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· Public charity

Colorado Watershed Assembly

Supporting collaborative efforts to protect, improve and restore the water, land and natural resources of colorados watersheds; to act as a clearing house and networking body for other non-profit entities and government agencies.

$234k
Granted FY2024still arriving
13
Grants FY2024still arriving
1
States reached
$20k
Largest
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2024.

Environment$578kYouth Development$38kArts & Culture$20kHousing & Shelter$20k
02FY2024 · 13 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k1 grant · $5k
  • $10k–50k12 grants · $226k
$20,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$356k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
COALITION FOR THE POUDRE RIVER WATERSHED$20,000
ROARING FORK CONSERVANCY$20,000
LINCOLN HILLS CARES$20,000
BIG THOMPSON WATERSHED COALITION$20,000
SAN MIGUEL WATERSHED COALITION$20,000
YAMPA VALLEY HOUSING AUTHORITY$20,000
MILE HIGH YOUTH CORPS$20,000
COCO INC$20,000
MOUNTAIN STUDIES INSTITUTE$19,500
SAN JUAN RC&D COUNCIL$18,052
COLORADO RIO GRANDE RESTORATION FOUNDATION$18,000
WESTERN SLOPE CONSERVATION CENTER$10,000
SOUTHERN COLORADO TROUT UNLIMITED 509$5,420
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY20–24) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 8%. 76% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 8%DOUGLAS COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT: $20k → 3%TOWN OF CARBONDALE: $15k → 6%SAN MIGUEL WATERSHED COALITION: $20k → 7%ROARING FORK CONSERVANCY: $20k → 7%ARKANSAS RIVER WATERSHED COLLABORATIVE: $16k → 8%MILE HIGH YOUTH CORPS: $20k → 9%HEADWATERS ALLIANCE RIO GRANDE: $20k → 9%CENTRAL COLORADO CONSERVANCY: $15k → 10%COALITION FOR THE POUDRE RIVER WATERSHED: $20k → 11%MOUNTAIN STUDIES INSTITUTE INC: $20k → 12%WILDLAND RESTORATION VOLUNTEER: $20k → 12%LINCOLN HILLS CARES: $20k → 12%WESTERN SLOPE CONSERVATION CENTER: $10k → 15%MANCOS CONSERVATION DISTRICT: $18k → 15%COSTILLA CO CONSERVANCY DIST: $20k → 17%TROUT UNLIMITED: $18k → 7%SAN MIGUEL WATERSHED COALITION: $7k → 7%SOUTHERN COLORADO TROUT UNLIMITED 509: $5k → 9%MOUNTAIN STUDIES INSTITUTE: $20k → 12%GROUNDWORK DENVER: $20k → 12%COLORADO RIO GRANDE RESTORATION FOUNDATION: $18k → 17%TROUT UNLIMITED: $15k → 7%ROCKY MOUNTAIN FIELD INSTITUTE: $45k → 9%COLORADO WATER TRUST INC: $15k → 12%COLORADO RIO GRANDE RESTORATION: $15k → 17%COCO INC: $20k → 12%YEAR ONE INCMILE HIGH YOUTH C: $18k → 12%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

43%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$282k · 8 repeat orgs$374k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +101% since the first grant, against +82% for those funded once.

8 repeat relationships: 4 still active in FY2024, 4 since wound down; 9 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

8
13

Total granted

$282k
$220k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+101%
+82%

Still filing today

100%
69%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 34% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $153k went to new ones.

50%100%’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’20’21’22’23’24
EnvironmentCommunity ImprovementArts & CultureYouth DevelopmentAnimalsOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • RM
    Rocky Mountain Field Institute Inc
    2× · 2020–2022 · $51k · revenue +11%
  • YV
    YAMPA VALLEY SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL
    2× · 2021–2022 · $40k · revenue +101%
  • YO
    YEAR ONE INC
    2× · 2021–2024 · $38k · revenue +44%

Funded once

  • CC
    COSTILLA COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL INCgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $20k · revenue +667% · 34% of their budget
  • MC
    MIDDLE COLORADO WATERSHED COUNCILgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $20k · revenue +104%
  • GD
    GROUNDWORK DENVER INC
    one grant, 2022 · $20k · revenue +8%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Upper Colorado River Alliance
Environment
2
Colorado Ag Water Alliance

Works with farmers and ranchers to address water issues around the state impacting agriculture.

Environment
3
Living Rivers

Living rivers promotes river restoration through mobilization by articulating conservation and alternative management strategies to the public. seeking to revive the natural habitat and spirit of rivers by undoing the extensive damage done…

Environment
4
Uviation World Water

To leverage education, technology, and innovative solutions to improve river health.

Environment
5
Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership a Colorado Nonprofit Corporation

Watershed Protection and Restoration

Environment
6
San Juan Citizens Alliance

The San Juan Citizens Alliance advocates for clean air, pure water, and healthy lands - the foundations of resilient communities, ecosystems and economies in the San Juan Basin.

Environment
7
Watershed Restoration Coalition for the

The organization is dedicated to restoring water quality, fisheries, and wildlife, and protecting the agricultural heritage and open space of the upper clark fork river basin of southwest montana. the organization pursues these goals by…

Environment
8
Wood River Land Trust Co

The wood river land trust's mission is to protect and sustain the treasured landscapes and life-giving waters of the wood river valley and to inspire love for this special place for generations to come.

Environment
9
Boulder Watershed Collective

The Boulder Watershed Collective is a 501c3 non-profit stakeholder-driven organization established to address forested watershed health,resiliency and stewardship. We have three program areas: ClimateAdaptation and Resilience Watershed…

Environment
10
Coal Creek Watershed Coalition

To maintain, restore, and enhance the environmental integrity of crested buttes local watershed to ensure those local watersheds and habitats are of the highest possible quality necessary to support wildlife, aquatic life, and human life.

Environment
11
Colorado Assoc of Conservation District

The mission of cacd is to serve as the unified voice for the conservation districts of colorado.

—
12
Confluence Center of Colorado Inc

The Center brings together mission-focused, nonpolitical organizations working at the confluence of land and water science, education, and stewardship to magnify our impact and ensure the longevity of our natural resources for future…

Environment
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Middle Colorado Watershed Council; the most unlike its peers is Trout Unlimited Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

24 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 24 of the 30 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
10
Early backer (in before they grew)
23/24
Grantees still filing
16/24
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

YAMPA VALLEY SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL: $40,000 · EnvironmentYAMPA VALLEY SUSTAINABILITY COUNCILMOUNTAIN STUDIES INSTITUE: $39,302 · EnvironmentMOUNTAIN STUDIES INSTITUETHE COLORADO RIO GRANDE RESTORATION FOUNDATION: $33,000 · EnvironmentTHE COLORADO RIO GRANDE RESTORATION FOUNDATIONBIG THOMPSON WATERSHED COALITION: $30,700 · EnvironmentBIG THOMPSON WATERSHED COALITIONMIDDLE COLORADO WATERSHED COUNCIL: $20,000 · EnvironmentMIDDLE COLORADO WATERSHED COUNCILCOALITION FOR THE POUDRE RIVER WATERSHED: $20,000 · EnvironmentCOALITION FOR THE POUDRE RIVER WATERSHEDROARING FORK CONSERVANCY: $20,000 · EnvironmentROARING FORK CONSERVANCYHEADWATERS ALLIANCE: $20,000 · EnvironmentHEADWATERS ALLIANCECOALITIONS & COLLABORATIVES INC: $20,000 · EnvironmentCOALITIONS & COLLABORATIVES INCWILDLANDS RESTORATION VOLUNTEERS: $19,604 · EnvironmentWILDLANDS RESTORATION VOLUNTEERSSAN JUAN RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL INC: $18,052 · EnvironmentSAN JUAN RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL I…RIVERSEDGE WEST: $16,654 · EnvironmentARKANSAS RIVER WATERSHED COLLABORATIVE: $16,300 · EnvironmentCOLORADO WATER TRUST: $15,000 · EnvironmentRocky Mountain Field Institute Inc: $51,000 · OtherRocky Mountain Field Instit…YAMPA VALLEY HOUSING AUTHORITY: $20,000 · OtherYAMPA VALLEY HOUSING AUTHOR…DOUGLAS COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT: $19,935 · OtherDOUGLAS COUNTY CONSERVATION…MANCOS CONSERVATION DISTRICT: $17,538 · OtherMANCOS CONSERVATION DISTRIC…Colorado Riverfront Foundation Inc: $15,015 · OtherColorado Riverfront Foundat…THE TOWN OF CARBONDALE: $15,000 · OtherTHE TOWN OF CARBONDALENFRIA-WSERC CONSERVATION CENTER INC: $10,000 · OtherNFRIA-WSERC CONSERVATION CE…SAN MIGUEL WATERSHED COALITION: $7,000 · OtherTROUT UNLIMITED: $5,420 · OtherCOSTILLA COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL INC: $20,000 · Community ImprovementCOSTILLA C…SAN MIGUEL WATERSHED COALITION: $20,000 · Community ImprovementSAN MIGUEL…GROUNDWORK DENVER INC: $20,000 · Community ImprovementGROUNDWORK…YEAR ONE INC: $37,600 · Youth DevelopmentLINCOLN HILLS CARES: $20,000 · Arts & CultureCentral Colorado Conservacy: $14,750 · Arts & CultureTROUT UNLIMITED INC: $33,400 · Animals
Environment$328,612Other$160,908Community Improvement$60,000Youth Development$37,600Arts & Culture$34,750Animals$33,400

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetRocky Mountain Field Institute Inc: $51,000 over 2y, 3.2% of budgetYAMPA VALLEY SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL: $40,000 over 2y, 2.9% of budgetMOUNTAIN STUDIES INSTITUE: $39,302 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetYEAR ONE INC: $37,600 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetTROUT UNLIMITED INC: $33,400 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE COLORADO RIO GRANDE RESTORATION FOUNDATION: $33,000 over 2y, 2.8% of budgetBIG THOMPSON WATERSHED COALITION: $30,700 over 2y, 2.8% of budgetCOSTILLA COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL INC: $20,000 over 1y, 34% of budgetSAN MIGUEL WATERSHED COALITION: $20,000 over 1y, 9.0% of budgetMIDDLE COLORADO WATERSHED COUNCIL: $20,000 over 1y, 6.6% of budgetCOALITION FOR THE POUDRE RIVER WATERSHED: $20,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetROARING FORK CONSERVANCY: $20,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetGROUNDWORK DENVER INC: $20,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetLINCOLN HILLS CARES: $20,000 over 1y, 2.0% of budgetHEADWATERS ALLIANCE: $20,000 over 1y, 7.2% of budgetCOALITIONS & COLLABORATIVES INC: $20,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetWILDLANDS RESTORATION VOLUNTEERS: $19,604 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetRIVERSEDGE WEST: $16,654 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetARKANSAS RIVER WATERSHED COLLABORATIVE: $16,300 over 1y, 2.1% of budgetColorado Riverfront Foundation Inc: $15,015 over 1y, 10% of budgetCOLORADO WATER TRUST: $15,000 over 1y, 1.9% of budgetCentral Colorado Conservacy: $14,750 over 1y, 2.5% of budgetNFRIA-WSERC CONSERVATION CENTER INC: $10,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Colorado Gives FoundationCO38.4× affinity19 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Colorado Gives Foundation · Patagoniaorg · National Forest Foundation · The Nature Conservancy · National Fish and Wildlife Foundation · Western Colorado Community Foundation Inc · Gates Family Foundation · Forever Our Rivers Foundation · The Colorado Health Foundation · Rose Community Foundation · Walton Family Foundation Inc · The Denver Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Colorado Watershed Assembly funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Colorado Watershed Assembly. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%3%10%23%40%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    6report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Colorado Watershed Assembly?

    Find your warmest path to Colorado Watershed Assembly through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 30 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Colorado Watershed Assembly’s filings →

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