: | The process has not changed from the prior year. |
| Form 990, Part III, Line 4a: Program Service Accomplishments | 2020 was the thirteenth year for the Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE), and significant progress was made on a number of special projects and initiatives. 1. Numerous projects funded through grants and membership contributions were completed in 2020 and are as follows: (in no particular order) a. AMI Standards Project In collaboration with the California Water Efficiency Partnership (an AWE state chapter), AWE led a project to enable better purchasing and implementation of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) by water utilities across North America. A noted nationally-recognized expert developed under contract a template Request for Proposals for bidding on AMI systems and stressing interoperability in those systems. A Guidance Manual for AMI Implementation was also published to promote best practices in the use of AMI. The project was largely completed in December of 2019, with final closeout work in 2020. Sales of the manual also continued in 2020. b. Outdoor Water Savings Studies In 2014 AWE mounted a multi-year analysis of the effectiveness of programs to reduce water waste in the outdoor irrigation sector. AWE's research in this area is now complete. Three studies have been published, with the final study in the series, Evaluating the Water Savings from Drought Outdoor Watering Restrictions, completed and released in November, 2019. Extensive publicity, a webinar, and final closeout work on this last study was completed in January 2020. c. Predictive Analytics Project AWE intended to initiate a research project on the use of predictive analytics of consumer behavior to improve the success of water utility conservation programs. Funds were solicited, but not enough funding commitments were gathered. The project was put on hold during 2019 while the necessary research funding was attempted to be secured. In 2020 the decision was made to cancel and close out the project. d. Technical Assistance AWE staff fielded 100 technical assistance requests on 12 water efficiency related issues from its members in 2020. Technical assistance remains a core function of AWE services, and an important benefit and connection to the membership. e. Educational Webinars AWE held 11 webinars on a variety of topics during 2020. These online seminars, often conducted in collaboration with our partners, provided valuable information to help water efficiency professionals do their jobs more effectively. In total, the live webinar broadcasts reached over 900 people, and the recordings on the AWE YouTube channel (A4WE) continue to garner new viewers beyond the initial video views of 759. f. Turner Foundation Net Blue Bozeman Project A team led by AWE has been working for several years with the City of Bozeman to pilot AWE's water-neutral planning and zoning ordinance (called "Net Blue"), with the goal to have the Net Blue ordinance components adopted by the Bozeman City Commission. The purpose of the Net Blue ordinance is to allow economic growth in the community without further straining finite local water resources. The project was delayed because of the pandemic, but was nonetheless completed by December, 2020 and the measures adopted by the City of Bozeman. AWE hopes that this project will set an example for other water-stressed communities to adopt the same tools. g. Kohler Low Income Communities Project Beginning in 2019, AWE started conducting research on defining low income areas in Detroit using available census tract information, in order to highlight opportunities to improve water efficiency in these neighborhoods. The work was made possible by a grant from the Kohler Company for the purpose of understanding how conservation and efficiency best practices and retrofits can assist disadvantaged water customers by reducing water waste and lowering water bills. The work was completed and published in 2020, including a webinar that was well attended. AWE believes the work will provide valuable insights for water managers, community leaders, and others on how to structure efficiency programs to provide the most benefit to disadvantaged customers. h. Water Sense Funding Advocacy During 2020 AWE worked with a coalition of like-minded stakeholders to help secure funding commitments for the US EPA WaterSense labeling program, which was zero funded in the President's budget. Funds were raised from water utilities and other contributors beginning in 2019, and those funds were completely expended in 2020 with WaterSense program funding secured. AWE in its regular work also promotes the benefits of the WaterSense labels to water utilities and consumers. i. Water Conservation Training Program During 2020 AWE created a water conservation professional training program with the nationally noted expert Amy Vickers. Funded by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the course ran over two virtual sessions given live and recorded during the month of September, 2020. The course continues to be offered by AWE, but the original funding to create the course has now been expended and closed out. j. MWDOC Cooling Tower Technical Assistance During 2020 AWE and its partner Maureen Erbeznik & Associates provided technical assistance to the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) to use the AWE Cooling Tower Estimating Model and create a cooling tower inventory for MWDOC's service area. Work was completed in 2020 and all the funding expended. 2. Work continued during 2020 on a number of other grant-funded and membership-funded projects that were not actually finished in 2020, but which will be completed in 2021 or later: (in no particular order) a. MWDSC Low Income Communities Project The Alliance for Water Efficiency is working with the City of Long Beach, California and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (funder) to evaluate water affordability in Long Beach and to explore the role water conservation can play in lowering customer water bills. The analysis is intended to mirror the work that AWE completed in 2020 for the City of Detroit. The draft report has been completed and is under review. The project should be finished by June 2021. b. Scotts Resource Positive Landscapes- AWE is working with a grant from Scotts Miracle Gro for a multi-phase project. AWE will update its Learning Landscapes Curriculum Lessons and create one new lesson. AWE will disburse five additional Learning Landscapes grants, similar to those issued in 2020. AWE will also work with Utah State University to explore and research the concept of resource positive landscapes and how to achieve them. As part of this project, AWE is updating its Home Water Works website. Work will end by September 2023. c. Cooling Technologies Study AWE officially launched this multi-year project in 2019 and significant work has been completed by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The Cooling Tower Estimating Model was completed in 2020 and released in February 2021. Additional resources will be released throughout 2021 with a target to finish work by the end of 2021. The project is funded by seventeen water utilities and one energy utility. d. AWWA Social Event No in-person event for water conservation professionals was held in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The funds from the last event will be rolled over to when future events can be held. AWE maintains the funds as "Funds Held for Others." e. Energy Solutions Technical Assistance AWE has been retained by the firm Energy Solutions to advise them on the technical issues of potential water efficiency codes, standards, and ordinances in California. The small contract runs through 2021, and AWE is paid on an hourly basis for its advice. f. ComEd Cooling Tower Energy Efficiency AWE is working with Commonwealth Edison (ComED) to determine the water and energy savings associated with alternative cooling technologies. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is serving as the lead investigator and AWE manages the project. The project was initiated in late 2020 and will be complete in December 2021 or in the first quarter of 2022. g. Practical Plumbing Handbook This DIY handbook for the consumer sold over 35,000 copies in California, and in 2019 AWE undertook a national version of this popular California resource, in collaboration with its California state chapter. The Handbook was revamped and redesigned for a national audience, providing user-friendly instructions on how to repair and perform preventive maintenance on household plumbing fixtures. Conceived as a utility giveaway to help customers fix leaks and upgrade fixtures around their home, the national version of the handbook was published in 2019 and made available throughout 2020 to individual consumers on AWE's Home Water Works website and through bulk orders from AWE's members. |
| Form 990, Part III, Line 4a: Program Service Accomplishments (cont) | h. TWF Website Resource Hub AWE created resource collections on the website of the Texas Water Foundation (TWF) on the topics of water conservation and efficiency, water and energy, and water reuse, including PDFs or web links to each resource. Resources produced in 2020 included academic research papers, white papers, government and water agency publications, and public education materials. The resources gathered are Texas-specific, and AWE wrote short narratives to introduce and/or explain the topics and/or subtopics created online. The project was finished in 2020. i. UC Davis Energy Model This multi-year project undertaken in 2019 in collaboration with the University of California at Davis is developing an Excel model to help water utilities manage and optimize their energy demands in their drinking water and wastewater systems. During 2020 AWE provided technical advice and support for this Energy Demand Management System (EDMS). Beta testing with water utilities will occur in 2021 to demonstrate how the model can reduce and/or shift peak energy loads, account for different energy tariff structures and programs (e.g. time of use rates and demand response programs), and balance the grid's intermittent renewable load generation. The project will be completed in late 2021. j. CalWEP Irrigation Guidebook This "Lessons Learned" Guidebook was written by AWE staff in collaboration with the California Water Efficiency Partnership, AWE's California chapter. The Guidebook provides urban water conservation program managers in California a summary of the experience of water suppliers in designing and managing dedicated irrigation meters for commercial customers. AWE surveyed 55 existing programs and wrote the text of the Guidebook on its findings and recommendations. The Guidebook was published by the chapter in early 2020. k. Texas State University Tracking Tool AWE is providing assistance to the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment of Texas State University on the use of the AWE Water Conservation Tracking Tool. The Tracking Tool is being used to evaluate water conservation strategies for the City of Houston, Texas. The project will end in July 2021. l. Scott's Miracle Gro Sustainable Landscapes Program In this two-year project, AWE developed the Sustainable Landscapes: A Utility Program Guide to distill the extensive findings of the earlier released Landscape Transformation Study into actionable information that utilities can use to improve their outdoor water efficiency programs. The second phase of this two-year program included the development of three grade school lessons and the issuance of grants in 2020 to build "learning landscapes" that use the lessons. All the AWE work is now complete, and AWE is waiting for the grantees to finish their learning landscapes projects. Official project completion is scheduled for October 2021. m. Tracking Tool Revision v4 The AWE Water Conservation Tracking Tool is an Excel-based planning model that water suppliers can use to evaluate the water savings, costs, and benefits of conservation programs. Using information entered into the Tracking Tool from a utility's system, it provides a standardized methodology for water savings and benefit-cost accounting, and includes a library of pre-defined conservation activities from which users can build conservation program scenarios. The Tracking Tool is widely used and has over 450 registered users. This revision project, begun in 2019 in collaboration with AWE's California chapter, will revise the Tracking Tool to analyze water utility conservation programs under the new California regulatory water conservation targets. Funding has been provided by the users of the Tracking Tool. Work began in 2019 and is expected to be completed in 2021. n. Texas Planning Assistance Begun in late 2019, this project funded by the Mitchell Foundation intended to fund virtual and in-person technical assistance to strategically selected small to medium-sized Texas water utilities in the use of the Municipal Water Conservation Planning Tool, created for the Texas Water Development Board by AWE and its partners. The Tool was designed to assist Texas utilities to develop their state-mandated water conservation plans, which must be reported on annually once the plans are adopted. As the primary contractor in development of the Tool, AWE offered through this project high quality assistance to utilities using the Texas Tool. Initiated in November of 2019, the project saw limited participation by the intended utilities, and thus the remaining grant funds were reassigned to help with the Tracking Tool v4 revision (described in #2m above.) The revision will be completed in 2021 and the funds fully expended under the Mitchell Foundation grant. o. Babbitt Center Project - AWE was retained in 2020 by the Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy to inventory all 50 states to determine what the legal requirements might be for water utility plans to coordinate with local land use plans. A detailed assessment was made of the laws and regulations in the states, and six state case studies were also highlighted in AWE's work. The report was filed in 2020 and the project completed. 3. Throughout 2020 AWE continued to provide updates for bills of interest introduced in the 116th U.S. Congress. At the end of 2020, that included 12 legislative bills in the House of Representatives and 13 legislative bills in the Senate, provided as an informational service to its members. These federal bills dealt with the topics of sustainable water use, tax exemption parity for water efficiency rebates, and water and energy efficiency. AWE provided detailed information to the public on these introduced measures, including full bill text and bill status in Congress. The information is posted on AWE's online Legislative Watch webpage: https://www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org/resources/legislative-watch/l egislative-watch-116th-archive |
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