American Whitewater
“To conserve and restore America’s whitewater resources.”
The origin
How they started
American Whitewater fights to keep the country’s whitewater rivers wild and open, challenging dams and negotiating water releases below hydropower projects so paddlers and rivers both benefit. Founded in 1954, it helped shape the ideas behind the 1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and remains a force in federal dam relicensing. The group maintains a national inventory of river runs and access points used by paddlers across the country. It’s based in Cullowhee, North Carolina.
Every year they sign one sentence and file it with the federal government: “American Whitewater (AW) is the primary advocate for the preservation & protection of whitewater rivers throughout the U.S.”
Where the money went, FY2023
The work, and what it cost
Guarding the water
$1.6MConservation and Access: American Whitewaters core mission-related work is the conservation, restoration, and responsible management of whitewater rivers.
Read it as they filed it
Conservation and Access: American Whitewaters core mission-related work is the conservation, restoration, and responsible management of whitewater rivers. In 2023 American Whitewater helped introduce legislation to designate over 1400 miles of National Wild and Scenic Rivers (NM, CA, MT, WA), as well as conservation legislation for the Dolores River in CO and several areas in OR. American Whitewater supported the creation of the 1.1 million acre Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints Grand Canyon National Monument. Through engaging in National Forest planning American Whitewater secured Wild and Scenic eligible status for 600 miles of streams in CA and NC. American Whitewater directly participated in management decisions that improved flows and river access associated with dams on at least 33 rivers across
IRS Form 990 Part III, fiscal year 2023, signed under penalty of perjury.
Guarding the water
the country. Flows were restored to the Great Falls of the Catawba River in 2023 based on two decades of work by American Whitewater.
Read it as they filed it
the country. Flows were restored to the Great Falls of the Catawba River in 2023 based on two decades of work by American Whitewater. In addition, American Whitewater celebrated the removal of Copco 2 Dam on the Klamath River, and ensured river access was part of the removal plan. American Whitewater secured nine new river access areas (SC, CA, OR, WA), helped secure funding for additional access in OR and UT, and secured a new stream gauge on the Colorado River. Lastly, we worked successfully to reverse paddling prohibitions at whitewater boat ramps in CO. All told these efforts benefited several thousand miles of spectacular rivers and hundreds of thousands of river enthusiasts.
IRS Form 990 Part III, fiscal year 2023, signed under penalty of perjury.
Guarding the water
Public Education American Whitewater educates the paddling community, general public, federal agencies, and decision makers on river stewardship issues and opportunities through several outlets.
Read it as they filed it
Public Education American Whitewater educates the paddling community, general public, federal agencies, and decision makers on river stewardship issues and opportunities through several outlets. American Whitewater maintains and posts weekly content on the go-to website of the paddling community. Our website features news, action alerts, and descriptions of roughly 5,800 whitewater river reaches. The organization also reaches over 50,000 people through action alerts and monthly email newsletters, and regularly posts to a Facebook page with over 35,000 followers. American Whitewaters roughly 7,000 members and over 80 affiliate clubs receive our print journal published five times per year. American Whitewater conducted several online trainings related to river access and presented on Wild and Scenic Rivers, fish barriers, and river access law at online conferences and events. American Whitewater educated the public on responsible river use through the Paddle Wise program, through the production of two new river safety films, and through a new open-source river safety signage project. Lastly, we worked to deepen and broaden our education and engagement on the rich tribal context of whitewater rivers.
IRS Form 990 Part III, fiscal year 2023, signed under penalty of perjury.
Follow the dollar
76 cents of every dollar goes to the work
Read it as a snapshot, not a scorecard. Splits move year to year with grants and campaigns, and healthy shops live all across this range.
Backed on the record by Pew Charitable Trusts and Walton Family Foundation, latest filing FY25.
$1,573,095 programs, $386,600 management, $109,707 fundraising. Form 990, FY2023.
The people
Who does the work
Honesty note: leadership comes from each year’s federal filing, so it can run a year behind. Orgs that claim their page can update it same-day. Work at AW? Claim this page.
Those 250 volunteers are people who decided this ground was theirs to defend. If AW is fighting for your place too, the matchmaker will find your way in.
Make it 251The filings
13 years of filings
13 years of filings
Total revenue by fiscal year, as filed. Point at the line for any year.
| Year | Revenue |
|---|---|
| 2011 | $1,091,464 |
| 2012 | $1,197,774 |
| 2013 | $1,283,754 |
| 2014 | $1,311,928 |
| 2015 | $1,197,926 |
| 2016 | $1,360,132 |
| 2017 | $1,402,137 |
| 2018 | $1,660,534 |
| 2019 | $1,665,453 |
| 2020 | $1,761,045 |
| 2021 | $2,094,145 |
| 2022 | $1,988,126 |
| 2023 | $2,419,301 |
From $1.1M in 2011 to $2.4M in FY23, with no missed filing in 13 years.
The record
On the Hill
American Whitewater has hired federal lobbyists: 23 filings from 2021 to 2026. The filings, at the Senate.
Most filed on natural resources.
Their ground
The places they defend
See every threatened place on one map, and who stands for each.
Ways in
How to help
76 cents of your dollar goes straight to the work above.
Give on their site ↗Show upVolunteer with themFind their volunteer door on their own site.
Find it on their site ↗SpeakComment and callOpen comment windows and call scripts for fights like these, ready to send.
Public Lands Action NetworkFollowWatch the mapEvery threatened place in the country, tracked, with who stands for each.
Threatened Lands MapStand with American Whitewater
72 years on the ground, 250 volunteers, 76 cents of every dollar on the line. That is who is holding it. There is room for one more.